Council to reprofile Magnetic Island beach
Date published: 17 May 2022
Townsville City Council will help strengthen Nelly Bay’s coastal defence, as reprofiling work on the beach starts this week.
Council will use an excavator, a skid-steer loader and a large dump truck over the next few weeks to move accumulated sand and sediment at the Nelly Bay beach to areas on the foreshore that have been impacted by erosion.
Community Health, Safety and Environmental Sustainability Committee chairperson Maurie Soars said the works aimed to reduce the impact of erosion and make the beach more resilient to future weather events.
“Townsville City Council manages 180km of coastline, and each year we identify parts that have been impacted by erosion and need restoring as part of our coastal management works,” Cr Soars said.
“Council will spend $60,000 to carry out the vital works at Nelly Bay to preserve the foreshore as a natural resource for the community.
“This work will ensure locals and visitors to the island can continue to enjoy the beach.”
Mayor Jenny Hill said this work was an important part of keeping Magnetic Island pristine.
“The island is an important part of tourism for the Townsville region, and we want to ensure the island's natural beauty can be enjoyed by everyone,” Cr Hill said.
“Weather events like the significant amount of rain the region last week can negatively impact Townsville and Magnetic Island’s coastlines.
“Council conducts the reprofiling work on the beach each year because if this work is not carried out, it could create lasting damage to the coastal foreshore and Council infrastructure.”
For more information on coastal management works, visit Beaches & Coastal Management.
