What is proposed for the foreshore at Rocky Point Park, Russell Island?

    Council proposes constructing a rock armour seawall along the foreshore to help improve the site's condition and protect it from further coastal erosion. 

    Council acknowledges that the site is also a popular launching point and therefore developed two seawall design options for community consultation. The options included:

    • A rock armour seawall.
    • A rock armour seawall with a foreshore access ramp for small non-motorised watercraft, including pram dinghies, kayaks, and canoes. 

    Why is a seawall required at this site?

    Weather events and the area's coastal processes driven by waves, currents and winds have severely eroded the site. Environmental studies have determined that the most viable foreshore protection management option for this area is the construction of a rock armour seawall along the foreshore. 

    Council presented two seawall design options for community feedback. What was the result of the project survey?

    Council sought community feedback on two seawall design options, which included:

    • A rock armour seawall.
    • A rock armour seawall with the inclusion of an access ramp for small non-motorised watercraft. 

    The feedback period was open from 13 April to 20 May 2020 via an online survey available on the project page. The survey garnered 81 responses. Of the 81 respondents, 50 selected the rock seawall option with the inclusion of the access ramp, while 7 preferred only the rock seawall, and 27 skipped the question altogether.

    Based on the survey results, Council will construct a rock armour seawall with an access ramp for small non-motorised watercraft, including canoes, kayaks and pram dinghies. The ramp will provide safe access to the bay for watercraft up to a size limit of 2-3 metres and that can be maneuvered by hand.

    What kind of seawall is being proposed for the area?

    Council acknowledges that the site is a popular launching point for kayaks and canoes, therefore it developed two seawall design options, which were then presented to the community for feedback. The options included:

    • A rock armour seawall
    • A rock armour seawall with the inclusion of an access ramp for small non-motorised watercraft, including pram dinghies, kayaks, and canoes.

    'Rock armour' is a form of coastal protection involving the engineered placement of rocks as a barrier against scouring actions by tides, currents and waves.

    What does 'rock armour' mean?

    'Rock armour' is a form of coastal protection involving the engineered placement of rocks as a barrier against scouring actions by tides, currents and waves.

    Why is a ramp being considered in one of the designs?

    Council acknowledges Rocky Point is a popular launching point for small non-motorised watercraft users, however, the site is also experiencing coastal erosion. To help protect and improve the area's condition and also offer infrastructure for recreational use, Council developed two seawall design options for community consultation, with one of the designs including a foreshore access ramp.

    What are the dimensions of the seawall?

    The rock armour seawall will be approximately 50metres long and approximately 2.8metres high.

    How will the seawall affect canoe and kayak users?

    The seawall and access ramp will not affect people launching small non-motorised watercraft, such as canoes, kayaks and pram dinghies. A ramp will in fact provide a safer and more appropriate launching and landing point for people using these types of watercraft.

    Council encourages watercraft users to always check weather and tide forecasts before heading out on the bay.

    How soon could work begin?

    Consultation on the project has closed. Council will now review the feedback to help inform the detailed design. 

    The project's construction phase is subject to Council's budget prioritisation process. Future updates will be shared on the project page.

    Where can I view the seawall design options and how can I have my say about this proposal?

    The designs can be viewed on the project’s Your Say page and feedback can be submitted via a survey. Please click on the survey tab located on the main page.

    Are there plans to construct a recreational boat ramp at Rocky Point?

    No. Council prioritises the construction of boat ramps at Redlands Coast based on three influencing factors; safety, demand and site limitations.

    To establish current and future demand for boating facilities, the Queensland State Government commissions the Queensland Recreational Boating Facilities Demand Forecasting Study. This report allows Council to prioritise sites for boat ramp development. 

    In addition to this study, Council undertakes its own boat ramp demand study every year. This data is assessed by Council against the guidelines outlined in the Queensland State Government's Recreational Boating Facilities and Infrastructure Plan.

    The current facilities on Russell Island are sufficient to meet the boating demands of the island.

    Furthermore, the Queensland State Government commissioned a feasibility study in 2018 which indicated the natural attributes of Rocky Point are unsuited to the economic development of a barge or boat ramp.

    Does Council plan on building an emergency boat ramp at this location?

    No. The 2017 Fire Review Report, developed by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services, advised Council it was not necessary to construct an emergency boat ramp at Rocky Point. It did, however, recommend that Council investigate the development of a second evacuation route on Russell Island.

    In the event of an emergency, Russell Island residents have access to two evacuation routes.

    In December 2019, a new secondary evacuation route along Lagoon Road that connects with Centre Road was created. From here, residents can travel north along sealed roads to the evacuation centre, if it is safe to do so, or south to Sandy Beach where they can be safely evacuated by the emergency services’ vessels at the Queensland Police Service police barge. For more information, please visit disaster.redland.qld.gov.au.