Approvals Application Supporting Material · MCU26/0084

                                               Noosa Harbour & Las Rias Foreshore Management Works
                                                 OFFICIAL




2 Project Background

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2.1 Overview and Site Location
The Noosa Harbour Resort and Las Rias Holiday Apartments and associated foreshore (collectively
referred to as ‘the site’) adjoins the Noosa River. The two resorts are located on strata parcel land (Lot
0 on BUP4021 and Lot 0 on BUP9869), with an ambulatory boundary that has become ‘fixed’ by the
presence of an historical revetment wall (see identification survey information at Annex B). The site was
originally developed as part of the Hays Island development undertaken by the Noosa Island Estate Pty
Ltd between 1971 and 1974 which included development of a rock revetment along the northern and
northwestern frontages of the island to manage erosion. This area was further modified by the Beach
Protection Authority (BPA) under the Scheme for the Protection of Hays Island (BPA, 1971), including
significant diversion of the Noosa River to create calm waters around the island.

Severe flooding in February 2022 resulted in substantial sand loss along the riverfront exposing much
of the rock revetment wall at the site (Figure 2.1 and Figure 2.2). This became further exacerbated by
alterations in the river channel which moved closer to the shore, increasing erosion pressures on the
shoreline, including on the wall itself. Figure 2.3 shows the migration of the river channel over the past
few years, demonstrating this impact.

In response to this erosion, sand nourishment works were undertaken in 2024, utilising sand sourced
from the adjoining river channel, but this was unsuccessful. The migration of the river meant that any
nourishment material would rapidly erode from the site, unless accompanied by engineered structures
to ‘hold’ material in place.

A site visit undertaken by BMT on 17 December 2024 indicated that the rock wall has deteriorated, with
significant slumping of the primary armour stone, exposing secondary armour layers and geotextile
which is not suitable for erosion protection (1.1). This rock revetment has historically been shielded by
occasional sand nourishment, both to reduce impacts to the revetment, and support the weight of the
revetment and thereby reduce the risk of a rotational failure of the revetment. At different times in the
past, the revetment has been exposed by erosion leading to on-going maintenance risks.

To provide ongoing protection to the site, it is necessary to rebuild a significant proportion of the
revetment wall. However, to improve the longevity of the revetment wall and to provide for ongoing
public use of the foreshore at the site, it is proposed to bury the wall with sand. This in turn necessitates
the development of groynes to avoid the immediate loss of sand into the immediately adjoining river
channel. Beach nourishment and the construction of groynes will require accessing sand from within
the Noosa River via dredging.

Similar works have been undertaken at Munna Point, immediately west of the site across Weyba Creek.

The proposed location for revetment wall rebuilds, geotextile sand groynes, initial beach nourishment,
and sand sourcing are shown in Figure 2.4. A full set of design drawings is provided alongside this
application report.




© BMT 2026
004024 | 001 | 00                                     5                                        10 August 2026