Maroochydore beach is one of the most vulnerable beaches in the Sunshine Coast, and at the same time is an important economic and recreational hub. The beach is renourished every two years to renew the 50m wide sand buffer that protects local built infrastructure from storm events. Sand is taken from the nearby Maroochydore River mouth and deposited on the beach via permanent and temporary pipelines. Renourishment is followed up with revegetation and limiting beach access points. In 2022, Sunshine Coast Council will trial placement of sand 300m offshore, to be transported naturally onto the beach via waves, currents and tides.
Beach renourishment
Method: Replenished
Sand source: River
Sand volume (m2): 100,000
Sand placement: Visible beach (up to 2022), trialling offshore bar late 2022
Frequency of renourishment: Every two years
Date of first renourishment: 2015
Date of last renourishment: 2021
Dune replanting or construction
Method: Revegetation, Rehabilitation
Rehabilitation - method: Restrict pedestrian access
Approach
Beach renourishment, Dune replanting or construction
Geographic context
Open coast
Organisation responsible
Sunshine Coast Council
Primary objective
Coastal protection
Coastal hazard
Erosion, Storms, Flooding
Asset vulnerable
Natural, Recreational, Built, Cultural
Length of coastline targeted (m)
1700
Date of completion
Ongoing since 2015
Cost ($AUD)
$500,000/nourishment
Source of project funding
State government, Local government
Project approvals needed
Local, State