100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

100% Locally Owned, Independent and Free

The Coast's new natural attractions — with a bonus island — gain official recognition

Do you have a news tip? Click here to send to our news team.

Plans lodged for 12-storey development on main street

A proposal for a three-tower, 12-level mixed-use development on the main street of a beachside town have been revealed. The proposed complex would occupy a More

Millions spent on harbour entrance amid lack of options

More than $5 million has been spent on dredging the Sunshine Coast’s main harbour entrance over the past five years in a bid to More

Surf club elects its first female president

A Coast surf lifesaving club has made history by electing its first female president. Victoria Berry took the helm at the Maroochydore Surf Life Saving More

Key change: music venue plans to add brewery

A live music venue that began as a custom guitar workshop is seeking to add a brewery and the sale of food and beverages More

Busy transport hub gears up for new bus depot

A tourist hotspot is gearing up for a new bus depot, which would improve bus running times and reduce CO2 emissions in the congested More

Sami Muirhead: a bellyful of Bali love

Ashes in cocktails, island romances and strained stomach muscles from surfing after a 40-year hiatus More it was one of the best weeks of More

It’s official, the Sunshine Coast has a brand-new coastal crossing – and another island!

After mapping dramatic changes to the northern part of Bribie Island, the State Government has gazetted the impressive breach that has become a dominant feature opposite Golden Beach.

This means the new entrance will now be known as the Bribie Island Bar and included in updated charts used by South-East Queensland mariners.

The revised charts also will show two islands in the area: Bribie Island (North) and Bribie Island (South).

The breakthrough has grown from a few metres to 400m wide in a few months since the ocean burst through the fragile isle in early January, about 2km south of Caloundra’s Happy Valley.

The Notice to Mariners showing water depths at the Bribie Island Bar.

A Maritime Safety Queensland survey, conducted in February, recorded depths at the site between 1-3m, but they were “generally around a metre”.

Coast Guard Caloundra Commander Roger Pearce said the official recognition, tabled on March 18, was aimed at informing mariners and improving their safety.

He said declaring the Bribie Island Bar as a designated coastal bar would require the use of lifejackets when crossing the waterway.

“Those who don’t will face the prospect of fines.

“The changes acknowledge this is now the dominant entrance.

The entrance has widened to 400m. Picture: Brendan Smith of SkyShots Photography

“While it will be a better bar, it is currently still a washing machine and only navigable at high tide.

“We don’t use it and won’t until it stabilises further.”

Mr Pearce said the Coast Guard had noticed much more traffic using the entrance.

He said as it was opposite the Caloundra Power Boat Club, it provided quicker access to the sea, but warned boaties to take care.

How the breakthrough looked in early January.

Maritime Safety Queensland said mariners must remain mindful that coastal bars were dynamic in nature with conditions constantly changing.

“Mariners must plan their crossing of the Bribie Island bar, having careful consideration to prevailing conditions, the state of the tide, and the draught of their vessels,” it said.

“The coastal bar must be navigated with extreme caution. Each person on board an open boat less than 4.8 metres in length must wear an appropriate life jacket while the boat is crossing the coastal bar.”

As revealed by Sunshine Coast News, the changes to Bribie were not unexpected with a major study warning of a breakthrough and identifying “threats” to the Pumicestone Passage and mainland foreshore in 2009.

Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article 

 

Subscribe to SCN’s free daily news email

This field is hidden when viewing the form
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
[scn_go_back_button] Return Home
Share