Council shifts sand to manage beach erosion

Hi-vis work shirts will replace rashies on Toolakea Beach from today as Townsville City Council undertakes work to tackle shoreline erosion.

Trucks and excavators will move accumulated sand from sections of the beach to other areas along the foreshore that are at risk of further coastal erosion.

Council Community Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability Committee chairperson Maurie Soars said the works were essential in helping maintain public access to the beach and making it more resilient to future weather events.

“Parts of the foreshore have been heavily impacted from weather events, overland erosion, coastal erosion and people illegally driving on the beach,” Cr Soars said.

“If the erosion issue isn’t addressed then we will not only see sections of the beach wash away but it will also become less resilient to any future significant weather events.”

The $50,000 beach reprofiling works will help slow down erosion across the esplanade.

Cr Soars said Council had already started planting some coastal vegetation in this area.

“A select amount of coastal grasses and vines along with some coastal shrubs and trees will be used,” he said.

“These local coastal plants have been growing at Council’s nursery and will be strategically planted to help with coastal recovery and provide the best protection against erosion in this area.”

The project is expected to take up to three weeks, depending on the weather and tidal conditions.

Part of the beach will be closed off to the public during the work.

For more information on Council’s coastal management work, go to the Beaches and Coastal Management page.