The City is closing parts of The Esplanade as it ramps up Surfers Paradise beach wall

Council have revealed fresh details about work to restore the Gold Coast’s battered beaches, two months on from the damage wrought by Cyclone Alfred. Here’s what’s happening.

Surfers Paradise beach is being cyclone-proofed with the City starting to install large sand-filled boxes into the exposed dunes as extra protection before the next extreme weather event.

Some pedestrian access to The Esplanade is being blocked as the works are conducted between View Avenue and Trickett Street.

Meanwhile residents at Main Beach, which copped the worst erosion from Cyclone Alfred, are struggling with the longer term impact on lifestyle, given most of the foreshore is permanently blocked due to high escarpments.

They warn swimmers are jumping fencing with emergency taping to access closed beaches.

Narrowneck beach still showing severe signs of erosion south to Surfers Paradise. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Acting Mayor Mark Hammel believes one of the positives from Cyclone Alfred has been the opportunity to “go above and beyond” and protect exposed beaches.

Work has begun to install geoboxes into the dunes near View Avenue, he said.

The large sand-filled textile boxes along with boulders will help shield the foreshore from future high tide and damaging swell conditions.

“Our beaches are one of our greatest assets and our crews have been working hard since Tropical Cyclone Alfred to restore them,” Mr Hammel said.

The new measures will not only provide an extra layer of protection but also support the natural restoration of the beaches as sand replenishment arrives from the offshore dredge.

Narrowneck beach and closure tape. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Mr Hammel said the City was taking steps to minimise disruption during the works.

For safety reasons, there would be some closures of the beachside footpath on The Esplanade.

Pedestrians are asked to use the footpath on the western side of the park. The beach area in front of the works will also be closed, and pedestrians will need to use the southern accessway to reach the surf.

The beach restoration work is expected to be completed by mid-May. Steps are also being taken to protect dunes along the South Surfers Oceanway.

Council workers are consolidating beach accessways between Laycock Street and First Avenue to help preserve the health of the dune systems.

“This work is critical to helping reconnect our vital dune systems which in turn helps protect public infrastructure and private property from erosion,” Mr Hammel said.

Protection bags in front of dunes and stairs. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“Dunes act as a natural buffer between the land and sea and stable dunes are critical to the health of our beaches.

“We thank all Surfers Paradise residents and visitors for their continued patience while our beach works are taking place.”

Council says it will ensure there are safe and well-maintained beach access points every 100-150m – meaning a maximum walking distance of 75m from private property along the beachfront.

Main Beach residents have been saddened by the loss of some of their best viewing points, including a wooden bench between the surf club and Sheraton Mirage being washed away.

A family on the northern Coast beaches damaged by erosion. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Main Beach Association leader Sue Donovan said: “Main Beach residents are understandably disappointed that their beach is still closed, over two months since the huge seas caused by Cyclone Alfred destroyed their beach and beach infrastructure.

“However, although the beach is completely fenced off, there are plenty of beach lovers climbing the fence to go for a swim.”

Foreshore parking spots near the surf club which are normally all occupied on weekends have been vacant as locals and visitors opt to pack cafes or walk paths further north at The Spit.

More than $10m is being spent to fix the world-famous beaches, washed away in March by tropical cyclone Alfred and further impacted by subsequent storms.

Council employed the Trud R dredge to spend eight weeks pumping sand back onto the beaches, operating 24 hours a day. It will move progressively further south towards Burleigh Heads. The dredge on occasions has ceased operations due to huge swell.

The city installed rock bags along a 250m stretch near Elkhorn Avenue to prevent further damage from high tides. Tractors removed about 3400 tonnes of debris.

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Originally published as The City is closing parts of The Esplanade as it ramps up Surfers Paradise beach wall