New contractor, Hall Contracting, appointed for Noosa council sand dredging project

A hot shot new contractor is taking on the challenge of a $1 million sand dredging project at a popular Noosa beach – after locals blasted council for its handling of it last year as a “complete disappointment and massive failure”.

New contractor, Hall Contracting, appointed for Noosa council sand dredging project.

A new contractor has taken on the challenge of the $1 million Noosa beach sand dredging project which council made a mess of last year.

Noosa Council has appointed Hall Contracting to carry out sand dredging works and nourishment works at Doggie Beach, Noosa Heads.

The sand dredging specialists have been tasked with dredging sand from a dedicated sand extraction zone and pumping it ashore.

This follows Noosa Council suddenly stopping the works in August, 2023 when the previous contractor couldn’t complete the work by the September 30, 2023 deadline, outlined by the state in its works permit, due to environmental challenges.

Doggie Beach, Noosa Heads. Picture – Noosa Council.

It was a highly controversial decision at the time, with Noosa residents slamming council saying it was a “complete disappointment, massive failure, and a let down”.

Noosa local Matt Major previously said council had “its head in the sand”.

“There’s been zero answers from council,” Mr Major said.

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart said the new contract would include sand nourishment and reprofiling the beach.

“The project will create two sand plugs, one at each end of the beach, to redirect flowing water away from the shore and back to the centre of the channel,” Ms Stewart said.

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart. Picture – Patrick Woods.

“Unfortunately, the erosion has been so severe along the dog beach section recently that substantial work is needed to replenish and bolster the shoreline to protect the Spit.”

Ms Stewart said council’s deadline was September this year.

Hall Contracting CEO and director Cameron Hall said he was confident the looming deadline would not be an issue.

“Hall is well-positioned to carry out the works in the designated time frame, having successfully stabilised and renourished the area in past years using the same dredge that we will employ in 2024,” Mr Hall said.

Hall Contracting CEO and director Cameron Hall. Picture – Hall Contracting.

“This vessel is larger than the dredge used by the previous contractor in 2023, which will enable our team to dredge the required volumes of sand more rapidly during the period of works.

“We will work closely with Noosa Council, coastal engineers and other industry experts to carefully plan and schedule the works to give us the best chance of achieving the September completion target.”

Hall Contracting is set to begin the works in April, 2024.