Race to Restore Gold Coast Beaches Before Holiday Season Begins
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is optimistic that the Gold Coast’s significant erosion issues can be resolved in time for Easter.
The aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred has exposed the extensive erosion on the Gold Coast, with an estimated five million cubic meters of sand being washed away into the sea.
Despite the challenges, Mayor Tom Tate is confident that the seaside region can be rejuvenated before the Easter holidays.
“Eighty percent of our beach has eroded into the ocean,” he acknowledged, but he remains hopeful that the situation will normalize before the school holidays.
He encouraged visitors to come to Queensland, assuring them that the beaches will be open and enjoyable. He mentioned plans to dredge the sand from the ocean and pump it back onto the shore.
The proposed method involves a unique “rainbow-style dredging” approach, where a barge will lift sand from the seabed and transport it through the air back to the beach.
Historically, the Easter holidays have injected $2.5 billion into the state’s economy, with the Gold Coast typically generating $500 million weekly from tourism alone.
As of March 13, Mayor Tate confirmed the reopening of Burleigh, Greenmount, and Coolangatta beaches, with plans for more announcements soon. Lifeguard services have been restored at these locations.
Mayor Tate remains determined to expedite the restoration process, aiming for the beaches to be fully operational well before the Easter holidays, citing the severe erosion caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald in 2013 as a reminder of the urgency.
Former Queensland Tourism Industry Council CEO Daniel Gschwind expressed concerns about the prolonged erosion’s financial toll, emphasizing the perishable nature of tourism income.
While hopeful for a swift resolution, Gschwind cautioned that the erosion could impact visitor numbers and undermine the Gold Coast’s tourism appeal.
The Easter school holidays are scheduled to take place from April 5 to 21.
