Beaches and Coastlines

Beaches & Coastlines

Fraser Coast beaches and coastline are unique in that they are greatly influenced by K'gari and the Great Sandy Straits.

Australia's marine and estuarine environment is home to many interesting animals, including some harmful jellyfish collectively known as marine stingers. Several of these may occasionally be found in the subtropical waters of Hervey Bay and the Fraser Coast.

With sharks becoming more active during the warmer months, Fisheries Queensland, part of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation are urging people to play safe when visiting Queensland waters.

Visit the Beach Safe and Surf Life Saving websites for information on staying safe on your next beach trip.

For information on tides, temperatures and UV ratings visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.

Foreshore Enhancement Action Plans

Foreshore Enhancement Action Plans have been prepared to include works which will improve functionality, safety, amenity of key areas and provide opportunities for passive recreation and protection of environmental areas along the Hervey Bay foreshore.

• Map 1 - Beach Road to Thomas Street, Pialba(PDF, 634KB)
• Map 2 - Thomas Street to Main Street, Pialba(PDF, 50KB)
• Map 3 - Main Street to Taylor Street, Pialba(PDF, 440KB)
• Map 4 - Taylor Street to Hervey Street, Scarness(PDF, 67KB)
• Map 5 - Hervey Street to Queens Road, Scarness(PDF, 2MB)
• Map 6 & 7 - Queens Road to Tavistock Street, Scarness(PDF, 637KB)
• Map 8 & 9 - Tavistock Street to Fraser Street, Torquay(PDF, 104KB)
• Map 10, 11 & 12 - Fraser Street to Alexander Street, Torquay(PDF, 143KB)
• Map 13, 14, & 15 - Alexander Street to Elizabeth Street, Urangan(PDF, 123KB)
• Map 16, 17 & 18 - Elizabeth Street to Dayman Street, Urangan(PDF, 157KB)
• Map 19 - Dayman Street to Esplanade, Urangan(PDF, 117KB)
• Map 20 - Beach Road to Moreton Street, Point Vernon(PDF, 55KB)
• Map 21 - Moreton Street to Halcro Street, Point Vernon(PDF, 56KB)
• Map 22 - Halcro Street to Martin Street, Point Vernon(PDF, 50KB)
• Map 23 - Martin Street to Kehlet Street, Point Vernon(PDF, 52KB)
• Map 24 - Kehlet Street to Banksia Street, Point Vernon(PDF, 49KB)
• Map 25 - Banksia Street to Inman Street, Point Vernon(PDF, 47KB)
• Map 26 - Inman Street to Aplin Street, Point Vernon(PDF, 45KB)
• Map 27 - ESA Park to the Gables, Point Vernon(PDF, 50KB)
• Map 28 - ESA Park to Gatakers, Point Vernon(PDF, 54KB)
• Map 29 - Gatakers to Mant Street, Point Vernon(PDF, 51KB)

Protected vegetation

Council must gain approval from the Queensland Government for the removal of any fallen trees on beaches.

The land tenure, the location of high water mark and the location of protected areas are key factors that affect what action may be taken to disturb trees that have fallen onto beaches.

All marine plants (whether alive or dead) are protected under Queensland law through provisions of the Fisheries Act 1994. Destruction, damage or disturbance of marine plants without prior approval from Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) is prohibited. Penalties of up to $300,000 apply.

If you observe any disturbance of marine plants, contact the Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol on 1800 017 116 or Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries on 13 25 23.

Coastal Futures: Planning Our Changing Coastline

Coastal Futures

Coastal Asset Condition Survey Report

Kingfisher Parade Seawall 2017(PDF, 16MB)

Contact us

For enquiries email Council at engineering.services@frasercoast.qld.gov.au or phone Council on 1300 79 49 29.

Shoreline Erosion Management Plan

Fraser Coast Regional Council has undertaken the preparation of a Shoreline Erosion Management Plan (SEMP) for the Fraser Coast Local Government Area.

The intent of this plan is to assist Council in the response to the current and future coastal erosion processes. This plan encompasses the 112km of shoreline from Burrum Heads in the north, to Tinnanbar in the south, and includes those parts of the shoreline immediately landward (i.e. within 100m) of the mean high water mark.

The SEMP process has been broken into two stages:

• Stage 1 - Gap Analysis Study - Collation of important datasets, background reports and community values. A Gap Analysis report completed this stage. (see below)
• Stage 2 - Management Options and Recommendations Study - Coastal processes, risk assessment and an assessment of erosion management options. An Options Assessment report completed this stage (see below).

A final Stage 3 (Management Plan) was proposed during the planning stages of the SEMP, which is now being undertaken on a location by location basis. For example, Council commissioned the preparation of a management plan for the Hervey Bay shoreline between Halcro Street and Dayman Park.

Hervey Bay Shoreline (Halcro Street to Dayman Park) Management Plan(PDF, 2MB) – Management Recommendations for the Hervey Bay shoreline between Halcro Street and Dayman Park (see below).

The core objective of the Plan was to identify preferred coastal protection treatments for priority locations of the shoreline between Point Vernon and Urangan to manage erosion of the foreshore. Coastal protection works in the form of rock revetments and concrete seawalls, have since been constructed at the highest priority sections of Hervey Bay Sailing Club, Torquay Caravan Park, Hervey Bay Surf Life Saving Club and Ron Beaton Park, Torquay.

Planning and design investigations are also underway for Dayman Park, south of Aquarium and Urangan, east of the Pier, as well as Bates Road, Boonooroo. Whilst Boonooroo was not included in the Hervey Bay Shoreline Management Plan, erosion has progressed sufficiently to warrant the construction of a coastal protection structure to preserve residential access in this location.

The Plan also includes indicative priorities for the reconstruction of existing coastal protection works. Council undertakes defect and condition inspections to monitor the condition of these existing structures and estimated timing of reconstructions. The results of these inspections inform both Council’s maintenance and capital renewal programs.

Gap Analysis report

• Final Gap Analysis report(PDF, 5MB)
• Final Gap Analysis report - appendices(PDF, 4MB)

Shoreline Erosion Management Options Assessment

• Executive summary and contents(PDF, 2MB)
• Introduction(PDF, 3MB)
• Study approach(PDF, 94KB)
• Erosion prone areas(PDF, 6MB)
• Statutory and non-statutory framework(PDF, 1MB)
• Values and uses of the study area(PDF, 9MB)
• Risk assessment(PDF, 997KB)
• Management recommendations(PDF, 42KB)
• Conclusions and recommendations(PDF, 17KB)
• Qualifications and assumptions(PDF, 11KB)
• References(PDF, 16KB)

Appendixes

• Appendix A - Consultation report(PDF, 410KB)
• Appendix B - Risk assessment discussion paper(PDF, 525KB)
• Appendix C - Preliminary indicative options costings(PDF, 29KB)
• Appendix D - Options assessment criteria(PDF, 16KB)
• Appendix E - Erosion prone areas mapping(PDF, 2MB)
• Appendix F - Qualitative risk assessment(PDF, 198KB)
• Appendix G - Quantitative risk assessment(PDF, 109KB)
• Appendix H - Options mapping (zone 1)(PDF, 14MB)
• Appendix H - Options mapping (zone 2)(PDF, 4MB)
• Appendix H - Options mapping (zone 3)(PDF, 14MB)
• Appendix H - Options mapping (zone 4)(PDF, 8MB)
• Appendix H - Options mapping (zone 5)(PDF, 6MB)
• Appendix I - Unranked management options(PDF, 42KB)
• Appendix J - Ranked management options(PDF, 31KB)

Hervey Bay Shoreline (Halcro Street to Dayman Park) Management Plan

• Hervey Bay Shoreline Management Plan factsheet(PDF, 2MB)

Contact us

For general enquiries regarding coastal management issues, email Engineering.Services@frasercoast.qld.gov.au or phone 1300 79 49 29.