Qld government provides Bribie Island breakthrough update

The state government has announced the next steps in its Bribie Island breakthrough review as a group calls for urgent action over “meaningless consultation”.

Deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie announced the first phase of the Bribie Island review had been completed. Picture: NewsWire/Tertius Pickard

The state government has announced the next steps in its Bribie Island breakthrough review as a local community group calls for urgent action over “meaningless consultation”.

The review into the Pumicestone Passage and Bribie Island breakthrough was announced by the state government earlier this year, following the latest breakthrough to the northern tip of the island as Tropical Cyclone Alfred approached the east coast.

The first breakthrough on the island took place in 2022.

Deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie announced the first phase had been completed on Thursday, May 22 after the public were encouraged to make submissions regarding the outcomes they hoped to see.

The second Bribie Island breakthrough is now large enough for vessels to travel through. Photo: Caloundra Fishing World

Mr Bleijie said the review had provided business owners and residents an “active role” in working to find solutions to the ever-changing Pumicestone Passage.

“Following a month of consultation the government received 1197 individual submissions from the public to now review,” Mr Bleijie said.

“From this initial phase of consultation locals have been most concerned about the potential for storm surge impact, the impact of the breakthrough on local infrastructure, environmental impacts on the island and access for the coast guard and other related emergency service workers.”

Mr Bleijie said the government would take the feedback and create “tangible” solutions to the risks posed by the breakthroughs.

Pumicestone Passage Catchment Management Body spokeswoman Jen Kettleton-Butler.

However, Pumicestone Passage Catchment Management Body spokeswoman Jen Kettleton-Butler said more urgent action was required rather than “meaningless consultation”.

“It is great the government are asking the community for input, but the issue is complex and many in the community don’t understand the threats or issues properly,” Ms Kettleton-Butler said.

“It is clear that the erosion of our barrier island and its impacts on Caloundra are accelerating rapidly on each tide at the moment, and the government needs to act decisively right now — not in August when the report is due.”

Ms Kettleton-Butler said she feared there would be “catastrophic” impacts on the area, further claiming experts should already be in position to make recommendations to the state government.

“The PPCMB knows for that there are dredges and machinery that could be deployed tomorrow to lay down geo bags and pump sand to help plug up the new Alfred breakthrough,” Ms Kettleton-Butler said.