Palm Beach reef: $18.2 million artificial reef project undertaken to protect Gold Coast beach

A multimillion-dollar artificial reef project that will provide a new rideable wave for surfers and restore an under threat part of the Gold Coast coastline is set to begin soon. This is what it will look like.

PALM Beach will soon be home to an artificial reef with work expected to begin in April.

Gold Coast City Council Mayor Tom Tate said the $18.2 million project will affect the surrounding waves and currents to promote a long term sand increase along vulnerable sections of Palm Beach.

The reef will be 270 metres offshore from Nineteenth Avenue, 160 metres in length and 80 metres wide.

The artifical reef is expected to create benefits to a large area of the Palm Beach coastline.

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At its highest point the reef will be 1.5 metres below the surface at average water level and will be identified with buoys.

“It’s quite a large structure, but we need to make sure this portion of our beach is safe,” he said.

“The idea is to have an artificial reef in rock structure maintained and stay here for generations to come.”

Residents have been sent letters regarding the works but Cr Tate said the noise and light from the construction will be minimal.

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A temporary construction exclusion zone will be created while the reef is being built.

No land-based beach users will be affected and an exclusion zone about 200 metres offshore will be implemented during construction.

Following the reef construction Cr Tate said surfers will have more breaks and he expected more marine life will visit the area.

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The reef will be constructed using different types of rock and will sit 1.5m below the water surface at its highest point.

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“A by-product for that for people who enjoy surfing there’ll be new breaks way outside,” he said.

“If you’re a strong paddler you’ll have the chance to experience some new waves.

“The other by-product will be that marine life will be coming in quite a lot.

Mayor Tom Tate on the beach launch start of Palm Beach Artificial Reef Project. Picture Glenn Hampson

“I can see divers coming in to look at the wonderful marine life, but as far as fishing is concerned there will be no fishing.”

The artificial reef is the second phase of the Palm Beach Shoreline Project with phase one beach nourishment in 2017.

The reef is expected to be completed in October next year.

Diagrams of Palm Beach artificial reef by Gold Coast City Council.