PA2906-Coastal Hazard Assessment-R3 · MCU21/0212

                                         Internal use only




5.3            Sediment Transport
Sand is transported over time in a net northerly direction along the Sunshine Coast driven by the
prevailing south-easterly wave climate in a process known as littoral drift. The average longshore littoral
transport rate at Sunshine Beach has previously been estimated at 23,300 cubic metres annually (BMT,
2013).

Noosa Head at the northern end of Sunshine Beach is a control feature that influences sand transport
processes. The net northerly littoral transport of sand along Sunshine Beach is interrupted by the
headland which traps sand on the southern side (i.e., Sunshine Beach) until such time that the beach to
the south is effectively “full” at which point some sediment bypassing of the headland will occur. Noosa
Head also provides protection to Sunshine Beach from waves from the northeast quadrant that will be
more prevalent during the summer cyclone season.

It is also likely that Noosa Head would assist with post-storm event beach recovery of Sunshine Beach
through the trapping of long-term net northerly littoral transport of sand and associated rebuilding of the
beach system towards a beach full state. The location of the site relative to Noosa Heads and ongoing
littoral transport process ensure that (in the absence of sea level rise) the foreshore at the site will
fluctuate within a steady state envelope of positions; subject to short term storm erosion events, but long
term always accretes towards a beach full state controlled by the headland.




03 June 2022        66 SEAVIEW TERRACE, SUNSHINE BEACH              PA2906-RHD-ZZ-XX-RP-Z-0001     22