Updates

Council is watching closely and responding to as its able. 

Tide heights

It is the Queensland Government’s responsibility to determine the new high tide level in the Pumicestone Passage.

However, since the breakthrough, tidal monitoring in the Pumicestone Passage has been completed by council and has shown a change to the tidal dynamics of:

• a reduction in the tidal attenuation in the Passage (tidal attenuation is the reduction in tidal profile between 2 locations)
• an increase to the high tide by 310mm (as analysed by independent consultants engaged through Council).

Conditions within the Pumicestone Passage are continuing to change. Tides are dependent on many factors such as the width of the entrances, the sand bars in the delta, storm/wave surges and barometric pressure.

The emergency preparedness flood mapping and available on Disaster Hub remains appropriate and around Golden Beach are indicative of a storm tide event slightly larger than ex-Tropical Cyclone Seth.

These maps also demonstrate that if such an event was to occur, there would be inundation of roads reserves and park areas, but inundation of private lots would be limited.

We would like to reassure Golden Beach residents that we are taking their concerns and this change seriously.

As a high priority we are investigating both short and long-term protection measures. This piece of work is complicated, costly and involved and will take time to deliver the most appropriate outcome.

As high priority, council will engage with experts for advice, support, planning and action. Longer term solutions will take time and council will continue to update Golden Beach property owners when expert information comes to hand. Please refer to 'next steps' for further information.

Sand nourishment

Council will analyse recent surveys and on-site observations to determine future requirements for sand nourishment dredging work while taking into consideration its dredge permit conditions. As the recent December 2023 surveys show slight increases in sand across to the north of Lamerough Canal to Bulcock Beach and slight decrease to the south from Bells Creek to Lamerough Canal. Council expects to undertake minor nourishment along the foreshore from May 2024. 

Sand movement

The sand bars in the northern area of the Pumicestone Passage have been shifting in response to the breakthrough. The volume increase in sand in the northern entrance of the Pumicestone Passage is consistent with the low energy (low currents and low waves) environment that it is currently under. There has also been a general shift westward of the sand banks immediately in front of the southern breakthrough which is as expected.

As the sands shift and the entrances stabilise it will be imperative to continue to monitor the foreshore to understand and changes. We ask all our powered and non-powered watercraft users to take care and regularly check the MSQ website for updates.

TS onslow site: 101 Esplanade Golden Beach asbestos

For updates on the seawall reconstruction at the TS Onslow, Golden Beach, please refer to the Golden Beach foreshore works page.

Stormwater network backflow prevention

The higher tide levels have increased the frequency of nuisance flooding in lower-lying areas of Golden Beach and Diamond Head, due to backflow through the stormwater network. Backflow prevention devices can reduce the amount of water that can flow backwards up the stormwater pipe. A relatively new style of backflow prevention device will be trialed to test how they perform under the local conditions at Golden Beach and in the Pumicestone Passage.

Stormwater network modelling and site investigations have concluded that backflow prevention devices are not suitable for all stormwater outlets in the area with current site conditions. Reasons include, at some locations the:

• adjacent ground level is low enough for the tide to frequently overtop, effectively bypassing the backflow prevention device
• outlets and/or stormwater network requires upgrading or significant modification to be able to retrofit backflow prevention
• installation of a backflow device could worsen flooding during heavy rainfall events.

The results of the trial will be used to inform whether they should be installed at other suitable locations and if they can be incorporated into future stormwater infrastructure upgrades delivered in the area.