Initial work

Improvements achieved by dredging and nourishment works

Construction of the jetty-based permanent sand bypassing system commenced at Letitia Spit in February 2000.

The permanent sand bypassing system jetty infrastructure commenced collecting and transporting sand to the southern Gold Coast beaches in March 2001.

Associated dredging and beach nourishment works commenced in April 2000. These works were undertaken by McQuade Marine No. 2 Pty Ltd under sub-contract to McConnell Dowell.

The objective of the dredging and nourishment campaign was to achieve immediate improvements to the entrance channel and provide a supply of sand to the southern Gold Coast beaches, while the jetty-based sand bypassing system was under construction.

The dredging works were carried out using the 50m long vessel, the "Port Frederick", which could dredge and carry sand loads of up to 450 cubic metres in its hopper compartment. Sand dredged from the entrance area was placed east of Snapper Rocks.

The "Port Frederick" deposited sand in the placement area by opening the hopper doors in the hull of the vessel to allow the sand to fall to the seabed.

Waves and currents redistributed this sand to the beaches west of Snapper Rocks thereby maintaining beach amenity and surfing conditions.

Stage 1 & 2 dredging quantities from April 1995 to May 2009 (PDF 98 kb)