Work to restore Golden Beach will soon be underway thanks to a $50,000 grant from the Palaszczuk Government.
The funding provided to Take Action for Pumicestone Passage Inc delivers on an election commitment and will allow the group to re-establish the natural ecosystem along the foreshore of the TS Onslow Australian Navy Cadets base on Golden Beach.
Visiting the group today, Minister for Environment Leeanne Enoch said the grant has allowed Take Action for Pumicestone Passage Inc to purchase and plant 500 mangrove seedlings and 400 groundcover species.
"This will help to control erosion and improve the shoreline, using a natural approach," Ms Enoch said.
"Over time, these mangrove seedlings will not only provide natural erosion control and stabilise the shoreline, but provide habitat for a range of marine species and coastal birds.
"In addition, the funding will enable the group to straighten and shape the bank, as well as build a shallow sand berm to improve the shoreline and allow the beach to naturally re-generate.
"They will also begin to prepare the bank for recruitment of oyster spat, a valuable resource for cleaning water and improving water quality."
Ken Mewburn of Take Action for Pumicestone Passage Inc said they are excited to receive the grant, and that it has provided an opportunity for them to actively manage the shoreline restoration at Golden Beach.
"It has given us the opportunity to be involved with the planning process and to thoroughly investigate the best possible outcome for the project," Mr Mewburn said.
"The site that we are rehabilitating is subject to excessive erosion. In an attempt to reduce the dependence on "hard engineering", such as rock walling, we sought approval to trial mangroves to stabilise the shoreline.
"Erosion has continued to impact the shoreline north and to a lesser degree south of the rehabilitated area and we are concentrating our attention on this.
"The prevention of erosion and provision of habitat, both marine and land based, the reduced need for un-natural rock walls and hard surface are all an advantage to the Golden Beach region.
"By investing through Take Action for Pumicestone Passage Inc, the Queensland Government has supported a very collaborative project that began in 2015 with strong involvement from Traditional Owners and all levels of government.
"Other sponsors for Stage 2 works are the Australian Government National Landcare Program through Healthy Land and Water, the Caloundra Power Boat Club and the Sunshine Coast Council with in-kind support."
The funding is provided via the Community Sustainability Action grant program and fulfils a 2017 general election commitment.
