Council crews on-site for beach restoration at Horseshoe Bay

Townsville City Council crews are on-site at Horseshoe Bay today and tomorrow, working to restore the foreshore from recent erosion damage.

High tides, strong northerly winds and stormwater over the last week are responsible for the damage which has meant access to the popular beachfront has been more difficult for residents and visitors.

Division 3 Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said the restoration work was important to ensure the area was safe for all beachgoers and to reduce the impact of similar weather conditions in the future.

“Horseshoe Bay is one of Magnetic Island’s most popular spots for swimming and other water sports, so it’s important that we look after it,” she said.

“The conditions in the last week or so have meant that there has been some damage to the foreshore which is making it more difficult for people to access the beach.

“It’s important that we do this work now to make sure the area is safe for visitors, especially with the busy Australia Day long weekend just around the corner.”

No part of the beach will be shut down during the work.

Works will include the use of plant equipment such as a bobcat to move sand and cover tree roots which have become exposed as a result of the erosion. Staff will manage pedestrians and keep them away from the work site.

This week’s restoration is a follow-up to works completed in October last year.

More restoration work is planned for February or March after the wet season has passed. Those works include shifting thousands of tonnes from the southern end of the bay, back to the main beach in front of the park.

“Horseshoe Bay needs regular maintenance at the moment because of the high tides and northerly winds which move the sand up along the esplanade past the creek at the southern end of the beach,” Cr Greaney said.

In addition to the restoration works, Council has begun investigating a longer-term solution which includes an embedded rock wall to prevent future damage from erosion.