General News
28 April, 2026
No funds for erosion fixes
AT least $20 million would be needed to fix coastal erosion at Holloways Beach – with no monies allocated in the Cairns Regional Council’s 10-year capital works program.
A petition of 104 signatures was tabled at the council’s last meeting, with a council report admitting “council does not currently have any specific budget allowance for significant coastal protection works at Holloways Beach in the 10-year capital works program”.
“Council will however continue to pursue funding opportunities for both hard and soft coastal protection measures such as the recent applications for Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) – Coastal Recovery Programs,” the report said.
The petition calls for the council “to take urgent and sustainable action to address the severe and accelerating coastal erosion occurring along the entirety of Holloways Beach”.
“Erosion has intensified dramatically in recent months,” it said. “With each 3m-high tide, significant sections of foreshore are being lost. Mature coastal trees – including coconut palms, large casuarinas, and almond trees – are collapsing into the sea as the shoreline continues to recede.
“At the southern end near Barr Creek, a former freshwater billabong and paperbark wetland – once home to frog habitat – is being damaged by saltwater intrusion.
“Trees are showing clear signs of dieback and important habitat has been lost.
“Current rock walls and sand replacement appear to be short-term measures that are not preventing continued erosion.”
The petitioners called on council to:
Conduct an urgent and transparent coastal impact assessment.
Investigate sustainable long-term coastal protection options
Consider the feasibility of an offshore artificial (“false”) reef constructed parallel to the shoreline.
Area councillor Rhonda Coghlan (Div. 8) said erosion had been an issue at Holloways Beach for at least 40 years.
“(The) reality here is we are fighting with nature and the constant changing coastline,” she said.
“Council has three options: soft infrastructure, which you see with sand nourishment, tree plantings. And they’re the option we want to see lots more of that. The second is hard infrastructure, such as groins, headlands and rock walls and retreat (as well as an artificial reef).
“This is unacceptable to most of us and I do believe there will be a mix of all three of these options in coming years.”
Cr Matthew Tickner (Div. 2) mentioned a figure of $20 million-plus, which was not disputed by council officers.
“Every council are looking at this (coastal erosion) with great detail and trying to figure out what is the best way to go,” he said.
“Because every single piece of infrastructure that has anything to do with the shoreline costs a lot of money and making sure that they go in in the right places at the right time is really what it’s all about.”
