Ex-Cyclone Alfred recently wreaked havoc on Queensland’s coast, hitting the Gold Coast particularly hard. The intense waves have eroded a significant stretch of sandy shoreline, creating a 50-kilometre cliff along the famous beaches, just as the busy Easter holiday period approaches.
In a bid to restore the beloved “glitter strip,” the local council is awaiting the arrival of a 75-metre Danish dredger. This specialised vessel will extract sand from beneath the waves and redistribute it back onto the beach, an essential step in the recovery process.
In the meantime, council workers have been busy using trucks to transport sand from their stockpiles to the affected areas. The total cost of the restoration efforts is estimated at around $10 million, a seemingly small investment when compared to the $7.5 billion tourism revenue generated annually by the Gold Coast.
As preparations continue, the focus remains on rejuvenating this iconic destination for both residents and visitors alike.