Bribie Island split: Community calls for urgent action over 400m breakthrough

Some fear more than 5km of Bribie Island could “disappear” after rough seas split the national park in two and created a more than 400 metre wide opening.

Seas have split Bribie Island with a widening gap of 400m and swallowing up trees and vegetation, prompting concerned community groups to call for “urgent action”.

Ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth and a king tide caused seas to surge through the island for the first time and form a second bar into the Pumicestone Passage and Golden Beach.

While some say it’s mother nature taking course, several community groups have expressed concern that more national park land could be lost.

The split at Bribie Island has widened to almost 300m causing major concern for community groups. Picture: 7 News Sunshine Coast

Caloundra Residents’ Association president Graham Smith said the split had widened from a matter of metres to more than 400m.

He said while the seas had begun to “settle down” he feared the next storm surge could start it up once again.

“What we are worried about, the island was very narrow where it came through and there’s more washovers on the southern part, then further south there are trees falling over on the inside of the passage,” Mr Smith said.

“The gap has widened to more than 400m but the trouble is, there’s erosion on the inside of the passage which is narrowing what’s left of the island.”

A king tide and huge swells combined to break through part of Bribie Island, creating a second bar into the Pumicestone Passage.

Mr Smith said community groups and leaders would meet next week for a roundtable discussion with scientists to establish the best course of action.

He said he feared about 5km of the island could “disappear” if no action was taken.

Coastguard Caloundra flotilla commander Roger Pierce on Thursday said waves were coming through the continually widening gap to halfway across the passage.

Mr Pierce said it was following a similar environmental process to one from the 1950s and 60s that he’d seen aerial photos of.

“Eventually what will happen is the south bar gets bigger and the north bar will silt up with sand,” Mr Pierce said.

“There will be heaps of sand but there will still be water in front of the beach strip.”

A king tide and huge swells combined to break through part of Bribie Island, creating a second bar into the Pumicestone Passage.

Mr Pierce said the long-term risk was Pumicestone Passage and Bulcock Beach would silt up in years to come, leaving only sand behind.

Community group Take Action For Pumicestone Passage said urgent action was required after years of inactivity.

“The northern end of Bribie Island has to be protected and restored,” a statement on the group’s website said.

“We are on the brink of losing one of the unique waterways of the world.”

Originally published as Bribie Island split: Community calls for urgent action over 400m breakthrough