Beaches restoration program (Cyclone Alfred)
- Project typeOceans, beaches & waterways
- Project scheduleMarch to May 2025
Cyclone Alfred hit the Gold Coast hard in March 2025, causing severe erosion and damaging our beaches.
What happened?
The cyclone caused steep sand scarping and damaged access ways and coastal infrastructure. We lost about 4 million cubic metres of sand, which is around 320,000 semi-trailer loads.
Heavy machinery will be on the beach as we work through the clean-up. Our crews will reduce steep sand scarps, clear debris and close off damaged areas.
Our beaches are still at risk from storms and big waves. We may use sand from stockpiles, offshore dredging and sand bypassing to restore high-risk areas. Some northern access points may stay closed for weeks or months for repairs. We're looking into long-term solutions to speed up the recovery of our beaches.
Find out which beaches are now open on our Beach locations page.
Surfers Paradise update
We are installing rock bags along a 250 metre stretch near Elkhorn Avenue to prevent further damage from high tides and swell conditions. These rock bags will provide extra protection while the sand is being replenished. Phase 1 of the work is timed to ensure the coastline is protected before the next king high tide.
At the end of April, after the predicted Easter high tides, we will start Phase 2. This phase is a longer-term solution placing geobags filled with sand to help restore the beach and reduce its vulnerability. The geobags will be in place for about 12 months to help protect the coastline while the beaches naturally restore themselves.
The community may experience some impacts during this project:
- Pedestrian access will be limited on the beach and along the pedestrian area of the Surfers Paradise esplanade for safety reasons.
- Residents and visitors are asked to use alternative routes during the construction period.
Northern beaches update
Our northern beaches were hit hardest by Cyclone Alfred. Here's what we're doing to fix them.
Narrowneck
Sand nourishment efforts continue to be prioritised. We're undertaking ongoing scarping reduction and beach profile shaping works to maintain beach access.
Main Beach
A large amount of sand was trucked in to stabilise the Oceanway. Due to ongoing erosion undermining the asset, the Hollindale Park Oceanway was removed on April 1 due to safety concerns. Works will continue to ensure safety and reinstate beach access ways and ongoing maintenance as required.
We will keep a large stockpile of sand at Higman Street for ongoing use in Narrowneck, Main Beach and Surfers Paradise.
Dredging
We are undertaking a beach nourishment campaign to speed up the recovery of high-priority areas between Surfers Paradise and Main Beach where recent erosion has exposed seawalls, reduced dune volumes and impacted beach amenity.
We are estimating to dredge and transfer several thousand cubic metres of sand from offshore sand deposits closer to shore.
The TrudR vessel dredging works are expected to commence Saturday 5 April for approximately 8 weeks.
Surfers Paradise Backpass System update
The Surfers Paradise Sand Backpass System is a sand transport system that runs from The Spit to Surfers Paradise. The system delivers sand via an underground pipeline to replace sand on the Gold Coast's northern beaches.
The temporary pipe at Main Beach was damaged during Cyclone Alfred. It is being repaired and will be working by May. You might see our equipment and extra pipeline in April as we get ready.
We are planning a longer backpass campaign this year in response to the effects of Cyclone Alfred. Our goal with the backpass is to make the beach wider, not higher.
For details, visit our Surfers Paradise Backpass System page
Northern beaches project
The coastline between Narrowneck and Main Beach was identified as the highest-risk area for erosion, threatening public infrastructure, beach amenity, and tourism before Cyclone Alfred. The Northern Beaches Project aims to address this with long-term solutions to stabilise the coastline and protect against climate change.
The project will:
- stabilise sand and reduce erosion
- improve beach width for tourism and public access
- protect public assets like the seawall
- address climate change impacts.
This project will create a stable, sustainable coastline, benefiting the community and supporting the local economy.
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Questions you've asked us
Is the water safe to swim in?
Our water testing has confirmed that the water quality across the City's swimming areas and open beaches has returned to safe levels.
While we have cleared major debris from the foreshores of our beaches, swimming enclosures and lagoons, debris may still float down the waterways from the catchments. We urge everyone to take care when swimming and enjoying our waterways.
Please remember rainfall can affect water quality because it collects pollutants from streets, gardens, and farms, which then flow into our creeks, rivers, and oceans through the stormwater system. This runoff can increase bacteria levels, making the water unsafe for swimming. Always avoid swimming in water that looks discoloured, murky, or smells bad, and stay away from stormwater drains.
Find out more on safe swimming in recreational waters.
What are you doing to make sure the beach is safe?
Asset inspections and assessments are being undertaken to confirm that all necessary amenities and assets for the safe use of a beach are available (such as platforms, showers and pathways).
Will the upcoming beach events still be on?
We are working hard to ensure the scheduled events on our beaches can take place. We will work with the event organiser to review current plans and prioritise our actions.
We need to watch the sand over the next 2 to 3 weeks to see if it returns naturally before taking any action, as the high tides might wash away any sand we place.
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