Tropical Cyclone Alfred: ‘Golden opportunity’ to transform famous Gold Coast beach
A rock wall groyne at one of the Gold Coast’s most vulnerable beaches is being eyed as the solution to its post-cyclone erosion woes. FIND OUT WHERE
Council
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A rock wall groyne at Narrowneck is being eyed as the solution to the Gold Coast’s beach erosion woes.
Premier David Crisafulli and Mayor Tom Tate have launched negotiations with the federal government to secure funding to replenish the city’s devastated coastline which was wiped out by pounding swell from ex-tropical cyclone Alfred.
It will cost at least $10m to replenish the sand, with a dredge due to arrive later this week to begin pumping it back onto the beaches in time for the school holidays.
However the Premier said there was a “golden opportunity” for a long-term solution funded by council, the state and federal governments.
“I’d like to think that not just the state but the federal government as well (will contribute funding to fixing the beaches) and I reckon there’s an opportunity for us as part of the rebirth, particularly of that section there at Narrowneck,” he said.
“I reckon there’s a fair argument for us to not just replenish, but create a bit of resilience and make a special part for the Coast and I’ve spoken already to the mayor and we’ve already begun negotiations with the federal government.
“I reckon it’s a golden opportunity to create what is really the missing link on the magnificent coastal foreshore and I think we can create something special.”
Mr Crisafulli said the form of infrastructure would be “a matter for council” but praised the federal government’s assistance during and in the aftermath of the cyclone, saying it had been “good partners in disaster recovery”
“We also would like to see them come to the party with some of that funding to build more resilience into that mix.”
Narrowneck was named as the most heavily damaged of the Gold Coast beaches following the cyclone, with the side washed away up to the rock A-line, while pipes running along it were broken apart.
Sitting just south of Main Beach, it is a thin strip of beach and land separating the ocean from the Nerang River and Macintosh Island.
It is protected by an offshore artificial reef, however this did little to help in the pounding swell, where a wave of more than 12m was recorded off Main Beach just before the cyclone hit.
The southern Gold Coast has several rock wall groynes between Palm Beach and Kirra which were attributed with helping reducing the amount of erosion.
Mr Tate said the cost of a groyne would be high but worthwhile if it prevented “tens of billions of dollars of damage” to Main Beach.
“I think (council and the state government) share a vision that let’s really help the most vulnerable part of our beach,” he said.
“Should tropical cyclone category three and upwards come, Narrowneck would be vulnerable and if it breaks through and over to Macintosh Park and wipes out Main Beach, that’s tens of billions of dollars of devastation.
“I’ll look at the solution of an extended groyne out there to protect it
“We know Palm Beach was the most vulnerable part of our beach previously and we did something about it with a groyne and now Palm Beach is protected.”
The city continues its slow recovery from the cyclone, more than a week after the rain and winds subsided.
Mr Tate said he would commission a new report at Tuesday’s council meeting reviewing the tree population near powerlines which will be sent to state Energy Minister and state Treasurer David Janetzki.
It came just days after the council’s existing tree policy was criticised in state parliament by northern Gold Coast MP Mark Boothman.
“As far as ongoing recovery is concerned, I want to do an audit of all the trees under the powerlines,” Mr Tate said.
“If the trees are huge and look like they are going to grow like the gum trees, then really we should work together with Energex and get rid of them, because it’s going to cause havoc in the future.
“If we haven’t learned the lesson from the ex-tropical cyclone Alfred, something is wrong with us.”
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