Coastal Hazard Assessment · MCU25/0087

                                            17 The Esplanade, Sunshine Beach                              Report




                  Figure 4-2: Offshore Significant Wave Height Design Curves (BMT, 2013)

4.3     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 23,300 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 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 beach recovery of Sunshine Beach
through the trapping of 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.




                                                                252662-MN-RP-CO-0001B | 10 November 2025 | Page 20