An $18.2 million artificial reef is set to be built off the Gold Coast’s erosion-prone Palm Beach to protect the long, straight beach from thumping waves.
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Palm Beach and Narrowneck were the two worst-affected beaches on the Gold Coast last week during Cyclone Oma’s heavy swells.
Historically Palm Beach is one of the worst-hit areas on the Gold Coast during storms and cyclones.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate on Monday morning announced that work on Palm Beach’s artificial reef would begin in April, after almost four years of planning and testing.
"The main reason we are doing this is to protect property and lives," Cr Tate said.
"The most vulnerable part of our coastline after Narrowneck has been Palm Beach," he said.
"So it is a wonderful day, finally, to be able to say we are going to commence this artificial reef."
The artificial reef will be 160 metres long and about 80 metres wide and will protect the beach by disrupting waves.
That will allow sand to build up along Palm Beach to replenish areas affected by beach erosion.
The idea was conceived as part of the Gold Coast City Council’s Ocean Beaches Strategy, put in place to fund strategic beach projects in 2015.
One of the projects was to protect Palm Beach, firstly by shifting sand to the erosion-prone region and then ultimately by building an artificial reef.
It was funded in the 2016 Gold Coast City Council budget and testing had been ongoing.
Cr Tate said that testing was complete.
"All necessary planning for phase 2 of the project has been done and we are now ready to commence," he said.
"The second phase will add significant protection to one of our most vulnerable stretches of coastline."
He said there would be little disruption to anyone living or holidaying near Palm Beach.
"Residents will see construction vessels on the water working around the clock," he said.
"There will be some lights reflecting from the work at night but not enough to disturb residents," he said.
The artificial work was set to be finished by October 2019.
That will mean some new waves from the artificial reef, as a by-product for surfers, Cr Tate said.
"If you are a strong paddler, you have the opportunity for some new waves out there," he said.
"But still, there’ll be no fishing."
The contract to build the artificial reef was awarded in October 2018 and won by Hall Contracting Pty Ltd and Heron Construction Company.
