Tide-chasing truck dumps tonnes of concrete into ocean

A decision to chase the tide resulted in almost four tonnes of concrete being dumped into the ocean near Teewah on Tuesday.

A DECISION to chase the tide resulted in almost four tonnes of concrete being dumped into the ocean near Teewah on Tuesday.

Concrete trucks which had been scheduled to begin carrying concrete up the beach to a Teewah work site at 8am didn't arrive until two hours later, disrupting a delicate dance with the lowest point of the tide.

A Department of Environment and Science investigation has been launched into the discharge with the potential for fines or prosecution to be determined.

Teewah resident Clay Stjernqvist, who was engaged to wet the cuttings on and off the beach for a fleet of five concrete trucks on Tuesday, said he had warned of the danger of the soft-sanded gutter where the last of the trucks had become bogged.

"The last two should have been cancelled," he said.

"I do a lot of work up here carting building materials and helped wetting the cuttings down.

"They were late getting onto the beach. They should have been here at 8am and didn't arrive until 10am and missed the end of the tide.

"The first three trucks went up and back no worries."

Mr Stjernqvist, who has lived in Tewantin all his life and has owned a home at Teewah since 2000, said the only previous similar incident he could remember was a Sellars Concrete truck becoming bogged in the early 1980s.

The Teewah Rural Fire Brigade First Officer said he had waved down the brigade's truck which was on its way to Tewantin to refuel.

A series of snatch snaps and chains were rigged between the fire truck, his own vehicle and the Cordwells Concrete truck.

The truck only had a limited chute reach, resulting in concrete being released into the ocean to reduce the weight.

About 1.5-2 cubic metres of concrete weighing around four tonnes were eventually dumped into the water.

Four bog mats from the fire truck were placed under the rear dual wheels of the concrete truck before it could be towed free.

"If we had been unable to release it, within an hour it would have tipped into the gutter, causing a big environmental impact with hydraulic fluid, fuel and the concrete," Mr Stjernqvist said.

"The decision was not taken quickly and took over an hour of discussion."

The concrete, consisting of gravel and cement, was considered non-toxic.

He said all available resources including the fire truck were needed to avert a greater problem.

"If we didn't have it the concrete truck would have been on its side," Mr Stjernqvist said.

A Department of Environment and Science spokesman said rangers had attended the site to determine the circumstances on Tuesday and returned today (wed) on a lower tide for further assessment.

"If it is found that an offence has occurred there is a range of compliance actions available to the department," the spokesman said.

"These include issuing a Penalty Infringement Notice or taking prosecution action."

Cordwell Concrete's Dave Cordwell said the truck was one of four or five that had made the trip up the beach that day accompanied by a recovery vehicle.

Mr Cordwell said the truck had been stuck for more than two hours when, with the encroaching tide, it was decided to lighten the load.

"The recovery vehicle couldn't be dislodged it without lightening the load," he said.

"When the springs came up it popped straight out.

"All care was taken. We try to split the tides."

Gary Broadhurst, of Broadhurst Concreting, said the last loads were to core fill blockwork after he had earlier completed a slab for the redevelopment of an ocean-front block at the northern end of Teewah village.

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