Swell Sculpture Festival to change layout after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred causes severe erosion

A Gold Coast beachside sculpture festival has reverted to plan B and moved the majority of its artwork off of the sand due to the ongoing aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

A Gold Coast beachside sculpture festival has reverted to its plan B and moved the majority of its artwork off of the sand due to the ongoing aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.

The category one cyclone struck Gold Coast shores four months ago and left a devastating impact on the iconic coastline.

Officials revealed beaches will not return to their pre-cyclone glory until 2028, causing the shock cancellation of the 2025 Pacific Airshow, which was set to take over Surfers Paradise beach in August.

With restoration work ongoing from Coolangatta up to The Spit, the Swell Sculpture Festival has confirmed its event will go ahead from September 12 to 21 ... but with the majority of its artwork off of the sand.

Beach erosion is seen at Currumbin on the Gold Coast, Thursday, March 6, 2025. Photo: AAP Image/Jason O'Brien

“The cyclone made a huge impact on erosion across the coastline, some say the worst in 50 years,” Festival executive director Dee Steinfort said.

“Swell’s artistic director Natasha Edwards has been working closely with council and the artists to bring the show to life this September, and is curating artworks along the Oceanway and other parts of Currumbin Beach, and up to Tugun.”

A Swell Sculpture Festival spokesman said there could still be more sand loss with the everchanging tides causing further erosion.

“It’s a bit hard to put a number on it because there might be more sand loss. But as it stands now, it will be noticeably less on the sand,” the spokesman said.

“The ones on the sand will be towards the northern and southern ends of the footprint.”

The festival will be celebrating its 23rd year at Currumbin, with more than 80 artworks from 230 artists across the exhibition.

Local Mt Tamborine artist Fred Beel launches publicity for this year’s Swell Festival with his artwork, Verdant Deployment, at Currumbin. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Retiree-turned-artist Frederick Beel, 67, created one of the 80 artworks with a series of stainless-steel sculptures shaped to look like paper planes called ‘Verdant Deployment’.

Mr Beel said his childhood memories of making paper planes and kites had inspired his work.

“The plane bodies didn’t take too long at all, as they were cut and folded at a commercial premises,” he said.

“It’s the smaller details that take time, making the bombs, collecting seeds and flowers and fabricating the hold down arrangement.

“I guess I’ve put 50 hours into them.”

Mr Beel said he hoped his artwork would be on the sand but understood it was in “short supply” this year.

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