Reference Document - Coastal Hazard Assessment - MCU24 0094 · MCU24/0094

                                  33 Ross Crescent, Sunshine Beach – Coastal Hazzard Assessment | 33 Ross Crescent Family Trust




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 or longshore sediment transport. The
average longshore littoral transport rate at Sunshine Beach has previously been estimated at 23,300m3
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.




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