Council survey work has found the north facing area of Dog Beach which was created to protect Hays Island, now known as Noosa Sound, is eroding at a rate of 27,000 cubic metres per year.
Council papers say the future rate of erosion is difficult to predict but what is certain is “that the Council would need to intervene to ensure that no break through would occur to protect the overall purpose of the Noosa Spit, i.e. protecting Hayes Island (Noosa Sound)”.
Council officers have applied for grant funding under the Natural Disaster Resilience Program to assist in the funding of a Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP),
Council says implementing a SEMP will require “coastal data collection, river and near shore bathymetry collection, creation of a numerical model that can accurately model sediment transport followed by a remediation options analysis” Sand nourishment is recommeneded as a remediation option in the short term.
Council officers also held meetings last July with the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection (DEHP) to discuss the possibility of recommencing dredging and beach nourishment within the Noosa Spit area. A dredge permit for the area expired in May 2009.
Council said recommencement of dredging was provisionally supported by DEHP and if a permit application was successful Noosa Council would be able to dredge and place up to 100,000sqm of sand per year.
Future action on the Dog Beach is on the agenda of current council meetings.
