Council faces big gaps in erosion walls

ALMOST half of the private properties fronting Gold Coast beaches lack a certified boulder wall, according to council documents.

A report discussed by councillors in closed session updates on the A-line – the last line of defence for the city’s foreshores – reveals the gaps in stopping erosion from big seas.

Council since the 1980s has aimed to build a continuous Aline along 52km of coastline, apart from the headlands, after erosion hot spots caused public infrastructure to be at risk.

About 30 tonnes of earthmoving equipment in the past week has been deployed to fill in scarping on affected beaches, the worst at Narrowneck and Burleigh, where up to two metres of sand was lost due to wild waves.

The updated report shows that of the 17.8km of public seawall on the Gold Coast’s entire foreshore, council has certified 10km or 56 per cent.

But of the 8.9km of private seawall, at least 4.2km or 47 per cent is not certified.

An investigation by council officers has found of the 526 private seawalls, at least 215 showed no evidence of certification.

“Based on recent experience, the cost to construct one metre of seawall according to existing designs is approximately $5000, the final figure being largely dependent on sand excavation requirements,” the report said.

Councils are reluctant to fix private property walls for fear of “bias” towards beachfront owners, and the State Government does not want to set a precedent by stepping in with funding.

Aware of the stalemate, Burleigh MP Michael Hart said many beachfront owners lacked walls.

The worst problem area is Palm Beach, where 89 seawalls are not certified and 113 approved. The next worst hot spot is Currumbin to Coolangatta where there is no evidence of 52 seawalls gaining certification. About 57 have been approved.

Mr Hart told the Bulletin: “(The work) really needs to be done at the same time. When (the council) do one section, they need to do all of it.

“I’ve spoken to property owners who are in their 70s and 80s. They don’t have enough money to do the Awall. They’re asset rich but cash poor.”

Mr Hart believes a solution is council continuing with its work on Crown land along with neighbouring privately owned sections of foreshore, then billing the property owner “when the house changes hands”. the funds to fix the