Mooloolah River Entrance solutions called for amid 60m breakwater extension plans

Businesses are losing $100,000 and events going elsewhere as residents call for an urgent solution to the dangers of a once safe harbour at Mooloolaba. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Businesses are reporting $100,000 losses, fishermen are being injured and events canned as the state government is called out for its management of the entrance to the port of Mooloolaba.

An urgent community meeting was held this week as residents called for long-term solutions to shoaling at the Mooloolah River entrance after several months of the area once again becoming too dangerous for boaties to navigate.

Third-generation commercial fisherman Leigh McJannett said his prawn trawling business had lost $100,000 since November as weather and a shallow sandbank prevented them from getting to sea.

Mr McJannett said this was in addition to maintenance and repair costs for his trawlers after being smashed by waves at the entrance of what was long described as a safe boat harbour.

He said it also had a physical and mental impact on fishermen, with lives at risk while trawlers continued to cross the bar.

Commercial fisherman Leigh McJannett wants a long-term solution to shoaling at the Mooloolah River entrance. Photo: Patrick Woods.

Prawn trawler fisherman Iain Nye relocated his trawler to Brisbane last week at a cost of $250 a day after one of his crew suffered a foot injury while the trawler was getting smashed by waves.

Lifeguards on jet skis had to attend to the boat while it was stranded outside the bar to bring the fisher to shore.

But in the process his injury worsened due to exposure to seawater.

“Stop playing around, work on a proper solution that will work for everybody,” Mr McJannett said.

“I know it takes time but let’s stop twiddling our thumbs … people’s livelihoods and lives are in danger.”

Coastguard Mooloolaba flotilla commander Ian Hunt said the entrance was the worst he had seen in 20 years.

“We’re supposed to be the safest deepwater port between Brisbane and Bundaberg and unfortunately now we’re not so boats aren’t coming and that’s affecting us economically,” he said.

Maintenance dredging contractor Hall Contracting was expected to clear the sandbank which was the main cause of the navigational challenges this week, but residents have called for long-term solutions to prevent it from happening again.

Maritime Safety Queensland's preferred option is a 60m extension to the eastern breakwater however residents who attended Tuesday’s meeting raised concern about the viability of it.

Beach Matters president Rachael Bermingham worried an extension to the breakwater would cause erosion to beaches north of Point Cartwright.

Maritime Safety Queensland did not attend the community meeting and did not respond to the Daily’s questions on what options it was considering aside from the proposed 60m extension to the eastern breakwater.

Fishers, surfers, businesspeople and residents attended a meeting calling for urgent action on the shoaling at the Mooloolah River entrance. Picture: Patrick Woods.

General manager Kell Dillon said in May, 2022, that stakeholder and community consultation for the eastern breakwater extension would start in the second half of 2022.

He said it would run alongside the environmental approval process.

“The preferred solution involves a 60m extension of the eastern breakwater, allowing shoals to be trapped and dredged before they enter the entrance channel,” Mr Dillon said.

Hall Contracting owner Cameron Hall said weather had significantly impacted operations at the Mooloolah River since January.

Mr Hall said the dredge was able to start work to clear the channel on Monday and Tuesday, May 30-31, and expected it would provide safe access in and out of the river.

Questions were raised over how often Hall Contracting used its dredge.

More than 100 people attended an urgent meeting on the need to address the dangerously shallow Mooloolah River entrance, organised by Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson and Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Everybody has seen the same thing, the large swells and horrible weather,” Mr Hall said.

“We’ve had two flood events this year and big swells and it’s just not safe.”

“It’s been too rough to dredge. We can’t get our people out there.”

Mr Hall said the company could have more profitable work using the same dredge in Western Australia.

He said the challenge with the Mooloolah River was a rock ledge prevented them from dredging deeper than 3.5m.

More than 150 people attended the community meeting held by Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson and Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie where concerns were raised about the economic impact.

Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie called on the state government to reveal what options are being considered to address the Mooloolah River entrance. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Ms Simpson said feedback from the session would form part of a submission to MSQ about the issue.

“Rather than bandaids we could be looking at a $40m to $50m solution for this,” Mr Bleijie said.

“ (MSQ) is as we speak putting plans together and maybe they think the rock wall extension is the best solution, but it may not be, it may just be the easiest.”

Suggestions of a sand groyne were made while some highlighted dredging would still be required even with the breakwater extension.

A larger dredge, Port Frederick, was due to arrive on Monday, May 30, however vessel tracking reports showed it was at Redcliffe.

On Tuesday Mr Dillon said it was now on standby if required.