Eighty per cent of the beach on the Gold Coast is gone, and anyone who takes a swim in the murky ocean risks a fine of $16,000, as the mop-up ramps up in earnest.
Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate said ex-tropical cyclone Alfred had already washed most of the city’s beaches into the ocean, but that a dredge is already booked to replenish the vast volumes of sand that have been washed into the sea.
Fallen trees along a Gold Coast beachfront.Credit: Justin McManus
Damaged coastal infrastructure such as surf life-saving platforms and fences must also be repaired before full access to the beach can be granted, but Tate says he is committed to returning the beaches to health in time for the Easter school holidays.
“When it comes to the Easter holiday in April, please come and visit us. Visit Queensland,” Tate said while addressing media in the heart of Surfers Paradise.
The beach below remains mostly empty, and the waters are and choppy and brown.
Tate said it is not yet safe to swim, but that he hopes the beach could be reopened as soon as tomorrow.
“We’re watching the debris, we’re testing the water, because the water at the moment’s very dirty. My gut feel it could be open tomorrow, and so we’ll see how quickly we work. But then again, Mother Nature is another thing.”
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