Gold Coast beach: Miami Beach exclusion zone created over potential rockfall risk

A large section of a popular Gold Coast beach has been blocked off by the Gold Coast City Council after it was found the public is at risk of injury.

Gold Coast City Council say the closure of a large section of one of the city’s most popular beaches is likely to be permanent.

A giant 520 sqm exclusion zone has been created on the southern end of Miami Beach by council due to a risk of dangerous rockfall.

Geotechnical engineers advised of the risk last week, prompting council to act.

Councillor Pauline Young inspecting the area of the exclusion zone. Picture: Glenn Hampson

Local councillor Pauline Young said the engineers investigated the site after residents and maintenance workers advised her about the falling rocks.

“Our number one priority is safety so we are looking at putting some water barriers there until further investigations comes back to us,” she said.

“I don’t believe it could be a permanent barrier, but could be a permanent exclusion zone”

The water barriers will be installed in the area until geo-technicians figure out an alternative.

Councillor Pauline Young at the Miami Beach exclusion zone. Picture: Glenn Hampson

The exclusion zone is being created due to the risk of potential rock falls. Picture: Glenn Hampson

“At this stage the barriers aren’t up, but when they are up we encourage people to stay outside that exclusion zone until we decide how we are best going to treat the rock face,” Cr Young said.

“We have wind, rain, storms, tidal changes… it’s just progression.

“This is a natural rock face and it’s exposed to the weather continually so we would expect some deterioration.

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Miami Beach. Picture: Jerad Williams

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“When the full reports are back we will know the extent of the zone.

“Safety is our number one priority and is why we have acted on this so quickly.”

Signage will be put up around the area to alert the public.

It comes four years after council was forced to spend $1 million to fix unstable rocks at Miami’s Lions Head Park and Greenmount Hill.

The unstable rocks was a result, in part, of rogue bush turkeys.