Moffat Beach Seawall Project
Dear Residents,
As promised, I have sought advice from the relevant State Government agencies as to what, if any, role they have in relation to the Moffat Beach Seawall Restoration Project. The three agencies I sought advice from are: the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA); the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) and the Department of Resources (Resources).
I have now received detailed advice back from each of these agencies and am committed to being fully transparent so am providing this advice in full below:
Update from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority
- Sunshine Coast Council (SCC) is the delivery agency for the Moffat Beach seawall repair
project. - The project is for protecting the Moffat Beach community parklands, paths, roads and
facilities from future climate change impacts whilst providing access points from the
parklands to the beach. - The seawall comprises of three sections, eastern, middle and western.
SCRC allocated a total of $4.55 million to rebuild the western and middle sections
however there has been $4.95 million of contributions from below mentioned funding
sources:- Under the Disaster Recovery Funding agreement (Signed May 2023) the QLD
Reconstruction authority awarded $1.95 million to SCRC for reconstruction of the
Moffat Beach Seawall which comprised of:- May 2023 SCRC requested $354k for stage 1 works. QRA approved and paid
$347k for clean-up and short-term rectification. - May 2023 SCRC requested $1.6 million for long term rectification works and
QRA approved the full value. Council will receive remaining $1.5 million from
QRA at relevant payment milestones as they finalise the project.
- May 2023 SCRC requested $354k for stage 1 works. QRA approved and paid
- August 2023 $150k contributed from Department of Transport and Main Roads.
- June 2024 $2.85 million through Council's 2024-25 budget for the middle section
- Under the Disaster Recovery Funding agreement (Signed May 2023) the QLD
- QRA monitors the project progress monthly to ensure proactive support where council
identifies project or cost variance. - QRA will continue to ensure Council are supported in a timely way to achieve project
completion. - The eastern section of seawall is only showing small signs of movement. Monitoring of
this section will continue for public safety. - All information pertaining to the project is publicly available on the Sunshine Coast
Council website via https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/council/planning-and-projects/infrastructure-projects/moffat-beach-seawall-repair-project.
Update from the Department of Resources (Resources)
- There are different tenure types along multiple land parcels that make up the Moffat
Beach foreshore, where the Moffat Beach seawall repair project is occurring. - These land tenures include freehold, with the registered owner being Sunshine Coast
Council (council), reserve for park and garden purposes, with council as trustee and road
managed by council. - Council, as the owner of the freehold land, trustee of the reserves and road manager, is
responsible for the management and maintenance of the land, which includes exercising
duty of care. - There is unallocated state land (USL) within the eastern section of the project area. Due
to the public infrastructure on the USL, which includes footpath, seating etc, council have
the right to occupy and maintain this area under the Coastal Protection and Management
Act 1995 (Coastal Act), and under the Coastal Act have an obligation to keep the
infrastructure in a safe condition. - The Department of Resources (Resources) has not been involved in any discussions in
relation to the redesign or repair of the seawall. - Council is the responsible agency for the Moffat Beach seawall redesign and repair and
should be consulted on any issues or concerns of constituents.
Update from the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA)
- SARA’s role is to advise council of the relevant matters of state interest and the applicable state codes against which Council’s eventual seawall design / plans will be assessed and to coordinate the state agencies which will undertake any eventual technical assessment of Council’s design / plans.
- SARA’s role as referral agency, will be limited to assessing impacts on matters of state interest, as set out in the State Development Assessment Provisions (SDAP).
- The council will be assessment manager and assess the application against the criteria of the local planning instrument.
- The council, as both the applicant and the assessment manager, will need to determine how best to design the seawall.
- The council, as the applicant, is responsible for ensuring that the proposed design complies with the relevant performance outcomes.
- SARA will then assess the impacts and suitability of the design when the council formally lodges the design and any supporting materials as part of the development application.
- The onus for ensuring the design complies with the assessment criteria lies with the applicant, the council.
- It is the applicant’s responsibility (Council) to undertake due diligence through the planning and design process, to identify and explore any feasible alternative locations or designs in order to comply with the relevant state codes.