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21 May 2025
Project number: K3868
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How we're working to protect the Golden Beach foreshore
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Sunshine Coast Council is taking action at Golden Beach to protect our coastline and coastal communities from the impacts of climate change.
The work is being done in stages and includes upgrading approximately 300m of seawall over two projects, raising a section of the coastal pathway and constructing several new beach accesses. It’ll also include steps to manage the material containing asbestos found on some sections of the TS Onslow site.
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TS Onslow seawall and foreshore works: starting soon
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We are partnering with the Australian and Queensland governments to re-construct the seawall to protect the foreshore from Nelson Street to the TS Onslow Naval Cadets site in southern Golden Beach.
The foreshore was initially impacted in the extraordinary weather events of 2021 and 2022, with widening of the Bribie Island breakthrough increasing the coastal hazard risk to the site and other parts of Golden Beach.
Work will include building a 208-metre-long rock seawall and concrete stepped wall, two staircases and integrated beach access ramp with added landscaping.
We’ll also reconstruct the damaged boat ramp at the Navy Cadets site, enhance the surrounding parklands, improve beach accessibility and the coastal pathway.
Sunshine Coast Council would like to acknowledge 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.
What to expect:
- Works are expected to start in mid-June and be completed by early December 2025, weather depending.
- An exclusion zone will be established around the site for public safety, with signed detours for pedestrian safety.
- You will still be able to enjoy the coastal pathway and the beach in front of Beach Access 319a, and access businesses nearby.
- Be aware there’ll be some noise and temporary changes to parking.
- Most of the seawall length will be a combination of placed rock and concrete walls, as this design is easily adaptable in the future by adding extra layers of rock or higher walls.
- The northern section will feature sandstone-coloured concrete benches with a 4-metre-wide beach access ramp, which will provide excellent beach accessibility for our community. The benches are like giant stairs and are designed to be used as a gathering space with wide open seating for many people.
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Artist impression only: rock seawall and concrete stepped wall with integrated beach access ramp, protecting the foreshore from Nelson Street to the TS Onslow Naval Cadets site.
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Seawall and foreshore works at Esplanade, Golden Beach: completed
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We have completed the reconstruction of a new seawall with adaptation to future climate hazards in mind, between Jellicoe and Nelson Streets, Golden Beach.
This new seawall will help safeguard the parkland and footpath from damage caused by storm surges, sea level rise and coastal erosion.
The new seawall was installed with specially designed habitat tiles, part of a trial with the University of the Sunshine Coast and the Queensland Government funded QCoast2100 Program 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.
The project included reconstructing and raising approximately 80 metres of the existing seawall using grouted rock and installing special concrete tiles which aim to create a ‘living seawall’ with habitat for marine creatures.
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Coastal Hazard Adaptation Precinct Planning (CHAPP)
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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.
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Woody debris
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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.
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Coastal pathway cleanup
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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.
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Golden Beach dredging
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We are starting our ongoing annual dredging and nourishment campaign in the Pumicestone Passage, which started on 28 April.
This campaign will run until mid-June and provide operational nourishment to beaches near the Powerboat Club, and on Golden Beach and Diamond Head to mitigate erosion as per our strategies outlined in our Shoreline Erosion Management Plan.
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Diamond Head seawall: planning for 2026
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We are preparing to go out to tender for a specialist coastal engineering design firm to design a new seawall at Diamond Head from Lamerough Canal to June Street boat ramp.
The new seawall design will account for fragmentation of Bribie Island and a 2075 planning horizon with 0.5m sea level rise. Future design scenarios will also be considered as part of this.
The scope of construction works is to complete sections along the foreshore as funding permits and to replace or relocate further landward elements such as benches, shelters, fish cleaning tables and the coastal pathway which are currently at risk from inundation.
Design and permits are expected to be completed by late 2025 and the first stage of works is expected to start around mid to late March 2026.
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Stay updated
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Please share this with family and friends who may be interested in Golden Beach and encourage them to subscribe.
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For more information
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To learn more about the TS Onslow seawall and foreshore works project:
Sunshine Coast Council would like to acknowledge 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.
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Bribie Island breakthrough
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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.
Council welcomes the State Government’s recent announcement of an independent review of the Bribie Island breakthrough led by coastal engineering experts RPS and International Coastal Management. We also welcome the State Government’s strong focus on consultation with the local community to ensure your concerns are heard.
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