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.

Coast rider claims Tour de France stage victory

Sunshine Coast rider Kaden Groves has completed his set of grand tour stage wins after traversing the slippery roads to triumph on the penultimate More

Your say: camping crackdown, backpacker plans and more

Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name More

Planning ramps up for new motorway access

Early planning is underway for a long-awaited upgrade to a section of the Sunshine Motorway, with site investigations fast-tracked to pave the way for More

$82m boost to unlock homes in city centre

More than 1800 new homes are set to be fast-tracked in the heart of the Sunshine Coast, with a major state investment aimed at More

Copper theft crisis: damage bill climbs across Coast

Copper thieves are targeting Sunshine Coast infrastructure, disrupting essential services, endangering lives and leaving behind a hefty repair bill shared by the community. Sunshine Coast More

Police charge four over knives, drugs during blitz in town

Knives and drugs were allegedly uncovered during a targeted police blitz in a Sunshine Coast town, with four people now facing charges. Police conducted wanding 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