Golden Beach seawall: protecting coastline and enhancing access

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Work to protect the Golden Beach foreshore is underway as part of the Bribie Island breakthrough action plan. It includes upgrading seawalls, building new beach accesses, raising sections of the coastal pathway and other foreshore works.

The work in this area is being delivered in sections as funding and grants allow (see map below).

Completed

Seawall renewal - Jellicoe and Nelson Streets, Golden Beach
Seawall renewal – TS Onslow to Nelson Street, Golden Beach
Renewal of rock groynes at Oxley Street, Leichardt Street, Wills Avenue and Jellicoe Street
Temporary pathway and parkland works at Diamond Head - due to Bribie Island breakthroughs 2 and 3

Underway

Diamond Head seawall and parkland design - Lamerough Canal to the June Street boat ramp
Minor foreshore sand nourishment with a dredge

Map of Golden Beach and Diamond Head - showing foreshore and seawall works areas

Community updates

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We are committed to updating our community about the Golden Beach foreshore works.

Read through the latest Community Updates below.

Community Updates

Seawall renewal: TS Onslow to Nelson Street, Golden Beach

Foreshore works and seawall construction

We’re building a stronger, smarter coastline at Golden Beach.

Works are now complete, working with the Australian and Queensland governments, rebuilding the seawall to protect the foreshore from Nelson Street to the TS Onslow Naval Cadets site in southern Golden Beach.

The project will improve access to the beach and water, and reduce coastal impacts to the park area around the TS Onslow Naval Cadets.

Works included building a 208-metre-long rock seawall and concrete stepped wall, constructing two staircases and integrated beach access ramp with added landscaping.

Funding and TS Onslow site

The TS Onslow site is owned by the Queensland Government and leased by the Navy Cadets.

Sunshine Coast Council led the project team and worked closely with both parties to deliver this important reconstruction.

Sunshine Coast Council acknowledges the funding allocation being jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. The Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games are administering the disaster funding.

Frequently asked questions - TS Onslow

Why was this work needed?

Our actions focus on protecting Golden Beach foreshore as well as the important community areas like roads, parks, and playgrounds.

The foreshore was initially impacted in the extraordinary weather events of 2021 and 2022.

Conditions at the site deteriorated quickly and erosion along the area subsequently followed due to a lack of protection along this foreshore.

Subsequent widening of the Bribie Island breakthrough has also increased the risk to the TS Onslow site and other parts of Golden Beach to coastal hazards.

Material containing asbestos was also found in 2023 and a cleanup and remediation project was initiated.

This project aimed to further prevent any asbestos from entering the passage, ensuring public safety is maintained.

A seawall will help to “cap” this material and also prevent erosion along the foreshore.

It also aimed to reconstruct the damaged boat ramp at the Navy Cadets site and improve the parklands and beach accessibility.

Surrounding infrastructure such as roads, electricity water and sewerage infrastructure will also be protected by the new seawall.

What was the scope of this project?

As part of this project, we:

constructed a new 170-metre seawall from the northern extent of the site down to the mangroves south of the site
constructed a new 4-metre-wide pedestrian and vehicle ramp at the northern end of the site with terraces to allow for seating and viewing
reconstructed the damaged boat ramp at the Navy Cadets site along with minor landscaping and improvements to the open space
retained and preserved the beach area, and pushed sand back over the base of the new seawall, ramps and stairs
removed the old foreshore protection structures in front of the TS Onslow site, such as the large concrete blocks
upgraded a stormwater pipe within the small geosynthetic bag groyne to a large rock type structure, fitted with a duckbill backflow device, to prevent sand blockages and nuisance flooding in future years.

How was the work funded?

Sunshine Coast Council acknowledges the funding allocation was jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

The Department of Sport, Racing and Olympic and Paralympic Games administered the disaster funding.

Australian Marine and Civil (AMC) was the successful tenderer.

Who designed the project?

Royal Haskoning DHV was the lead consultant for design and permits. Manly Hydraulics Laboratories (MHL) was engaged to perform physical modelling to test for wave overtopping and structure damage on the proposed design.

How were the changes to the Pumicestone Passage incorporated?

The project design factored in a 300mm increase to the tidal range in the Passage caused by the Bribie Island breakthrough, along with projected sea level rise of 0.5m by 2070.

What is Council doing about the sand over the coastal pathway?

We remain vigilant in responding to the impacts of the regular tidal inundation.

Due to the nature of tidal inundation, sand and debris will often be present within the open space and Council is attending as resources permit. This includes removing sand from the much-loved coastal pathway so our community can continue to enjoy beautiful recreational experiences in this amazing part of the Sunshine Coast.

Should you notice any hazards please report to Council on 5475 7272 or via the SCC app.

What is the woody debris along the shoreline?

We know dead plants and wood has washed up along the shoreline.

This woody debris is classified as a marine plant and is protected under the Fisheries Act 1994.

Council can’t remove it from the beaches unless it is determined as an immediate safety risk to the public.

Did you know this woody debris is actually an important part of the coastal environment? It acts to protect the coastline, hold sand in place and help the beach repair quicker.

What’s happening with the Diamond Head seawall?

Severe storm seasons from events since 2022 - 2025 have caused and rapid changes to Bribie Island and we must act to plan the protection of this well-loved space.

We have contracted coastal engineering firm JB Pacific to complete detailed design work for coastal protection works and drainage improvements at Diamond Head.

We listened closely to the feedback shared during last year’s seawall consultation. Your input helped shape the design, with changes that matter to the community – including more staircases and access ramps. We’ve also looked for ways to reduce the visual impact of the seawall, so it fits more naturally into the landscape. 

Design and permits are expected to be completed by mid-2026 and the first stage of works is expected to start around late-2026 to early-2027.

What's happening with the Coastal Hazard Adaptation Precinct Planning (CHAPP) investigations?

In response to the Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS) we are carefully investigating how to manage important coastal areas through Coastal Hazard Adaptation Precinct Planning (CHAPP) investigations at Golden Beach and Caloundra (Bulcock Beach).

As part of these investigations, from 28 October to 25 November 2024 we invited our community to provide input on coastal spaces, how they use them, their values, and their ideas on how they might be adapted against coastal hazards and flooding. Participants contributed their thoughts via an online submission form, at workshops and pop-up events, and via email.

To find out more about the engagement outcomes, including some of the key concerns and ideas raised by our community for Golden Beach and Caloundra (Bulcock Beach), visit Council’s Have your Say website or view the engagement summary.

Who is responsible for managing and monitoring Bribie Island?

Bribie Island is part of a National Park, and Pumicestone Passage lies within the Moreton Bay Marine Park, both managed by the State Government.

The Queensland Government is responsible for managing and monitoring Bribie Island. Sunshine Coast Council offers support to the Queensland Government as needed.

To enhance protection of Golden Beach and the Pumicestone Passage, the Queensland Government and their contractors undertook emergency dredging works to address the southern breakthroughs and buffer Bribie Island.

The works were informed by independent expert recommendations and community feedback gathered during recent consultation.

These emergency works are now complete and the State Government is underway with their Stage 2 planning.

Diamond Head seawall and parkland design

We’re working hard to protect and preserve the beautiful foreshore along Diamond Head at Golden Beach – so it stays just the way you know and love it.

Seawall construction and foreshore works

Severe storm seasons from 2022 - 2025 have caused rapid changes to Bribie Island and we must act to plan the protection of this well-loved space.

The seawall will be designed to be adaptable for future conditions like storm surges, high tides, sea level rise and erosion linked to the Bribie Island breakthrough* and predicted climate changes.

The project also aims to improve the stormwater outlets, coastal pathway, benches and tables, barbecues, park shade trees, shelters, and linking pathways, to more suitable locations. 

*It's important to note that the Queensland Government manages Bribie Island.

Community engagement

In November and December 2025, we invited our community to review the artist impressions for the foreshore improvements behind the new Diamond Head seawall and share what you think. 

Have we got it right? 
Coming soon: we'll invite you to let us know if we’ve got it right on the proposed landscaping elements for Keith Hill Park following construction of the Diamond Head seawall.  You can share your feedback soon on our Have your Say Sunshine Coast website. 

Why this project is needed

Council identified key areas requiring intervention through the Bribie Island Breakthrough report (BIB). The endorsed Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS) and the latest Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) have also recommended multiple actions to be undertaken along the entire Golden Beach Foreshore over the next 5-75 years.

We’ve also developed long-term adaptation options as part of the Coastal Hazard Adaptation Precinct Planning (CHAPP) to reduce the risk of coastal hazards and flooding from Bulcock Beach to Bells Creek.

Funding

The Diamond Head seawall received funding through Round 4 of the QCoast2100 program.

This is delivered in partnership with LGAQ and is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments under efficiencies realised through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), aimed at supporting priority disaster resilience and mitigation projects across Queensland.   

We’re continuing to seek further funding to be able to construct the entire wall, through State and Federal Government recovery and resilience grant opportunities as we were unsuccessful with our funding request through the State Government Coastline Recovery Package associated with TC Alfred.

Timeline

Design and permits: Mid-2026
Construction scheduled to begin: Late-2026 to early-2027

Bribie Island emergency works

Queensland Government emergency works

The works were informed by independent expert recommendations and community feedback gathered during recent consultation.

These emergency works are now complete and the Queensland Government is underway with its Stage 2 planning.

For more information on the emergency works

Visit the Coordinator-General's webpage: Bribie Island emergency works.
Contact the Bribie Island Emergency Works project team:
E: bribieisres@coordinatorgeneral.qld.gov.au
T: 1800 316 378 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am – 5pm).

Independent review of Bribie Island Breakthrough

The Queensland Government is leading the Bribie Island erosion and breakthrough review because they manage Bribie Island.

Please refer to their website for more information. 

Temporary works: Woorim Park

We are aware this area can get covered with sand and debris from the tide. We visit the area monthly to tidy it up. If you see any urgent issues, please report to Council on 5475 7272, via the SCC app, or contact us online.

Temporary works completed

To help protect the area before the seawall is built, we completed a range of temporary works which form part of the broader strategic approach. 

These temporary measures were designed to strengthen the area while longer-term solutions are planned.

We appreciated our community’s patience while these important works were carried out. Keeping Golden Beach safe and enjoyable for everyone is our top priority.

Sandstone wall construction
Pathway realignments
Rock placements in key foreshore areas
Apex Park - regular cleaning
Stormwater outlet extensions

Seawall renewal - between Jellicoe and Nelson Streets

Seawall and foreshore works - complete

We reconstructed a new seawall with adaptation to future climate hazards in mind, between Jellicoe and Nelson Streets, Golden Beach.

This project is one of the ways Council is carefully managing our coastline to protect and preserve it now and into the future.

The project included:

reconstructing and raising approximately 80 linear metres of the existing seawall using grouted rock
installing special concrete tiles to create a ‘living seawall’ with habitat for sea creatures
reconstructing and upgrading the coastal footpath
a new stairway to access the foreshore
reinstating the barbecue shelter, benches and a wheelchair accessible binoculars station
reinstating the parkland and planting.

A 'living seawall'

The project was part of a trial with the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Local Government Association of Queensland (LGAQ) to install and monitor a ‘living seawall’.

A $300,000 grant was provided to Council from the LGAQ towards building the new raised seawall and including the living seawall elements.

We attached 100 tiles to the side of the Golden Beach seawall to create an enticing home for sea creatures.

Because the constructed seawall surface is relatively smooth, the aim of the ‘living seawall’ tiles is to help mimic the natural coastal habitat, encouraging seaweed to grow and creating a home for fish and other marine life.

The Golden Beach seawall and foreshore project was completed with the support of the Queensland Government’s LGAQ QCoast₂₁₀₀ Program in association with Sunshine Coast Council.