Bribie Island breakthrough: Coast Guard’s concerns for bar crossing

Authorities have urged people to stay out of the Caloundra bar with conditions described as a “washing machine” that nearly proved fatal for two jetskiers.

Authorities have urged people to avoid crossing the Caloundra bar which has created “washing machine” like conditions that nearly cost two jetskiers their lives.

Coast Guard Caloundra assisted in the rescue of two men at the weekend who had been knocked off their vessels from the treacherous waves in the bar near the Pumicestone Passage at the site of a major Bribie Island ocean breakthrough.

The dangerous conditions were formed when an astronomically high tide and ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth combined to send seas surging through Bribie Island earlier this month with the 300m-wide gap taking vegetation, debris and sand with it.

Flotilla commander Roger Pearce said the conditions nearly proved fatal for two jetskiers at the weekend.

Mr Pearce said a man on a jetski was dragged more than 1.5km out to sea and was only spotted thanks to a resident in a high-rise unit.

Caloundra Coast Guard helmsman Peter Diezmann surveys the breakthrough at Bribie Island. Picture: Patrick Woods.

He described the conditions as “washing machine” like, so bad the Coast Guard did not attempt to cross the bar in its 10m boat.

“There’s 1-2m waves coming in on both angles and they created a crown in the middle of the bar,” Mr Pearce said.

“As the tide starts to recede and the water rushes out, you just can’t stop it.

“Just stay away from the bar until it settles. We didn’t feel safe.”

Mr Pearce said the waves had knocked the man’s jetski over and he was found clinging to the upturned vessel.

The second incident involved an older man who had been knocked off his ski on Sunday.

A king tide and huge swells combined to break through part of Bribie Island, creating a second bar into the Pumicestone Passage. The opening has widened to about 300m after recent storms.

Mr Pearce said both men were lucky to be alive.

“The bar is so unpredictable at the moment, someone is going to come into grief, or worse,” he said.

“These guys were very lucky.”

Mr Pearce said the next storm surge was due on January 31.

The breakthrough at Bribie Island has expanded to about 300m wide and continues to swallow up trees and vegetation, and erode the sand.

It comes after several community groups and government officials met for a discussion over the best course of action to address the problem.

Take Action for Pumicestone Passage president Paul Harney echoed the warnings of the Coast Guard.

“I’m looking straight out at the opening and it continues to grow and create a lot of movement in the channel,” Mr Harney said.

“I certainly wouldn’t be going out there, there’s so much turbulence and vortexes have been created.”

A Sunshine Coast Council spokeswoman said the council would continue to monitor the impact on Golden Beach as result of the changes at Bribie Island and continue to support the state government.

The spokeswoman said the council would continue to protect Golden Beach by replacing a groyne at Burke St and upgrading the seawall.

Originally published as Bribie Island breakthrough: Coast Guard’s concerns for bar crossing