Beach advocacy group slams Mooloolaba seawall proposal

There are concerns a world-renowned Sunshine Coast beach could close for months while a concrete seawall is built, as businesses fear for their $1.3bn coastal economy.

Businesses and beach advocates have slammed plans to transform the Mooloolaba beachfront, fearing the world-renowned strip of sand could be closed for months while a new seawall is built along the foreshore.

The Mooloolaba Alliance and Beach Matters have raised concerns about Sunshine Coast Council’s proposal to build a new sea wall as part of the Mooloolaba Foreshore Revitalisation Project.

The ageing seawall built in the 1960s adjacent to the surf club will be replaced by a concrete terrace stepped seawall from Brisbane Road to the Mooloolaba Surf Club.

It is understood that the seawall will be laid from the existing dunes to within two metres of the high tide area and will be covered with sand.

A council statement says the new seawall would span about 290m, from the surf life saving tower ramp to the pedestrian crossing opposite Mantra Sirocco and would be half a metre higher than the existing wall which is 5m at its highest point.

Current rock wall at Mooloolaba main beach. Picture Lachie Millard

The Beach Matters Group president Rachael Bermingham raised concerns about the proposal.

“They’re ripping up a perfectly good beach and it will become a concrete beach,” Ms Bermingham said.

“After big storms we could see Mooloolaba Beach with exposed concrete stairs on it.

“It will also be difficult to lay on the beach knowing these concrete steps are beneath you.”

Ms Bermingham questioned why the seawall couldn’t be laid under the parklands to avoid interfering with the beach.

Mooloolaba Alliance and Beach Matters members Benny Pike, John Burke, Paula McGrath and Graeme Juniper at the spot where a sea wall is to be built starting in 2024, where a 200m section of Mooloolaba Beach will be closed during construction. Picture: Lachie Millard

Mooloolaba Chamber of Commerce President Graeme Juniper said there is a lot of uncertainty around the works.

“We’ve been told verbally, it could take from eight to 12 months to 18 months to complete,” he said.

“It’s a pretty large matter, it will affect people’s jobs and it will affect people’s businesses.

“The Mooloolaba economy is worth $1.3bn annually to the Sunshine Coast economy, we’re not talking small business here. We’re playing with dynamite, we can’t get it wrong.”

An artist's impression of the new terraced seawall integrated from Brisbane Road to the Surf Club, part of Stage Two – Central Meeting Place and Southern Parkland seawall. Picture: Sunshine Coast Council

Mooloolaba Alliance and Beach Matters member Paula McGrath said the beach should remain as is.

“We go to the beach, because we loves the dunes, the sand, how natural it is,” she said.

“Why touch something that has been here for thousands of years taking care of itself.”

Mooloolaba local Brendon Sellars is in favour of the works, hailing it a long-term solution.

“We’ve got to be thinking long term with what is going to happen with the rising waters,” he said.

“It’s a well engineered plan.”

Mooloolaba local Brendon Sellars is in favour of the proposed terraced sea wall.

A Sunshine Coast Council spokesperson said the new seawall has been modelled and designed by a qualified coastal engineer and structural engineer.

“It has been designed predominantly as wide-terraced steps that will double as community seating,” the spokesperson said.

“Access to Mooloolaba’s businesses will remain available during construction.

“The outcomes of the expressions of interest from expert contractors will guide timing and sequencing of the project.”

The project has received a $7.95m contribution through the federal government’s National Emergency Management Agency Disaster Ready Fund and was approved by the state government’s approval agency SARA.

The spokesperson said the seawall was “vital to protect community parklands, paths, roads and underground services such as power, telecommunications and water supply from climate change impacts into the future and to improve accessibility to the beach”.

Originally published as Beach advocacy group slams Mooloolaba seawall proposal