Nelly Bay groyne works begin
Date published: 9 July 2019
Work has started today on a project to prevent beach sand from passing under the southern breakwater bridge and into the Nelly Bay Harbour.
Once constructed Council will then be able to begin restoring the Nelly Bay Esplanade and beach without losing the sand into the harbour.
The Queensland Government is providing Council with grant funding to construct the 50 metre groyne made of sand filled geotextile bags.
Equipment was moved to the site this week.
Local Councillor Ann-Maree Greaney said the project has development approval and a Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Permit has been issued.
“The construction of the groyne will provide a much better environmental outcome and a more effective control for the erosion issues and the sand build-up than the current costly practice for the Queensland Government of dredging and redistributing sand,” Cr Greaney said.
“Once the groyne is in place, excess sand from Gustav Creek can be transferred to the beach for sand re-nourishment that will not be lost into the harbour.”
The sand used to fill the bags will effectively become part of the beach slope and the majority of sand between the groyne and the bridge will be transferred to the beach area.
Annual maintenance of the groyne is expected to be low cost and will be jointly funded by State and Local Government.
The project is expected to take up to six weeks and only requires a partial closure of the northern end of the beach.
Residents can direct enquiries to Council’s Construction, Maintenance and Operations section on 13 48 10.
