Moffat Beach Seawall Reconstruction Project

Subscribe for email updates

The Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction project is a crucial initiative to protect our community parklands, paths, roads and facilities from the impacts of future climate change, while also keeping our coastline healthy and maintaining access to the beautiful beach.

The seawall has faced significant challenges, with the western section being damaged by severe weather and rainfall in 2022 and the middle section being damaged again in early 2024.

We are scheduled to begin rebuilding the western and middle sections in mid-2025 subject to design and approvals to be completed. We want to assure you that we are exploring all options to construct a new seawall that will stand the test of time. We are committed to keeping the community informed as the project progresses.

Your safety

Beach access, chairs and tables remain open however we strongly urge you to stay off the seawall completely and avoid the beach area at the base of the rock wall.

Rocks can fall onto the beach at any time, and quickly – within about 10-20 seconds – which means that anyone standing at the base of the rock wall may be injured.

The safety signage and fencing will remain in place for the time being.

Western and middle sections reconstruction

Reconstruction work will include a new vehicle access ramp, new stairs, new showers, additional seating, a wider coastal pathway and associated landscaping elements.

Expert coastal engineering advice

Expert engineers have been engaged to conduct a full geotechnical investigation and coastal modelling process. They will then use this information to design the final seawall type and alignment. This process will be peer reviewed by another expert in the field.

This advice will guide us in choosing the best course of action that prioritises community safety and the health of our coastline, including not changing or impacting the surf break Moffat Beach is famous for, nor losing sand from this popular beach.

We want to create a seawall design robust enough to withstand future climate events. The final design will also need to meet the Queensland Government’s criteria for seawall design and be approved by the State.

Project timeline

Mid-2025: Seawall reconstruction – This is an important timeframe and is driving our efforts towards investigations and designs through 2024. Seawall reconstruction work needs to take place during winter when there are less storms and swells and should be avoided through the summer months due to the significantly increased risks for safety, time and costs. Construction is dependent on receiving all relevant approvals.

End-2024: Seawall planning – Investigation, design and approval stage complete to make way for construction mid-2025 during winter when there are less storms and swell.

Mid-2024: Expert coastal engineering advice – Expert engineers engaged to conduct a full geotechnical investigation and coastal modelling process. They will use this information to design the final seawall type and alignment. This process will be peer reviewed by another expert in the field.

Jul-Aug 2024: Work to stabilise the seawall – You may notice machinery working at the seawall. This is to reposition rocks that have become unstable to prevent the rocks falling onto the beach. It won’t fix the wall or lessen the risk of more rocks falling. The fencing will still be required after that work has been completed.

Beach access

The seawall design will incorporate a new pedestrian and vehicle access ramp. The full reconstruction of the new access ramp will be integrated into and constructed at the same time as the seawall. We are continuing to investigate options to provide safe temporary pedestrian access in the location of the current access ramp until the new seawall and access ramp can be constructed.

We encourage you to continue using the temporary beach access we created next to Eleanor Shipley Park. It has a gentle slope to provide an alternative beach access for people who are unable to use stairs. The surface of beach access 273 is cement treated decomposed granite, which is similar to other beach access points and provides a hard base with a natural beach look. The access was also widened to approximately two metres and fenced either side.

Funding

A total of $4.55 million has been allocated to rebuild the western and middle sections of the Moffat Beach seawall. This includes:

$1.6 million from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority under a Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement agreement (approved in May 2023) for the western section
$150,000 from the Department of Transport and Main Roads (approved in August 2023) for the western section
$2.85 million through Council's 2024-25 Capital works program budget (approved 20 June 2024) for the middle section.

This also includes landscaping elements to reinstate any areas impacted by construction of the seawall. The funding from Council was approved on June 20, 2024, and will enable us to rebuild both sections simultaneously, minimising impacts on our community.

Community engagement

While the seawall's design and alignment will be required to meet design and construction standards, manage coastal erosion, adhere to state requirements and be safe for the public, we will be seeking community input into what they value about the surrounding area to help us with our planning. The community will have a chance to give their thoughts on the open space design elements behind the seawall including: plants, including large shade trees, and landscaping.

Frequently asked questions

Moffat Beach seawall approval process

Reconstructed seawall requirements

The Moffat Beach seawall needs to:

adhere to modern coastal engineering standards
be designed for the specific Moffat Beach coastal conditions
keep our community safe
balance the protection of the park and the health of our beaches and coastline
be constructed lawfully with all necessary statutory approvals obtained.

The current seawall has failed and a new design for the reconstructed seawall will alter the footprint.

This change to the seawall’s footprint means the Seawall Reconstruction Project Team will need to submit a development application and receive approval for the new design before any work can begin.

The application process

The steps that must be followed to submit an application are:

seek pre-lodgement advice from the Queensland Government before the application is lodged
obtain the landowner’s consent (Queensland Government)
lodge the application with Council as the assessment manager
refer the application to the Queensland Government’s State Assessment and Referral Agency
answer any information requests from either Council (the assessment manager) or the State
wait for the State’s review response
Council (the assessment manager) makes the final decision on the application and, if approved, issues the decision notice inclusive of any conditions from the State’s referral agencies.

Submitting an application

The reconstruction of the seawall is considered assessable development under the Queensland Government’s Planning Regulation 2017. Assessable development requires an approval before any work can begin.

This involves the Seawall Reconstruction Project Team submitting a development application for assessment and decision by an assessment manager.

The seawall application will be for Operational Work (Prescribed Tidal Works) because it involves activities in the tidal zone (as defined by the Queensland Government’s Coastal Management and Protection Act 1995).

There are two categories of assessment for assessable development: code and impact.

The seawall is a code assessable application.

Assessment manager

As per schedule 8, table 2, item 1 (c) of the Planning Regulation 2017, the local government is the assessment manager for development applications for prescribed tidal works within the tidal area for a local government area.

This means Sunshine Coast Council is the assessment manager.

Assessing the application – Sunshine Coast Council

Council (the assessment manager) will assess the application against the Queensland Government’s prescribed tidal works code in Schedule 3 of the Coastal Management and Protection Regulation 2017.

The Seawall Reconstruction Project team will also refer the application to the Queensland Government’s State Assessment and Referral Agency for assessment as the project will impact on Matters of State Environmental Significance.

Matters of State Environmental Significance – Queensland Government

The Seawall Reconstruction Project Team understands that as part of this process the project will require assessment of:

maritime safety – assessed by Maritime Safety Queensland
tidal work – assessed by the Department of Environment, Science and Innovation
removal, destruction or damage of marine plants – assessed by the Department of Agriculture and Forestry.

The Queensland Government has a list of requirements for each aspect listed above and the seawall project must make sure that the application adheres to these requirements.

The requirements are in the following State Development Assessment Provisions:

State Code 7 – Maritime safety
State Code 8 – Coastal development and tidal works
State Code 11 – Removal, destruction or damage of marine plants.

Timeframes

The Queensland Government assessment process has several steps and timeframes for approval that can often take between six and nine months, with no limit on how many information requests the State can ask about the application.

It is important that the seawall design meets the performance outcomes of the relevant codes. If the application is refused or the design requires large changes then the Seawall Reconstruction Project Team may need to reapply. This starts the process again which could mean a delay of up to 12 months.

Definitions

Assessable development under section 28 is operational works that are:

(a) tidal works, or

(b) any of the following carried out completely or partly in a coastal management district:

(i) interfering with quarry material, as defined under the Coastal Act, on State coastal

land above high-water mark

(ii) disposing of dredge spoil, or other solid waste material, in tidal water

(iii) constructing an artificial waterway

(iv) removing or interfering with coastal dunes on land, other than State coastal land, that is in an erosion prone area.

Operational work means work, other than building work or plumbing or drainage work, in, on, over or under premises that materially affects premises or the use of premises

Prescribed tidal works means tidal works of a type prescribed under the Coastal Act, section 167(5)(d).

Coastal seawall design considerations

Seawalls help to prevent the loss of land caused by coastal erosion and act as a barrier against storm surges and high tides. They safeguard important community infrastructure like roads, parks, car parks, pathways, playgrounds and amenity blocks.

Coastal seawall design needs to consider several key factors to be effective and long lasting.

Be location specific: Seawalls need to consider the unique coastal process and aspects of their specific coastal location, adhere to modern engineering standards, comply with legislative requirements and be approved by the relevant authorities.

Breaking waves: The seawall design should aim to dissipate wave energy rather than reflect it. The wall should make the waves interact gently instead of hitting it hard. This can be achieved by using a sloped profile and/or include voids the water can go into. Either will reduce the force of the waves hitting the wall.

Community safety: The seawall should be high enough to reduce “overtopping’’ by waves during a weather event and mitigate damage to the area behind the wall and potential risks to anyone on the foreshore.

A healthy coastline: A seawall should minimise the impact on the area’s coastal process and not significantly change the amount of sand moving in and out with storms and the tide.

Strong materials: It should use durable, non-corrosive materials such as stone or concrete, to withstand harsh coastal conditions, keep the maintenance low and not break down in the water.

Height and strength: The seawall should be strong enough to withstand the maximum expected wave forces for its location and be able to stand up on its own. For a sloped seawall, current engineering standards consider this to be a minimum of 1:1.5 profile which is for every 1 metre high, the seawall should be 1.5 metres wide and have big enough rocks that can not move in storm events.

Strong foundations: A deep and stable foundation is crucial to prevent undermining and collapse of the seawall so it does not get washed away. The foundation should be buried deep in the sand and below the expected erosion levels.

Be future proof: Designs must adhere to modern engineering standards and consider future sea-level rise and increased storm intensity due to climate change.

Drainage and erosion control: Proper drainage systems need to be incorporated into the design to prevent water from accumulating behind the wall and causing structural failure.

Consider amenity: Seawall designs should consider the visual impact on the coastal landscape and incorporate features that help it to blend with the surroundings. They can incorporate steps or places where people can sit, watch the waves and enjoy the beach.

Cost-effectiveness: A seawall design should balance initial construction costs with long-term maintenance needs. Making use of locally available materials is one such avenue for cost effectiveness.

Norfolk trees

We are committed to ensuring the safety at, and beauty of, our beloved Moffat Beach and we are aware of our community’s concerns about the Norfolk trees.

To ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the new structure – and the safety of our community and health of the beach – we are seeking the advice of experienced, independent expert engineers who specialise in coastal engineering projects.

They will use localised data and modelling to assess what is most appropriate for this specific location.

No specific design outcome or seawall alignment has been pre-determined or selected.

There may be multiple solutions, or a single outcome and we have asked the consultants to look at options that could support retention of the Norfolk Trees.

Whatever the final design may be, we must ensure it complies with the Coastal Management and Protection Regulation 2017. This is because we are committed to ensuring the reconstructed seawall meets engineering standards and is lawfully constructed meeting all necessary statutory approvals.

Until such time as this analysis is complete, and the potential implications for the existing open space and vegetation behind the seawall is understood, Council is uncertain as to the impact this will have on the Norfolk Trees

Once the options analysis is complete and we have the consultant’s recommendations, we will update our community.

We encourage our community to subscribe to receive updates.

Community updates

We are committed to providing updates and information to the community as the reconstruction progresses.

Community update 28 August 2024

Community update July 2024

Community update 7 August 2024

Eastern section

The eastern section of seawall is only showing small signs of movement. Access to this section has been restricted as the soil failure may extend through this section if conditions deteriorate. Monitoring will continue for public safety.

Moffat Beach Place Plan

Later this year we will embark on the Moffat Beach Place Plan project, which will help shape the future of this much-loved local place. We encourage everyone with an interest in the Moffat Beach to subscribe for updates.

By doing so, you will stay informed about our plans and have the opportunity to share your ideas regarding future landscaping and recreation areas, traffic safety and streetscape elements across Moffat Beach’s commercial and surrounding areas.

Background

After the rain event in February 2022, a 50m section along the western part of the seawall at Moffat Beach collapsed due to a geotechnical (soil) failure.

A temporary fix to the failed section was completed in April 2022 (see background). The repairs stabilised that section of wall, but more work is needed to bring it up to current engineering standards. Planning for the reconstruction of this section – known as the western section – is underway.

Unfortunately, the same soil failure is continuing along the seawall. Council has been monitoring the wall. After the summer season, the middle section of seawall is also showing signs of significant movement and will need to be rebuilt.

For this reason, we have decided to restrict all access to the entire seawall for our community’s safety. A beach fence has been installed and will stay in place until it is reconstructed.