Council ramps up Coochie foreshore protection

Shoreline protection works on Coochiemudlo Island are underway as Redland City Council replaces a worn and damaged foreshore access ramp at Morwong Beach, and installs a gate that will better manage vehicle access to the shore.

Mayor Karen Williams said the works were an outcome of the Coochiemudlo Island Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP), which investigated the underlying causes of shoreline erosion on the island and provided a framework for Council to respond to erosion.

“The Coochiemudlo Island SEMP was adopted by Council in 2019, and was developed with input from a Community Reference Group as well as expert professional advice from qualified coastal engineers and the Queensland Government,” she said.

“These works at Morwong Beach were identified in the SEMP as a priority.

“With approximately 335km of coastline at our city’s edges, coastal erosion is important to Council, and this current work on Coochie is a vital part of protecting the island’s coastline now and into the future.”

Division 4 Councillor Lance Hewlett said the existing foreshore access ramp, which had not been installed or approved by Council, was so worn it had become a hazard for the island community and visitors.

“To protect both people and the shoreline, Council is installing a semi-permanent foreshore access ramp that will allow pedestrians and small, non-powered watercraft, such as kayaks, access to the beach,” he said.

“A gate will also be installed to restrict access for larger vehicles while still providing access for kayak trolleys.

“Coochiemudlo Island is a natural gem for our city and restricting beach access for larger vehicles is important for the protection of the foreshore’s environmental and heritage values.”

The Morwong Beach works are currently underway and are expected to be complete by late July, weather and conditions permitting.

They follow Council’s 140m of beach replenishment at the island’s Norfolk Beach in June.