Coochiemudlo Island Shoreline Erosion Management Plan

Council recently obtained the results of the latest Coochiemudlo Island beach survey and compared it to the previous year's survey data. A comparison of the beach profiles shows there has not been a significant change to sand levels over the monitoring period, indicating no erosion.

Some movement of sand up and down the beach profile is expected to occur on any natural shoreline, however the survey indicates there has been no net loss of sand and no evidence of erosion over the period.

To view a snapshot of the survey outputs, please refer to the 'Foreshore Survey Results' section located on the main page.

These surveys are providing Council with a good knowledge base to make informed decisions on the management of the foreshore and provide the community confidence that there is no evidence of rampant erosion over the last year.

Council continues to monitor and manage foreshores across Redlands Coast, including Coochiemudlo Island.

Redland City Council has adopted the Coochiemudlo Island Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP), which outlines its strategy to manage current and future erosion risks.

Mayor Karen Williams said the development of the SEMP allowed Council to obtain a detailed technical understanding of the island’s coastal processes and opened an avenue for community engagement.

“Importantly, the SEMP recommends a number of management options for Council to protect the sub-tropical island from coastal erosion,” Cr Williams said.

“The principal recommendation is for post-storm beach nourishment across the island to help accelerate the natural recovery process and provide a buffer against future coastal hazards.

“Other recommendations include implementing an ongoing beach monitoring program, vegetation and stormwater management, formalising beach access, and sustainably relocating dredged sand.”

Cr Williams said the formal adoption of the plan followed significant research and consultation with key stakeholders.

“The Coochiemudlo Island SEMP includes input from coastal engineering consultants, a community reference group (CRG) and State Government departments.

“It highlights the underlying causes of shoreline erosion through an assessment of the coastal processes occurring on the foreshore and a consideration of the island’s environmental, cultural and economic values.

“Home to hundreds of residents and an abundance of native wildlife, Coochiemudlo Island is a special part of Redlands Coast and is surrounded by an Emerald Fringe, a natural green belt containing within it woodlands, caves, beaches and wetlands.

“Like all islands, it is subject to shoreline erosion which studies have shown is primarily linked to storm events.”

Division 4 Councillor Lance Hewlett said Council would continue to update the community on the progress of implementing the SEMP’s recommended actions, which remained subject to Council’s annual budget development and budget prioritisation process.

“The adoption of the Coochiemudlo SEMP is a significant milestone,” Cr Hewlett said.

“It will be critical in enabling Council to continue to protect the beauty that is Coochiemudlo Island from coastal hazards.

“The island is the hidden gem of Redlands Coast. The Emerald Fringe is on Council’s schedule of local heritage places, and Norfolk Beach was where Captain Matthew Flinders landed on the island on 19 July 1799 – the first European to do so.

“I would like to thank members of the community reference group, drawn from a cross-section of the island community and representatives from Quandamooka Yoolooburrabee Aboriginal Corporation, for their time and effort throughout the SEMP project.

“Coochiemudlo Island residents have had a fantastic win today, knowing their perspectives have been considered through the representation on this group.”

On Wednesday 9 September 2020, Council and project consultant BMT presented the final revised Coochiemudlo Island SEMP to the CRG.

The revised SEMP incorporates feedback received from all project stakeholders, including CRG members.

The next step in the project is to seek support from State Government agencies. Following this period, officers will then present the SEMP to Council for adoption.

Thank you to the CRG for contributing their time and local knowledge to the development of the SEMP.

On Tuesday 16 June 2020, project consultant BMT presented the draft Coochiemudlo Island SEMP at a CRG meeting and outlined its recommendations for how erosion can best be managed along the Coochiemudlo Island foreshore.

The meeting, which was facilitated by Council, also provided an opportunity for CRG members to ask questions and discuss BMT's suggestions.

The CRG has been asked to provide feedback on the draft SEMP which will be passed on to BMT for consideration.

The next CRG meeting is planned to be held in the next few months, where BMT will present the final SEMP before it is submitted to Council for review and adoption.

On Thursday 27 February 2020, Council held this year's first CRG meeting.

The aim of the meeting was so that Council contractors, BMT, could present the draft multi-criteria analysis matrix to CRG members, for review.

The matrix will be used as a tool to review erosion management options in the development of the SEMP.

CRG members provided Council and BMT with valuable feedback on the draft matrix, however, Council is seeking further input from members who were unable to attend the meeting.

BMT also agreed to provide CRG members with an example of how a multi-criteria analysis is undertaken.

On Thursday 1 August 2019, Council facilitated a community reference group meeting in which environmental consultants from BMT presented the draft Shoreline Erosion Study for Coochiemudlo Island.

The study evaluated erosion processes and considered the environmental, social and cultural requirements that subsequently inform the assessment of management options.

These management options are currently being reviewed by Council officers and reference group members.

Due to the shallow nature of the North-eastern portion of the Coochiemudlo Island coastline, previous bathymetric surveys were unable to provide adequate detail. As a result, Council has commissioned further bathymetric surveys which are planned for 25 January 2019, weather permitting.

Following concerns raised by some Coochie residents regarding the foreshore erosion resulting from wind/tide conditions on 28 November 2018, technical specialists and arborists inspected the site. The arborist’s advice was that while two trees (at Norfolk Beach) and one tree (at Morwong Beach) are at some risk of long term failure, at the time of inspection they displayed typical health, appeared structurally sound and adapted to their immediate environmental conditions. On this basis, officers agreed no stabilisation beach nourishment was required at present. However, Council will continue to monitor the extent of the hazard impact on both trees especially following the king tides in the near future. BMT, the coastal experts commissioned to complete the Coochie SEMP, also advised they did not support limited beach nourishment as a method to support vulnerable trees.

In the long term, the SEMP management options will address environmental, social, cultural and economic values of the foreshore at Norfolk Beach.

In addition, I will discuss potential indigenous cultural heritage values associated with the vulnerable trees with QYAC.

Jessie and Malcolm, our consultants from BMT, were out at Coochiemudlo Island on Monday 8 October for an inspection at low tide.

All the beaches were inspected - from the golf course beach around to Morwong Beach. The purpose of the low tide inspection was to identify the location of inter-tidal reefs and rocky control points, and well as locations where the seaward extent of sand is limited. The accretion of sand onto the eastern beaches was noted. The previous high tide mark and historic erosion scarps were clearly visible and therefore any future site inspections will likely be later in the study and related to specific issues.

Since forming the Coochie Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) Community Reference Group (CRG) in October 2017, the group has met five times bringing community perspectives to the table. The reference group was able to have input into the specifications and the appointment of consultants, BMT who were commissioned to complete the SEMP in July 2018. BMT are experienced in Coochiemudlo’s erosion issues having authored the Norfolk Beach Shoreline Erosion Study though their focus is now broader, encompassing the whole island. The first and current stage in the process involves BMT carrying out research into current literature, coastal processes impacting Coochie and identifying risks. To that end, an Open Day was recently held on Coochie to enable locals and landowners the opportunity to provide their input into areas that are subject to erosion, as well as identifying areas of value to the local community.