Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction project

Thanks for subscribing to receive updates about local Moffat Beach projects, including the Moffat Beach Place Plan and the seawall reconstruction.

In short

• We are calling on members for the Moffat Beach Place Plan Community Focus Group. Time is running out for registrations.
• Work on the seawall is going well. We’ll be opening Tooway Creek today.
• The final seawall landscape plan is now available to view on Council’s website.

Moffat Beach seawall project update

Construction is progressing well on the western section of the Moffat Beach seawall.

Over the coming weeks, the team will continue working to the east of the decommissioned boat ramp. However, if weather conditions worsen and beach widths decrease, we may need to temporarily shift focus to the section west of the boat ramp.

Moving sand to support seawall works

The amount of sand on the beach is currently lower than expected for this time of year.

To help improve working conditions and increase beach width in front of the seawall, we are relocating sand from the mouth of Tooway Creek today.

This work will also assist with managing water flow from the creek ahead of the predicted rainfall this weekend.

Some of the machinery currently working on the seawall will be used for the creek opening. Traffic controllers will be onsite to ensure the safety of both the community and our workers.

Final seawall landscape plan

The landscaping directly behind the seawall will be refreshed as part of the reconstruction project.

The landscape plan has now been finalised based on your feedback. As we previously advised, the car park will be realigned (with no loss of car parks) to create more open space behind the seawall.

Picnic tables, seating benches, beach accesses and showers, garden bed areas and tree plantings will be reinstated.

The layout also extends a wider upgraded coastal pathway through the space and will improve the safety of the pedestrian connection to the shops by reducing conflict with vehicles.

Please visit our website to view the final landscape plan.

Moffat Beach Place Plan Community Focus Group

You still have time to help shape the future of this much-loved place and nominate for the Moffat Beach Place Plan Community Focus Group. Hurry, as nominations close on June 30.

The purpose of the Moffat Beach Community Focus Group (CFG) is to:

involve the key community groups and stakeholders and understand everyone’s views

ensure key community and business stakeholders are appropriately engaged with clear and accurate information regarding the Place Plan project

engage with local community/interest/resident groups around topics related to Moffat Beaches public areas

share two-way information between the community and SCC relevant to the Moffat Beach Place Plan project

provide a forum to bring local community groups and stakeholders together to share the details and values of their groups as relevant to Moffat Beach Place Plan project

to foster positive ongoing relationships between Moffat Beach stakeholders.

Details of CFG members role and responsibilities can be found in the Terms of Reference.

How to get involved 

If you’d like to get become a member of the Moffat Beach Place Plan CFG:

1. Click the button below and complete the Expression of Interest form

2. Sign the Terms of Reference

3. Email to [email protected] by Monday, June 30, 2025.

Submit your Expression of Interest here by June 30, 2025

Moffat Beach is open for business

As a reminder, throughout the reconstruction, Moffat Beach and its local businesses will remain open.

Locals and visitors can still enjoy their favourite spots to eat, drink and shop. There will be plenty of space for activities like picnics, gatherings, taking in the view, walking, exercising and, of course, checking the surf.

However, you might occasionally need to find a new spot in the park for these activities.

There will be less parking available during construction. This could be a great time to switch to riding a bike to the beach or maybe taking advantage of the 50 cent fares and catching the bus down to Moffat Beach and continue supporting the great local businesses. 

We recognise there will be some short-term inconvenience, and we encourage you to please keep the end result in mind 😊

Current update and upcoming activities

Thanks for subscribing to receive updates about local Moffat Beach projects, including the Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction and landscaping project.

As part of our commitment to keeping you informed, we will provide updates throughout the project as new information becomes available.

Key takeaway

We wanted to give you a heads-up that by the end of this week, the temporary fencing around the site will be extended. 

This means access to the park and the coastal pathway directly behind the seawall will be closed for now.

But don’t worry — a temporary coastal pathway will be set up around the construction area to keep things connected. You’ll still be able to walk between Eleanor Shipley Park and the Moffat Beach playground, parkland and headland.

We will also be pruning or relocating some of the pandanus trees and trimming the Cottonwood tree.

Recently completed activities

• Construction team onsite - Council's construction team is set up on site now. Fence bunting and signage is up. Solar powered generator installed (less noise than diesel) to reduce park damage and costs connecting below ground in this location. 

• Car parks have been fenced off for the stockpile and laydown areas. This is where the rocks and construction materials will be stored during construction. Deliveries will vary depending on the schedule and could be in excess of 20 on certain days.

Upcoming activities

• Temporary pathway - install temporary pathway and pedestrian crossing. This will include lighting, signage, and line marking. The temporary coastal pathway will divert users safely around the construction zone.

• Relocate temporary fence boundary to include first work area - once the temporary pathway is set up, the team move the construction fencing to the seawall to exclude people from the area while work is underway. Please stay out and keep clear. We are doing this for everyone’s safety.

• Closure of some beach - further beach sections will be closed off as the works progress both east and then west to allow work to begin.

• Remove and store street furniture and memorial plaques - some tables and chairs will be relocated to suitable temporary locations and others will be kept safely in storage. Every effort will be made to locate and keep memorial plaques safe. These may need to move slightly in the final landscape layout once replaced at the end of works.

• Install survey controls – these are precise reference points that help guide the construction team to build the seawall in the correct location and alignment.

• Set up the Norfolk Pine tree protection zones - you can read more on our protection plan above.

• Tree relocation and removal - removal, transplanting and pruning of pandanus trees and pruning of Cottonwood Tree.

• Excavator - truck the 35-tonne excavator to site.

• Construction team parking - the construction team is parking within the fenced-off site area and we have asked people working or visiting the project site to avoid using the nearby public car parks.

Moffat Beach is open for business

As a reminder, throughout the reconstruction, Moffat Beach and its local businesses will remain open.

Locals and visitors can still enjoy their favourite spots to eat, drink and shop. There will be plenty of space for activities like picnics, gatherings, taking in the view, walking, exercising and, of course, checking the surf.

However, you might occasionally need to find a new spot in the park for these activities.

There will be less parking available during construction. This could be a great time to switch to riding a bike to the beach or maybe taking advantage of the 50 cent fares and catching the bus down to Moffat Beach and continue supporting the great local businesses. 

We recognise there will be some short-term inconvenience, and we encourage you to please keep the end result in mind 😊

Dear Moffat Beach Community,

We are excited to share that work on the Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction is due to begin later this month. This vital work will help protect and preserve this much-loved local area for future generations.

Key dates

• 19 May (weather depending) - construction team set up on site
• end May - construction begins
• late 2025 / early 2026 (weather and site conditions depending) - work complete.

Moffat Beach and local businesses remain open

Throughout the reconstruction, Moffat Beach and its local businesses will remain open.

Locals and visitors can still enjoy their favourite spots to eat, drink and shop. There will be plenty of space for activities like picnics, gatherings, taking in the view, walking, exercising and, of course, checking the surf.

However, you might occasionally need to find a new spot in the park for these activities.

There will be less parking available during construction. This could be a great time to switch to riding a bike to the beach, or maybe taking advantage of the 50 cent fares and catching the bus down to Moffat Beach and continue supporting the great local businesses.

Challenges and considerations

Working in the tidal zone is very challenging. This seawall reconstruction will take longer and is more complex due to designing the seawall around the Norfolk pine trees, as requested by our community.

We are also at the mercy of the weather, and while there is a construction schedule, we need to be flexible and may need to move to areas with more sand or better working conditions.

Rebuilding a seawall is a significant undertaking. You can expect construction, trucks, excavators and some noise.

However, when it’s finished, we will have a strong seawall, built to modern engineering standards that is resilient to climate change and a refreshed parkland and open space - in other words, a fantastic result that will protect the unique Moffat Beach vibe for many years to come.

Construction process

Safety - a safe work site will be set up with temporary fencing, buildings and traffic control.  Machinery will also be delivered to site.

Pathway - a temporary coastal pathway will be constructed to divert users around the construction zone.

Beach access - the beach in front of the work zone will be closed during construction for safety. Pathways will be provided to the sections of the beach that remain open. We will aim to keep as much of the beach open for as long as possible during the works.

Furniture - some tables and chairs will be relocated to suitable temporary locations and others will be kept safely in storage.

Memorial plaques - every effort will be made to locate and keep memorial plaques safe. These may need to move slightly in the final landscape layout once replaced at the end of works.

Car park - the eastern end of the Eleanor Shipley car park will be closed for the duration of the project as it’s required as part of the site compound for material deliveries and stockpiles. The western car park near the facilities and the carparking along Queen of Colonies Pde will remain open and there are no further changes to parking in the local area.

1. Work will begin at the western end and move east. As work progresses to the east, the construction zone will expand as the team needs to run the materials for the seawall construction along the beach, rather than along the park, to protect the Norfolk Island Pine trees.
2. Our Council team will use an excavator to carefully remove the old seawall in 20-40m sections. Completing this work in sections will reduce the risk of erosion to the parkland and reduce risk of damage in bad weather events.
3. Suitable rock from the existing seawall will be tested and reused. Unsuitable rock (i.e. too large, too small, too irregular in shape, or sandstone) will be removed from site and recycled.
4. The ‘toe’ of the seawall forms part of the foundation to the wall. It will be keyed into the sandstone and clay by excavator bucket or rock hammer with any excess material removed.
5. A gentler slope will be created in the soil behind the seawall and lined with geofabric.
6. Rocks are then carefully placed on the slope as per the design. Rock will be stockpiled on site to ensure timely construction.
7. Finally, the top of the wall, including the sandstone blocks, will be constructed, and then the parkland work completed behind the new seawall in three stages of about 100m each.
8. In late October - early November (weather depending) the team can start focusing on other landscaping elements such as the beach staircases, pathways, gardens and carpark. It is possible this work could run into early 2026 with a break over Christmas.

Protecting the Norfolk Island Pine trees

We will do our very best to protect and preserve each Norfolk pine tree. Due to our surveys, we know there are some tree roots mingled with the old seawall. A qualified arborist will be advising the construction team on how to give the trees the best chance of survival. However, we can’t guarantee this, and the safety of our community will always be our highest priority.

Our protection plan:

• A tree protection zone will be setup around each tree in the work area. Structural root zones have been identified on all plans and onsite surveys so these can be seen digitally at all times by excavators. 
• Regular inspections will be done by an experienced arborist and advice given to the construction team throughout the work.
• Care after the seawall is completed will be ongoing.

Construction work – what to expect

Work will be similar to other large seawall projects in South East Queensland. Typical activities onsite will include:

• site setup and closure of part of the area for safety, with diversions in place for pedestrians and vehicles
• trucks delivering rocks and materials - this will vary depending on the schedule, as some days there will be 20-25 trucks a day, and other days there will be none
• machinery moving heavy and bulky materials around onsite and up and down the beach along the seawall - such as excavators, trucks and bobcats
• some rock breaking where sandstone is present to cut out the “key” for the toe rock of the seawall
• placement of large boulders and filter rock, which will create some noise as these are tipped from a truck or put in place by an excavator
• various trades and workers onsite completing parts of the project
• sand pushing in front of the seawall and cleanup of the site at the conclusion of works
• movement of temporary detours if required during works.

Towards the end of the works there will be closure of the entire front carpark to reconfigure it with asphalt and new line marking. Council will endeavour to complete this as quickly as possible to reduce impact to businesses.

Temporary changes

The northern carpark and toilet block will remain open for use. Temporary pathways and pram ramps will be built so you can safely navigate around the work area. There will be signage, fencing, flags and safety advisors around the site and on the beach itself to help guide beach and water users away from the work site.

Safety

Your safety and our worker safety are of the utmost importance. Please follow safety signage and avoid the construction zones to keep everyone safe.

Wet weather has had an impact on the existing seawall

The prolonged wet weather has caused the current seawall to deteriorated further.

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

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.

For your own safety, we ask everyone to keep off and away from the Moffat Beach seawall.

Draft landscape plan community consultation feedback

Thank you to those who took time to be involved in the draft landscape plan for the seawall project. We have now finalised the landscape plan based on your feedback. We will be realigning the car park but won’t be conducting succession planting as part of this project (more details below).

Feedback summary - the carpark design and succession planting plan were well-received, with appreciation for prioritising open space, planting, seating and pathways while maintaining parking capacity and the iconic look of the Norfolk Island Pines. There were 2949 visits to the have your say page, the team spoke to many people at the pop- ups in the park and there were 117 formal submissions

• Proposed carpark layout change - 75 per cent of total responses were supportive, which means we will proceed with the change to the carpark layout.
• Succession planting of the Norfolk Island Pines - 65 per cent of total responses were supportive - which showed that the majority of the community supports the proposed succession planting plan. However, among those who expressed their support, many indicated a preference for succession planting using native species with a strong desire to not impact on the open space. This conversation is more complex than initially anticipated and requires a deeper investigation, beyond the scope of this project. So, at this stage, no succession planting will take place as part of this project.

For a detailed summary of the feedback please visit haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.

Moffat Beach Place Plan

Phase 1 Community Engagement - Values and Vision has closed and we received over 200 contributions from our community. The Placemaking Team is currently assessing and analysing feedback and will be checking back in with our community in June to ask ‘did we get it right’?  Visit Have your Say Sunshine Coast for a more detailed summary of the feedback.

Fence upgrade

Thank you to everyone who took the time to provide feedback on the Moffat Headland Railing Renewal and Enhancement Project. Our team is currently reviewing all the input received and will provide an update soon.

Thanks for subscribing to stay up-to-date on local projects at Moffat Beach, including the seawall reconstruction project.

Consultation now live
We are pleased to share that three plans for the future of Moffat Beach are now live for our community to review and provide their feedback on. These are:
• Moffat Beach Place Plan
• Moffat Beach Seawall Draft Landscape Plan
• Moffat Headland Railing Renewal and Enhancement project.

A short summary of each project is provided below - however we strongly encourage you to visit haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au where you will find a comprehensive overview of each project, artist impressions and a detailed question and answer section. 

Please fill in the survey for each project and email the project team via the contact details on each page should you have any further questions.

Moffat Beach Place Plan
The Moffat Beach Place Plan will capture community’s values and create a long-term vision for the future direction of public spaces across the entire suburb.

Moffat Beach Seawall Draft Landscape Plan
The Moffat Beach Seawall Draft Landscape Plan presents ideas for the parkland immediately behind the soon to be reconstructed seawall.  

Moffat Headland Railing Renewal and Enhancement project
The Moffat Headland Railing Renewal and Enhancement project presents options to replace the existing sections of railing currently on the headland as well as calling for ideas to improve safety and amenity along the rest of the headland.  

How you can get involved

Drop in to a pop up in the park
• Wednesday March 26, 2025, 6am-11am at the rotunda next to the Moffat Beach Park playground, Queen of Colonies Parade.
• Saturday March 29, 2025, 10am-3pm at the rotunda next to the Moffat Beach Park playground, Queen of Colonies Parade.

Register for the Moffat Beach Place Plan workshop
Register your interest to attend the Moffat Beach Place Plan workshop on April 3, 2025, from 5.30pm - 8pm. This will be held at the CCSA Hall, 1 Nutley Street, Caloundra. As numbers are limited, please RSVP at haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.

Complete the survey
Complete the online survey for each project at haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au between Wednesday March 19 to Wednesday April 16, 2025.

Consultation delayed by one week

We hope this message finds you safe and dry.

Unfortunately, our scheduled consultation for the Moffat Beach place plan and Moffat Beach draft landscape plan has been delayed.

We have had to prioritise preparations for, and manage the impacts of, ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, which necessitated a shift in our immediate focus and resources.

We were also aware that our residents were preparing their own properties, so their priorities were else where as well.

New dates

The new consultation dates are Wednesday March 19 to Wednesday April 16. You will be able to provide your feedback on Have your Say Sunshine Coast. We will send you an email when this is live.

We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience this may cause and appreciate your understanding during this time.

A reminder for safety

We would appreciate it if you can please remind your networks to stay off the Moffat Beach seawall due to the risk of falling rocks and injury.

It is showing signs of movement due to the large swells impacting the wall.

There is a significant risk of the wall deteriorating further and if that occurs, rock falls and movements are highly likely.

The rocks can fall onto the beach at any time, and if it does, it will happen fairly quickly – within about 10-20 seconds – which means that anyone standing at the base of the rock wall will be injured.

We ask the community to stay off the seawall for their own safety.

Please share this with family and friends who may be interested in Moffat Beach and encourage them to subscribe.

Sunshine Coast Council

Approval for design granted

We are glad to advise we have received approval for our Moffat beach seawall reconstruction plans. Approval has been granted by the Queensland Government’s State Assessment and Referral Agency and Sunshine Coast Council’s Development Services.

This means we can proceed with construction of the western and central sections of the seawall this year as intended.

Planning is also underway for the reconstruction of the eastern section and we are awaiting budget approval to be able to proceed.

You can view the approval documents at this link: Development.i Approval Package Link

As a reminder, the approved alignment attempts to retain the much-loved Norfolk Pine Trees, while minimising beach loss and disruption to the bay’s coastal processes.

The reconstructed seawall footprint is larger than the existing seawall to meet engineering standards, ensure the safety of our community and to ensure it lasts a long time.

Council has worked closely with the community to understand their values and balance the impact to those values, including the Norfolk trees, beach and parkland, through the design of the seawall.

Seawall landscaping elements - have your say between March 12 and April 9

This brings us to the landscaping of the area directly behind the seawall - such as the picnic tables, parkland, tree plantings, and importantly, the safety of pedestrians using the coastal path, beach accesses and when walking to the cafes.

We are finalising the draft landscape plan for community review, and you’ll be able to provide your feedback on these ideas between March 12 and April 9 at haveyousay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au. We will send you an email when this is live.

Many landscaping elements will be built at the same time as the seawall to attempt to reduce inconvenience for the community. However, some landscaping work will run into early 2026.

Moffat Beach place plan

The Moffat Beach Place Plan considers the entire suburb and captures the community’s values and long-term vision for the area. It will also be open for your feedback between March 12 and April 9 at haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au.

Seawall construction team on site in May

We’ve begun ordering the rock and other items for the seawall.

In early May, you can expect to see Council establishing the site management area, to prepare for reconstruction of the western and central sections of the seawall.

Reconstruction of these sections of the seawall is expected to be completed in December 2025, pending good weather conditions.

We will provide more information about the construction schedule and what this means for you soon.

A reminder for safety

As we approach the construction phase of the project, you will notice increased presence of our Council team and contractors on site. They may be engaged in various activities, such as conducting surveys, performing further investigations, and establishing the site for construction.

For your own safety, please stay clear of any works and follow the direction of signage or workers on site.

And lastly, while not specifically part of these projects, but still relevant to the Moffat Beach area - please take the time to provide feedback on the regional draft Sunshine Coast Dog Area Exercise Regional Plan before March 7 at haveyoursay.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au

Thanks for subscribing to stay up-to-date on local projects at Moffat Beach, including the seawall reconstruction project.

Happy new year!

This update is to let you know to expect more activity at the Moffat Beach seawall in the coming weeks and months.

As we approach the construction phase of the project, you will notice increased presence of our Council team and contractors on site. They may be engaged in various activities, such as conducting surveys and performing further investigations for the success of the project.

Construction is still due to begin mid-2025 - with exact dates yet to be determined.

For your own safety, please stay clear of any works and follow the direction of signage or workers on site.

Thanks for subscribing to stay up-to-date on local projects at Moffat Beach, including the seawall reconstruction project.

As it turns out we do have one more update for you!

This update is to inform you that work to concrete the temporary beach access pedestrian ramp (next to Eleanor Shipley Park) will begin this week. In response to community requests, we are improving the path to provide safe access to the beach for people of all abilities.

Originally scheduled for 2025, we are pleased to advise that we have been able to bring this project forward.

The path will have a slight bend to stay clear of the Cook Island pine’s structural root zone and the disability car parks will be relocated closer to the ramp.

Please note this is a temporary solution until the new vehicle access ramp is built as part of the seawall reconstruction in 2025.

What to expect

You can expect:

• line marking to move the disability carparks closer to the ramp. Old disability car parks will be replaced with regular carparking.
• a small machine to remove a small section of grass and compact the sand ready for concrete
• concreters to lay the temporary access ramp.

There may be some temporary changes to pedestrian access. Please follow traffic control for safety.

Community update 10 December 2024

This update is to let you know application to seek approval for an alignment of the reconstructed Moffat Beach seawall is now live on Development.i.

View the application

You can view the application and supporting documents by visiting developmenti.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au and searching for application number OPW24/0487.

Once the application has appeared, select the “details” button, then click on the link “application documents” to view the application documents.

The application will go through a rigorous assessment process which is expected to take up to six months.

Thank you

Thank you to the community members who came down to the drop-in session last Saturday.

There were some great conversations and feedback from those that attended.

We would also like to extend our thanks to the members of the Moffat Beach Community Focus Group who attended to be part of the event to help share information.

If you were unable to attend, please visit our website where all the information shown at the drop-in session is also available.

Next steps - park and landscaping

We are working on a draft plan for minor reconfigurations of the carpark to support the new ramp and landscaping elements behind the seawall such as new trees, updated pathways, picnic tables and beach showers.

The community will have the opportunity to provide feedback on this early next year.

Last update for 2024

This is our last update for 2024. We will be in touch in early 2025 to share information about the landscaping elements as well as any other project updates.

Please share this with family and friends who may be interested in Moffat Beach and encourage them to subscribe.

On behalf of the project team, we thank you for your interest in the project and wish you a safe and happy festive season.

Community update 5 December 2024

Your invited to a drop in session

We’re ready to submit the application to seek approval for an alignment of the reconstructed Moffat Beach seawall that attempts to retain the much-loved Norfolk pine trees.

In the coming days, the application will be referred to the Queensland Government’s State Assessment and Referral Agency and Sunshine Coast Council’s Development Services to be assessed against the relevant acts and codes.

Drop in session

You are invited to a drop-in session to learn more and ask questions.

DATE: Saturday 30 November 2024

TIME: 8.30am – 12noon

LOCATION: Moffat Beach Park, Queen of Colonies Parade.

WHAT: This is an informal chat to learn more from Council. There will not be any specific presentation so drop in any time.

Can’t make it? Visit Council’s website to read all the information that will be shared at the drop-in session. You can also read the latest news story here.

This update is about the ongoing discussions between Council and Moffat Beach community focus group and the project status.

Moffat Beach community focus group

Council and the Moffat Beach community focus group have had two meetings to date (2 and 23 October) to share updates on the seawall design progress and seek feedback from members on the project.

Our groups are sharing insights and having constructive discussions on the issues and opportunities the seawall reconstruction project presents.

As a Council, we appreciate the time and commitment each member has made to these meetings and the seawall project.

We’ve uploaded two presentations to the webpage as a summary of each meeting. You can view these here.

• Community focus group presentation 1 - 2 October 2024
• Community focus group presentation 2 - 23 October 2024

Project update summary

Investigations: Most of the key investigations required to inform the seawall design and alignment of the seawall have been completed. These include the coastal erosion modelling, seawall overtopping modelling and geotechnical assessments.

We have also engaged a specialist to do a wave/surf impact study to understand any impacts of the seawall alignment on the wave and surf conditions in the bay and expect those results soon.

Alignment: We know the Norfolk Pine trees are important to the Moffat Beach community. This is why we are evaluating three options for the alignment of the seawall.

1. Seaward of the Norfolk pine trees – this would move the wall further out onto the beach to retain the Norfolk pine trees.
2. Landward of the Norfolk pine trees – this would move the wall back into the parkland, starting at the existing toe of the seawall, and require removal of the Norfolk pine trees.
3. A hybrid alignment option that would be part landward and part seaward to retain the Norfolk pine trees and balance any impacts on parkland and beach at the western end.

These options are being evaluated using a Multi-Criteria Analysis for each section of wall (western, middle and eastern), which ranks and weights different social, environmental and economic values and considerations against each other.

We also need to ensure the final seawall design 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.

Next steps: Consideration of the alignment options and design of the seawall is still underway. We have more meetings scheduled with the Moffat Beach community focus group to share information about these options.

We aim to identify the preferred seawall alignment and submit seawall design for State assessment and approvals in late November.

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available.

Community update 5 November 2024

This update is to let you know there will be a small repair done to the seawall tomorrow, October 16. 

As previously advised, we continue to monitor the seawall for signs of movement. 

A recent inspection has uncovered a small sinkhole due to a tear in the geofabric behind the wall. 

While the sinkhole isn’t visible to people in the area, it could get worse if it is not repaired. 

There will be a small team onsite to do this work and we don’t expect there to be a need for any machinery. 

This work will take place outside of the structural root zone of the Norfolk Pines. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. 

Community update 15 October 2024

This update is to let you know that invitations have been sent to community and business representatives inviting a nomination for the Moffat Beach community focus group.  

Moffat Beach community focus group 

We are committed to transparent and honest communication with our community throughout the Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction project. Our goal is to foster community collaboration to ensure voices are heard and acknowledged. 

The purpose of the Moffat Beach community focus group is to: 

• involve the key community groups and stakeholders and understand everyone’s views 
• ensure key community and business stakeholders are appropriately engaged with clear and accurate information regarding the seawall reconstruction project 
• engage with local community/interest/resident groups around topics related to the seawall, environment, beach, open space and community facilities and values 
• share two-way information between the community and Council relevant to the Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction project 
• provide a forum to bring local community groups and stakeholders together to share the details and values of their groups as relevant to Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction project 
• to foster positive ongoing relationships between Moffat Beach stakeholders. 

The primary objectives of the Moffat Beach community focus group are to: 

• share local knowledge between community and stakeholders regarding Moffat Beach and the seawall reconstruction project 
• encourage the development of collegiate and cooperative relationships between all community groups and stakeholders 
• act as conduit to the local community to share information and generate understanding about the project within the terms of the Moffat Beach community focus group. 

Member groups 

Invitations have been sent to the following groups that represent the local Moffat Beach community. 

Each identified group has been asked to nominate one representative for their group to be a member of the community focus group. 

One nominated representative per group: 

• Save Moffat Beachfront 
• Make Moffat Shine Page 
• Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation 
• Caloundra Residents Association 
• Caloundra Chamber of Commerce 
• Veteran Wheelies Association (accessibility) 
• Windandsea Boardriders Club 
• The Moffateers 
• Tooway Lake BushCare Group 
• nominated local cultural heritage representative 
• nominated local business/retailer representative. 

Council will review the nominations for each group and finalise the membership of the community focus group. 

The panel will seek approximately 10-12 members consisting of community representatives from a range of ages and backgrounds within the project area, to select a diverse representation across demographics, cultures and interests promoting a diversity of voices and a balance of interests. 

Council reserves the right to final decisions on appointment of members to the community focus group, based on achieving a balanced approach to community representation. 

Additional invitations for nominations for representatives will be considered by the community focus group panel on an as needs basis and in consultation with the community focus group membership. 

Members will be kept up to date throughout the project, including during design and construction, unless members advise they wish to be removed from project mailing lists. 

Attendees of the community focus group meetings will also include the Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction project team, place plan team, other relevant Council officers, elected officials and independent consultants or subject matter experts. 

Details 

The Moffat Beach community focus group will be facilitated by a nominated chairperson. 

Membership is voluntary. 

Members will be representative of the demographic and geographic makeup of the project area. 

Council staff will provide support through the chairperson in managing the Moffat Beach Community Focus Group. 

For more details please read the Terms of Reference – Moffat Beach Seawall Reconstruction Project Community Focus Group on Council’s website. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. 

Community update 17 September 2024

This update is to let you know that geotechnical investigations to test soil strength and thickness will take place tomorrow, August 29, in the park next to the seawall. 

Soil samples will be collected using a small drill rig and Dynamic Cone Penetrometer (DCP) testing, which looks like a small probe going into the ground.   

The boreholes will be small in size and made outside of the structural root zones of the Norfolk trees. All holes will be backfilled.  

Hand augering will also be performed on the beach to determine the rock shelf levels. 

This information is required to inform the seawall design. Please be aware that we continue to monitor the seawall for signs of movement, so from time to time you may see workers on site with drones, cameras or survey devices to do this work. 

Thank you for taking the time to read this update. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. 

Community update 28 August 2024

Thanks for subscribing to stay updated on local projects at Moffat Beach, including the seawall reconstruction project.  

We’ve been receiving your emails with questions and comments and this update aims to provide information on the Norfolk trees. 

Norfolk trees 

We hear your concerns about the Norfolk trees. We are committed to ensuring the safety at, and beauty of, our beloved Moffat Beach. 

To ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the reconstructed seawall – 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. 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 will not have sufficient information to make an informed decision on the Norfolk trees.  

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

Thank-you for taking the time to read this update. We will continue to update you as more information becomes available. 

Community update 7 August 2024 

Dear Moffat Beach Community, 

We are committed to ensuring the safety and beauty of our beloved Moffat Beach.  

As part of this commitment, we are exploring all options for reconstructing a seawall that will protect our community, their values and the beach environment. 

Our goal is to make well-informed decisions and avoid repeating past approaches that have not lasted.  The existing seawall, expected to last 50 years, unfortunately only endured for 17 years.  

To ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the new structure – and the safety of our community – we will seek the advice of experienced, independent expert engineers who specialise in coastal engineering projects and will utilise localised data and modelling in assessing what is most appropriate for this specific location. 

Once we have their recommendations, we will update our community. 

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

About the project 

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 being completed. We want to assure you that we are exploring all options to construct a new seawall that will stand the test of time. 

Expert coastal engineering advice 

Expert engineers will soon be 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. 

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 Council and the State.   

Once the Seawall Reconstruction Project team receives approval, construction can begin.  

Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction project  We expect this investigation, design and approval stage to be completed by the end of 2024 to make way for construction mid-2025 during winter when there are less storms and swell.  This is an important timeframe and is driving our efforts towards investigations and designs through 2024, as seawall works through the summer months should be avoided due to significantly increased risks for safety, time and costs. 

We know many of you are very interested in the outcomes. Once we have this expert advice, we will share our plans with you.  

We encourage you to subscribe for updates. 

How is this funded? 

A total of $4.55 million has been allocated for the project, with $1.7 million from the Queensland Government for the western section and $2.85 million through Council's 2024-25 capital works program budget 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. 

Seawall approval process 

The application process 

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

1. seek pre-lodgement advice from the Queensland Government before the application is lodged 
2. obtain the landowner’s consent (Queensland Government) 
3. lodge the application with Council as the assessment manager 
4. refer the application to the Queensland Government’s State Assessment and Referral Agency 
5. answer any information requests from either Council (the assessment manager) or the State 
6. wait for the State’s review response 
7. 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. 

Moffat Beach place plan project 

Additionally, 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.  

Together, we can ensure a safe and thriving Moffat Beach for generations to come. 

What happens next?  

Work to stabilise the seawall 

You may notice Council 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.  

Traffic and parking issues 

While the Place Plan will holistically assess traffic and parking issues and recommend solutions across the Moffat Beach suburb, we are currently reviewing traffic and parking issues around the commercial area, and Eleanor Shipley and Moffat Beach parks with the view to making safety improvements in the short term.  

Ramp access 

We are exploring options to improve access to the beach for all users. 

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. 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. 

Community update July 2024

We are committed to transparent and honest communication with our community throughout the Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction project. Our goal is to foster community collaboration to ensure voices are heard and acknowledged.

The purpose of the Moffat Beach community focus group is to:

• involve the key community groups and stakeholders and understand everyone’s views
• ensure key community and business stakeholders are appropriately engaged with clear and accurate information regarding the seawall reconstruction project
• engage with local community/interest/resident groups around topics related to the seawall, environment, beach, open space and community facilities and values
• share two-way information between the community and Council relevant to the Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction project
• provide a forum to bring local community groups and stakeholders together to share the details and values of their groups as relevant to Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction project
• to foster positive ongoing relationships between Moffat Beach stakeholders.

The primary objectives of the Moffat Beach community focus group are to:

• share local knowledge between community and stakeholders regarding Moffat Beach and the seawall reconstruction project
• encourage the development of collegiate and cooperative relationships between all community groups and stakeholders
• act as conduit to the local community to share information and generate understanding about the project within the terms of the Moffat Beach community focus group.

Invitations have been sent to identified community/business groups that represent the local Moffat Beach community. Each identified group has been asked to nominate one representative for their group to be a member of the community focus group.

Member groups (1 nominated representative per group):

1. Save Moffat Beachfront
2. Make Moffat Shine
3. Kabi Kabi Peoples Aboriginal Corporation
4. Caloundra Residents Association
5. Caloundra Chamber of Commerce
6. Nominated local accessibility representative’
7. Windandsea Boardriders Club
8. The Moffateers
9. Tooway Lake BushCare Group
10. Nominated local cultural heritage representative
11. Nominated local business/retailer representative.

Council will review the nominations for each group and finalise the membership of the community focus group.

The panel will seek approximately 10-12 members consisting of community representatives from a range of ages and backgrounds within the project area, to select a diverse representation across demographics, cultures and interests promoting a diversity of voices and a balance of interests.

Council reserves the right to final decisions on appointment of members to the community focus group, based on achieving a balanced approach to community representation.

Additional invitations for nominations for representatives will be considered by the community focus group panel on an as needs basis and in consultation with the community focus group membership.

Members will be kept up to date throughout the project, including during design and construction, unless members advise they wish to be removed from project mailing lists.

Attendees of the community focus group meetings will also include the Moffat Beach seawall reconstruction project team, place plan team, other relevant Council officers, elected officials and independent consultants or subject matter experts.

• The Moffat Beach community focus group will be facilitated by a nominated chairperson.
• Membership is voluntary.
• Members will be representative of the demographic and geographic makeup of the project area.
• Council staff will provide support through the chairperson in managing the Moffat Beach Community Focus Group.

For more details please read the Terms of Reference – Moffat Beach Seawall Reconstruction Project Community Focus Group

The seawall will be reconstructed during winter 2025. From 19 May, you can expect to see Council establishing the site management area, to prepare for reconstruction of the western and central sections of the seawall.

Reconstruction of these sections of the seawall is expected to be completed in December 2025 or early 2026, pending good weather conditions. 

Many landscaping elements will be built at the same time as the seawall to attempt to reduce inconvenience for the community. However, some landscaping work will run into early 2026.

Construction must take place during the calmer months (Autumn to Spring) when there are less storms and swell. 

We are working on this and will update the community as soon as we know more on the construction schedule.

Yes. We have received funding from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority to rebuild part of the seawall. We have already asked for several extensions to this funding, which have been granted. We have been advised there are no further extensions available and must have the project completed in 2025.

The beach in front of the work zone will be closed for safety, but temporary pathways and pram ramps will be built so you can safely navigate around the work area and have access to the sections of the beach that remain open.

The northern carpark and toilet block will remain open for use. 

There will be signage, fencing, flags and safety advisors around the site and on the beach itself to help guide beach and water users away from the work site.

You can still use the park.  

There will be some temporary restrictions as construction will be taking place with excavators and trucks moving about. 

We'll continue to review the closure area and only take up what we need to safely build the seawall and parkland upgrades.

Please follow safety signage and do not enter construction zones. We do need to keep the workers and community safe.

Yes, there will be noise as we embed the toe of the seawall into the sandstone. There will be an excavator with a rock hammer chipping out sandstone. Keying in the toe of the wall into the sandstone is really important to ensure a seawall that is very stable and has a long life. Trucks will also be delivering rocks 3-5 days a week along with other general construction activities.

You'll still be able to access some off leash areas on the beach. Mostly heading north to Dicky Beach. There will be signage in place and traffic control on site to help you find your way. 

We have to close sections of the beach to keep our community safe while excavators and heavy machinery are working on the beach and at the seawall.

There will be slightly less parking available during construction. Please consider riding a bike or taking advantage of the 50 cent bus fares.

The eastern end of the Eleanor Shipley car park will be closed for the duration of the project as it’s required as part of the site compound for material deliveries and stockpiles. 

The western car park near the facilities and the carparking along Queen of Colonies Pde will remain open and there are no further changes to parking in the local area.

Towards the end of the works there will be closure of the entire carpark to reconfigure it with asphalt and new line marking. We will try to complete this as quickly as possible to reduce impact to businesses.

These temporary restrictions are required to keep our community safe while excavators and heavy machinery access the beach and seawall.

The construction team will set up on site around 19 May, weather depending.

Construction is scheduled to begin at the end of May.

The work is expected to be completed by late 2025 or early 2026, depending on weather and site conditions.

Yes, Moffat Beach and its local businesses will remain open throughout the construction period. Please continue to support your local businesses.

Yes, you can still enjoy activities like picnics, gatherings, walking, exercising, and checking the surf, although you might need to find new spots in the park occasionally.

Working in the tidal zone is challenging due to the need to design the seawall around Norfolk pine trees and the impact of weather conditions. There may be periods where we can't work in front of the seawall.

Expect construction trucks bringing in materials, excavators on the beach building the seawall, contractors performing tasks such as concreting and staircase construction along with some noise and vibration.

A safe work site will be set up with temporary fencing, buildings, traffic control, and machinery delivery. A temporary coastal pathway will divert users around the construction zone.

Some tables and chairs will be relocated or stored safely. Efforts will be made to keep memorial plaques safe, though they may need to be moved slightly in the final layout.

A tree protection zone will be set up around each tree, with regular inspections by an qualified independent arborist. Care will continue after the seawall is completed.

Activities include site setup, truck deliveries, machinery movement, rock breaking, placement of boulders, and various trades working on the project.

Safety signage will be in place, and it's important to follow these signs and avoid construction zones to keep everyone safe.

Council is supporting local businesses through a business continuity plan, which includes:

business continuity plan into major themes for your reference below:

• Regular updates: providing regular updates on the construction schedule and advice for operating during the project through emails direct to the businesses, and our dedicated website. This includes progress reports, expected disruptions and project news. 
• Single point of contact: a single point of contact will be available for any questions or concerns.
• Proactive communications strategy: promoting that Moffat beach businesses are "open for business", through letter box drops, flyers, social media, radio, newspapers and online. The message will be that “you can still eat/drink/surf/etc.” but will also explain what to expect down there. We will also ensure pedestrian access is maintained and temporary pathways are clearly marked with directions to the local business precinct. 
• Onsite communication and reminders: We will provide clear onsite communication with temporary signage and maps to showcase how to access favoured features of the park - surf, beach, dog walking, coffee drinking spots, surf watching, picnic locations and local businesses. Regular reminders will be shared through various channels, emphasising that businesses remain open. 
• Moffat Beach resident communication: residents will also receive regular updates through an initial letterbox drop, e-news, social media, and other channels. We will provide clear and timely information about the construction schedule, access changes, and progress, but most importantly that local businesses are still open for customers. 

The existing footprint of the Eleanor Shipley car park will be reduced and reorganise it to achieve a more efficient layout - all while keeping the same number of parking spaces.

The design reclaims 670m2 of carpark to become high-quality open space in a prime location directly behind the new seawall.

Overall, the design achieves a net gain of 40m2 of open space in the parkland.

The vehicle access ramp will move to the western end of the seawall.

Final plan attempts to retain Norfolk Island Pine trees

We know the Moffat Beach community values its great surf breaks, stunning beach, ocean views and the cherished activities like picnics, yoga, walking, running, dog walking, surfing events and Norfolk pine trees – and have kept this front of mind throughout the process.

Council has worked hard to find an alignment that attempts to retain the much-loved Norfolk Pine Trees, while minimising beach loss and disruption to the bay’s coastal processes.

To do this, we've proposed a hybrid seawall design, that moves the wall out onto the beach between the central and the eastern end and then back into the parkland at the western end.

The reconstructed seawall footprint is larger than the existing seawall to meet engineering standards, ensure the safety of our community and to ensure it lasts a long time.

So, it is inevitable that we will lose a little of both the park and the beach – we have done our best to balance the impact to these areas. The hybrid option provides the best chance of preserving the Norfolk trees with the least impact to the beach and the park.

We will do our very best to protect and preserve each Norfolk pine tree during construction. A qualified arborist will be advising the construction team on how to give the trees the best chance of survival. However, it's important to note that we can’t guarantee this. 

There will be heavy machinery and a lot of rocks and soil being moved around the root area. While there will be an exclusion zone around each tree that avoids the structural root zones, the construction work may cause damage to tree health.

View the approved Moffat Beach seawall alignment [1.16MB]

View the approved Moffat Beach seawall cross section [200kb]

Please read the detailed frequently asked questions and view the Community Focus Group presentation 3 to learn more about what is being proposed.

The Moffat Beach seawall, and its two timber beach accesses were constructed in 2008 following erosion of the embankment and collapse of the old, dumped rock structure.

The 2008 seawall design footprint was minimised to retain the Norfolk pines and park area whilst also reducing the encroachment onto the beach as much as possible.

Because of this, the front face of the wall was constructed too steep at or beyond 1:1 (vertical: horizontal) or 45 degrees. Priority was not given to function, safety or best practice engineering  and this resulted in a narrow seawall footprint.

Due to the narrow seawall footprint, there was also insufficient space to install adequate drainage material during the time of construction.

During the February 2022 rain event, a 60m section of seawall experienced a rotational failure.

The main causes of this failure included:

• erosion – sand being eroded away at the base of the wall over an extended period of time (sand in front of a seawall acts as a restoring force against rotational failure)
• lack of a key (trench) into the rock shelf and clay layer
• heavy and consistent rainfall – led to high ground water pressure behind the seawall with inadequate drainage
• steep seawall batter – the armour rock was placed steeper than what would typically be done in a seawall. The recommended maximum slope for placed rock seawalls is 1:1.5 (V:H). Beyond this angle, stability rapidly decreases. Steeper angles reduce the factor of safety.

The new seawall is designed to modern engineering standards and guidelines. It will be wider with a gentler slope. The base will be keyed into the sandstone and clay layers. It will have more drainage behind the seawall.

The hybrid alignment option means the seawall will be built part landward and part seaward to retain the Norfolk pine trees.

Through this alignment, we have done our very best to find a balance to preserve what the community have told us they love about Moffat Beach.

The seawall will move out onto the beach in the eastern end and pivot around where the central beach staircase was previously located.  

It does mean the beach will be narrower at the eastern section to retain the Norfolk Pine trees. It also means losing some park area at the western end.

This design gives the Norfolk’s the best chance at being retained, however the trees’ survival cannot be guaranteed due to how close the root system will be to a construction site. Experienced independent arborists are being engaged to provide advice on protection of the trees to support their survival.

The new seawall footprint is larger, so it is inevitable that we will lose a little of both the park and the beach.

We feel this hybrid option provides the best chance of preserving the Norfolk trees with the least impact to the beach and the park.

Yes, we considered all types of seawalls however it determined that a placed rock seawall is the best option for Moffat Beach like what has historically been there.

The seawall needs to be flatter to make it safer and to comply with modern engineering standards. The gentler slope will help to absorb energy from waves crashing into the rocks which can help to reduce erosion of the sand on the beach.

The seawall footprint has been reduced as much as possible whilst maintaining a suitably high factor of safety that meets minimum engineering standards for a rock placed seawall (long term FOS of 1.5 adopted)​.

The slope of the seawall is 1:1.5 – which is 1m high to 1.5 m wide.

The seawall footprint varies with the topography of the beach however it is between 10-13m wide for the middle and eastern section and approximately 15.5m for western section​. The western section requires a larger seawall toe due to the clay substrate under the sand.

A rounded return is required at the end of the eastern section to lessen the impacts of end effects, this will change the look of the area. Some vegetation will be impacted however we are looking at improving the beach access to the rock platform as part of this design work.

There has been delays due to securing QRA funding and changes to the project scope after the second weather event in 2024 caused the middle section of the wall to fail.

The design is for the entire length of seawall, however at this stage we only have funding to rebuild the western and middle sections. We are still considering options to rebuild the entire wall at once.

To ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the new structure – and the safety of our community and health of the beach – we have sought the advice of experienced, independent expert engineers who specialise in coastal engineering projects to design the reconstructed seawall.

Before any design work began, they used local survey and metocean data to undertake cross shore beach morphology modelling, to simulate beach profiles to estimate how the beach will respond to different seawall alignments during storm events.

Metocean data refers to information about the weather (meteorological) and ocean conditions. It includes data like wind speed, wave height, ocean currents, temperature and more.

Cross-shore beach morphology modelling is a method used to study and predict how the shape and features of a beach change over time due to the influence of waves, tides and currents.

This has helped to assess the most appropriate design for this specific location with regards to coastal processes.

We asked the consultants to investigate options that:

• aim for retention of the Norfolk Pine Trees
• prioritise community safety
• protect the parkland
• ensure resilience during future storm event and consider future climate change effects.

It was also important that the options didn’t significantly impact beach and sand processes. We want to protect the surf break Moffat Beach is famous for, and we want a seawall that helps keep sand in the bay and on this popular beach.

We must also ensure the reconstructed seawall meets engineering standards and is lawfully constructed meeting all necessary statutory approvals. 

Consultants

Local Sunshine Coast engineering consultancy Shoreline Civil and Marine Consulting was appointed to the project.

This company is the preferred consultant with the local knowledge, people and skills required to undertake this important project for Moffat Beach.

Shoreline Civil and Marine has extensive experience delivering coastal, marine and civil engineering solutions.

Shoreline is committed to ensuring the Moffat Beach seawall design adheres to modern engineering standards, and complies with legislative requirements with a view of obtaining the necessary approvals by the relevant authorities.

If you have any questions or comments then please send these to the below Council email address. Please do not contact the consultants. They will not respond to any questions or comments as they have been requested to only communicate with Council.

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.

The results indicated that the differences in the seawall alignment (seaward or landward of the Norfolk Pine Trees) result in very minor differences to the erosion of sand on the beach during a storm.

Please view Moffat Beach Community Focus group presentation 2 for more detailed information.

Council has done numerous geotechnical assessments over the past 7 years. The latest testing showed there is a base of clay in the west half of the site and a base of bedrock (sandstone) in the east half of the site. There is a mix of fill types behind the seawall. The outcome is the seawall will need to be ‘keyed’ into both the sandstone and the clay, with a larger toe required in the clay section.

Please view Moffat Beach Community Focus group presentation 2 for more detailed information.

Wave overtopping occurs when waves are so powerful that water spills over the top of a seawall. This can happen during storms, high tides, or when the seawall isn’t tall enough to block the waves completely. The overtopped water can cause safety risks to people standing or walking behind the seawall, flooding, damage nearby areas, or weaken the seawall over time.

At Moffat Beach, our primary concern is community safety. The Moffat Beach seawall is being designed to minimise wave overtopping by choosing the right height, slope, and materials to handle the force of incoming waves. It is being designed as per the guidance from Eurotop manual for pedestrian safety on the coastal pathway.

We engaged an external experienced consultant to do a surf impact study. This was a complicated and interesting process which involved building a computer model to replicated difference wave breaking patterns. We are pleased to report the model and data outputs shows no significant alteration in predicted wave breaking patterns at the main surf break between the existing and new seawall.

View the Moffat Beach surf impact study [10.1MB]

No. Council has designed a hybrid design for the seawall that attempts to retain the Norfolk pine trees and Cook Island pine.

See the explanation in the question about regarding the final seawall design and alignment.

We will do our very best to protect and preserve each Norfolk pine tree. A qualified arborist will be advising the construction team on how to give the trees the best chance of survival. However, we can’t guarantee this.

There will be heavy machinery and a lot of rocks and soil being moved around the root area. While there will be an exclusion zone around each tree that avoids the structural root zones, the construction work may cause damage to tree health.

Yes. The current design requires some trees growing in and behind the wall in the western and eastern section to be removed, and relocated. At this stage it includes seven pandanus trees relocated to Eleanor Shipley Park.

We expect some trees will need to be removed completely as they are unlikely to survive relocation. These will be replaced with new trees during the landscaping phase. 

The cottonwood tree will also be pruned.

All work is being supervised by a qualified arborist.

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:

1. seek pre-lodgement advice from the Queensland Government before the application is lodged
2. obtain the landowner’s consent (Queensland Government)
3. lodge the application with Council as the assessment manager
4. refer the application to the Queensland Government’s State Assessment and Referral Agency
5. answer any information requests from either Council (the assessment manager) or the State
6. wait for the State’s review response
7. 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).

We received approval for our Moffat beach seawall reconstruction plans in mid-February 2025. Approval has been granted by the Queensland Government’s State Assessment and Referral Agency and Sunshine Coast Council’s Development Services.

This means we can proceed with construction of the western and central sections of the seawall this year as intended.

Planning is also underway for the reconstruction of the eastern section and we are awaiting budget approval to be able to proceed.

You can view the application and supporting documents by visiting developmenti.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au and searching for application number OPW24/0487.

Once the application has appeared, select the “details” button, then click on the link “application documents” to view the application documents.

The application has been through a rigorous assessment process and is now approved.

Yes, you’ll still have access to the front row seat Moffat offers. There will be sandstone blocks at the top of the seawall for you to sit on as well as tables and chairs in the parkland behind the seawall. Please take a look at the artist impressions to get a better idea of the final outcome.

The new seawall will look very similar to the existing one, with placed rock. It will be wider, with a gentler slope.

The rock will come from local quarries and be similarly dark shades. The rock is required to be a durable and tough igneous rock, with the opportunity to use sandstone at the top of the seawall, outside of the significant wave impact area.

The seawall design should aim to dissipate wave energy rather than reflect it. The wall should make the waves run up and break up over the rock surface instead of hitting it hard and refracting back towards the ocean. At Moffat Beach, this is being achieved by using a sloped profile. One benefit of placed rock is there are lots of voids between the rocks for the water to go into along with randomised shapes. These will dissipate the force of the waves hitting the wall, minimising the disruption to coastal processes and the movement of sand on the beach.

Each layer of the seawall is important. Typically, seawalls have three main layers each serving a different purpose:

1. The first layer of heavy duty geofabric is laid against the excavated batters and allows water to seep through the soil matrix into the next layer of the seawall. This reduces pore water pressure on the seawall (supports drainage).
2. The second layer of filter rock allows this water to flow between geofabric and armour rock layers. It also acts to protect the geofabric from very large sharp armour rocks. It needs to be suitably thick (usually 600-1200mm thick in a large seawall).
3. The final layer of armour rock protects the entire structure and anything behind the seawall. It is typically 800-2000mm rocks two layers thick.

Figure 1: Placed rock seawall with 1:1.5 slope under construction at Mooloolaba 2020 (geofabric layer, filter rock and armour rock from left to right)

Sand moves in and out of the bay at Moffat Beach frequently depending on waves, currents and tidal conditions. It’s likely that most of the time the bottom toe rocks of the seawall will be covered in sand, however there will be times when the rock is exposed as sand has eroded into the bay – like during storm events. At Moffat Beach, sand generally migrates back onto the beach within a few weeks following a large storm event.

Is a ramp currently available to access the beach?

The seawall design will incorporate a new 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 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 has been concreted and the disability compliant carparks have been moved next to the ramp. The access was also widened to approximately two metres and fenced either side.

The ramp will move to the western end of the seawall. The ramp alignment has considered feedback from the Moffat Beach Community Focus Group and other members of the community in its design through historical discussions with Council officers. The ramp extends onto the beach and has rock armouring on both sides to protect it from waves. The new design is approximately half as steep than the old ramp to support improved access to the water. ​A handrail is also being investigated to increase the accessibility of the ramp.

This ramp design retains the Cook Island Pine however some of the Cottonwoods will need to be cut back. The picnic table and BBQ will still be shaded by the Cottonwoods.  ​

The change to the ramp location will mean we are moving the accessible parking bays to be closer to the ramp. No loss of parking is being proposed however there may be changes to the parking layout to improve traffic movement and the location of the accessible parking bays.

The ramp is not DDA compliant. The team investigated a DDA compliant ramp initially. This type of structure would occupy a very significant portion of the beach and be approximately 120-130m long. We would also still require an additional machinery ramp which would occupy further space. The beach also currently has no lifesaving services or surf club volunteers who could assist with turning Moffat Beach into an accessible beach. It was decided to improve the new ramp as much as possible for pedestrians whilst still maintaining an acceptable level of useability for vehicle access.

We are moving the ramp to make it safer and more usable for Council maintenance and the community who use it. In its current location, the sand is frequently eroded below the ramp, making the ramp unsafe and unusable. The chance of this happening will be significantly less in the new location. The ramp was also too steep and outside the desirable range for pedestrian use, there was insufficient footprint to achieve suitable design outcomes if the existing ramp footprint was reused.

Yes. The ramp will be open for people to use who are unable to use the stairs.

Yes. However, the ramp will cease to be a formalised public boat ramp.

The beach access points will remain relatively unchanged. We will be replacing the existing two staircases along the seawall.

The beach access stairs will be replaced with sets slightly wider so two people with surfboards in their arms can pass each other. There will be a beach shower on the central staircase and Council designers are investigating adding a shower to the eastern staircase.

The stairs will look similar to what is there now. They will have marine grade aluminium frames with native hardwood timber balustrades and treads.  The stairs will be longer so there isn’t a gap when the beach erodes. A concrete set of steps at the base of the eastern set of stairs is proposed to eliminate the fall risk.

There will be a slight realigning to the O’Donnell pathway. Council has been liaising with the O’Donnell family regarding this. 

Not at this stage due to community safety. We have been monitoring the eastern end and it is showing signs of movement as well.

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. 

Yes – please take a look at what is being proposed in the landscape plan artist impressions.

Council has been liaising closely with the Moffat Beach Community Focus Group who have shared community values as the design of the seawall progressed.

All correspondence received by the community to date, as well as past community engagement activities identifying the values of Moffat Beach have also been considered by the Project Team.

We know the community highly values the Norfolk Pine Trees which is why we have put forward a hybrid alignment that seeks to retain these trees.

The seawall’s design and alignment has been decided based on engineering standards and compliance with 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.

The community gave their through on the open space design elements directly behind the seawall including: plants, including large shade trees and landscaping between Wednesday March 19 to Wednesday April 16, 2025. 

Please view the landscape plan artist impressions to see what's planned.

These factors and many more will be considered as part of the Moffat Beach Place Plan. The Moffat Beach Place Plan will capture our community’s values and ideas to inform development of the plan.

It will guide how we improve and manage public spaces including street areas and parks. It will contain short term and longer-term ideas.

The plan will respond to environmental changes, traffic, parking and safety issues, and pedestrian access. It will help to protect Moffat Beach’s special history, culture, character, and ecology.

Moffat Beach and bay is considered a closed system. You’ll notice sand on Moffat Beach is very dynamic and while it changes quickly – sand only stays in the bay, travelling offshore during a storm and then migrating back to shore during the calmer winter period.

Sand nourishment also must be of a compatible grain size. Moffat Beach sand is very gritty and large grained sand, likely from the headland breaking down over a millennia. Offshore sources may not be compatible, and it would be too expensive and inefficient to truck in sand. The bay is likely too shallow to get in close with a dredge so we’d need a floating pipeline which would all come at a significant cost.

Yes. We need to open it to prevent flooding of public and private infrastructure upstream. The location for the opening is carefully managed to minimise erosion of the northern bank and so the mouth doesn’t migrate to the base of the seawall and cause erosion here.

Please view Moffat Beach Community Focus group presentation 2 for more detailed information.

There is already a very large natural reef offshore from Moffat Beach. An artificial reef would also cost Council between $30-70million. It may also negatively affect the surf break and sediment transport processes around the headland and Moffat/Dicky beach.