Construction on Coast artificial reef begins

CONSTRUCTION is under way on a large-scale artificial reef at Palm Beach in a bid to stop the threat of erosion.

The works started on Saturday with a backhoe dredger getting to work, along with a barge bringing rocks, weighing up to eight tonnes each, to the location. The artificial reef will be about 270m off from Nineteenth Ave and will be about 160m by 80m.

It is expected to cost about $18.2 million.

In February, Mayor Tom Tate said the project would affect the location’s wave action and currents to promote a long-term sand increase along vulnerable sections of the beach

“It’s quite a large structure, but we need to make sure this portion of our beach is safe,” he said.

“The idea is to have an artificial reef in rock structure maintained and stay here for generations to come.”

An exclusion zone is currently in place in the area, which prohibits all watercraft, swimmers and boardriders from entering the offshore reef construction site.