News

The Kirra Beach Restoration Project is a State Government-funded initiative to address the build-up of sand on Kirra beach.

A public information evening was held on Thursday 30 July to outline short term works and proposed medium term work options. The evening provided an opportunity for stakeholders and the local community to provide input into the project. The community also had the opportunity to contribute to the long term vision for the management of Kirra beach.

•  Project questions and answers (PDF 84kb)

Short term works

Following the Premier's commitment to provide $1.5 million for the Kirra Beach Restoration Project, the Minister for Climate Change and Sustainability and Gold Coast Mayor expressed an interest in undertaking the first part of the project in July 2009. These short term works included:

• Council delivery of the short term component of the Kirra beach Restoration Project; works are expected to be completed on Friday 31 July 2009
• short term works consisted of moving 10,000m³ of sand from Kirra beach to Palm Beach Avenue, Palm Beach to assist in restoring beach access and to further assist with Council's Currumbin Estuary dredging campaign; these works were completed on Friday 24 July 2009
• short term works also included moving 10,000m³ of sand on Kirra beach to fill in low spots that have formed in the upper beach at Kirra; these works are expected to be completed on Friday 31 July 2009
• short term works form the first stage of work being completed through the State Government's allocation of $1.5 million for restoring Kirra beach

Medium term work options

The Kirra Beach Restoration Project medium term works will likely consist of moving larger amounts of sand from the intertidal zone at Kirra beach, and using this sand to build dunes in the upper beach areas between Kirra and North Kirra. This will create a new primary dune system.

Council has consulted key stakeholders including the State Government's Department of Environment and Resource Management, in order to identify likely preferred outcomes. These have formed the basis of proposed works and options for sand movement.

Your feedback on the Kirra beach medium term works is invited. We encourage you to indicate your preferred option and provide comment.

•  Download your feedback form (PDF 568kb)

Mail your feedback to:

Attention Ramon Palomar
Gold Coast City Council
Engineering Services
PO Box 5042 GCMC QLD 9729

Feedback will be received until Friday 21 August 5pm.

From input received, an agreed option will be presented to the State Government for medium term works to be delivered within the 2009-10 financial year.

The estimated project budget to undertake medium term works is the remainder of the State Government's allocation of $1.5 million.

Long term management works

Council will be undertaking both short and medium term aspects of the Kirra Beach Restoration Project on behalf of the State Government, through the Premier's allocation of $1.5 million to restore Kirra beach.

Your feedback on the Kirra beach long term management works is invited until Friday 21 August 5pm.

•  Download your feedback form (PDF 568kb)

Mail your feedback to:

Attention Ramon Palomar
Gold Coast City Council
Engineering Services
PO Box 5042 GCMC QLD 9729

Long term management ideas will be forwarded to the State Government for consideration.

Contact us

For more information, contact Project Manager Ramon Palomar on (07) 5581 1762.

Visitors to Gold Coast beaches can soon look forward to the return of Surf Life Saving patrols with the commencement of a new season.

Patrols will recommence on Saturday 20 September 2008 and will continue for weekends and public holidays until the May Day long weekend in 2009.

Community and Cultural Development Committee Chair Councillor Bob La Castra said he believed the combination of volunteer surf lifesavers and Council’s professional Lifeguard Service provided Gold Coast beaches with the most comprehensive beach safety coverage in Australia.

“Every year, lives are saved and this is a real credit to the commitment of our lifeguards and surf lifesavers who help keep our beaches safe,” said Cr La Castra.

“The warmer weather means a significant increase in the number of people on our beaches and the top priority is to ensure that after a fun day of surf and sand, everyone goes home safely.

“Beach goers can help our lifeguards and volunteers by making sure they are mindful of beach conditions and not take unnecessary risks.

“The most important message is always swim between the flags.”

The Gold Coast City Council employs the largest professional Lifeguard Service in Australia, which is responsible for the surveillance of the region's 60 kilometre coastal strip.

The Lifeguard Service employs 37 permanent staff and 120 seasonal staff, who patrol 26 beaches year round and 42 beaches during school holidays.

The Gold Coast will receive more than $1.6 million in disaster relief funding from the State Government to help cover the cost of emergency and post-disaster repairs.

Mayor Ron Clarke said the relief funding was welcome and recognised the significant clean-up costs resulting from major storms and extreme weather events.

“This funding is for flood damage sustained by the city in late December 2007 and early January 2008,” said Cr Clarke.

“While we recognise the State Government’s assistance in the wake of major storms, it is appropriate that we also recognise the extraordinary efforts of many dedicated people who work so hard in these clean-up efforts.

“Council staff, contractors and volunteers work tirelessly cleaning up across the city following major storms.

“Many work long hours in difficult conditions repairing beaches and roads, clearing debris, and restoring vital city infrastructure to ensure the safety of local residents and visitors.

“For most people, the cyclonic conditions that decimated our city’s beautiful beaches earlier this year are now just a distant memory, yet after only a couple of months, many of these beaches are already back to their former glory.

“In fact, most of our beaches were re-opened to the public within days of the cyclone.

“It is very easy to forget that this does not happen by itself.”

The relief funding represents 75 per cent of the estimated $2.1 million clean-up bill following the 2007-08 storms.

Weed removal, revegetation and planting days will soon breathe new life into dune areas along Kurrawa Park.

Council’s Engineering Services Committee Chair Cr Dawn Crichlow said a recent health check identified areas suffering from overgrown weeds.

“Some of the plant species used in adjacent landscaping have encroached into the dune areas and illegal dumping of rubbish and camping have also affected their appearance,” said Cr Crichlow.

“The aim of the revegetation project is to regenerate the bare sections of dune within the project area, control and manage weeds and maintain the site to prevent weed re-colonisation.”

Divisional Councillor Eddy Sarroff said the removal of weeds and increased diversity and cover of native vegetation would significantly improve the ecological health and stability of the dune areas.

“The dunes were in need some TLC and after the revegetation work, residents will really notice a difference,” said Cr Sarroff.

“I am encouraging the local community to be part of this revegetation project, and anyone interested in participating in the planting days should phone (07) 5508 2046.”

Following extensive community consultation, plans for the Tallebudgera Creek to 23rd Avenue Oceanway at Palm Beach will be altered to reflect community concerns.

Today’s  (Wednesday) Engineering Services Committee meeting approved a revised plan.

Committee Chair, Councillor Dawn Crichlow, said the decision was a win for the community that had played a major role in guiding the future needs and infrastructure of the city.

“The Tallebudgera Creek to 23rd Avenue Oceanway project has received some strong opposing comments. Council has listened to community concerns and the plan has been significantly altered in line with those concerns,” said Cr Crichlow.

Divisional Councillor Daphne McDonald said the decision highlighted the community had been listened to and that plans for works had been significantly altered to accommodate most of the their concerns.

“Council is happy to continue to receive more comment from the community about this project and where possible we will include suggested changes in the detailed design process,” said Cr McDonald.

“The public already enjoys walking along the beachfront road reserve between Tallebudgera Surf Life Saving Club and 23rd Avenue at the northern end of Palm Beach. This project simply involves new pavement to formalise an area of existing public access. There was some community concern about the proposed project so Council put the original master plan on public display.”

Two hundred and forty five written submissions were received about the master plan with 68 per cent of people in support of the works.

“Many of the submissions made great suggestions to improve the master plan. Council has worked through these submissions and where possible modified the master plan in response to community views,” said Cr McDonald.

Changes made to the original master plan include:

• no new lighting for the pathway
• funds will be invested into the quality of dune vegetation
• a deck shown by the original master plan for 25th Avenue has been deleted from the works
• vehicle access ways and pathway have been combined into a single pavement to lesson the total width of hard surface
• the 25th Avenue street end will be changed to a cul de sac arrangement with only local vehicles encouraged to access along the esplanade
• existing legal parking will be returned

The works will commence in April 2009 and be completed by October 2009.

The community consultation report and the revised master plan are available on Council's website.