Snapper: The State of the Sand

Stu Nettle (stunet)

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

In the last four weeks south-east Queensland has had two major storm events that have wrought havoc on the coast. The first was associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald and lashed the coast with rain and a powerful north-east swell. The second hit last week and was a marginally milder version of the first. The result of the consecutive storm systems has been severe erosion on parts of the Gold Coast and a rearranging of the sandbanks.

At Snapper Rocks a large hole has formed at the take-off that extands from the tip of the point to approximately 75 metres down the line. With the Quiksilver Pro at Snapper Rocks due to start on March 2nd I spoke to Helmut Rangger, Project Manager for the Tweed River Entrance Sand Bypass Project (TRESBP).

Swellnet: A lot of sand was lost following the storm associated with ex-Tropical Cyclone Oswald, are there plans to pump extra sand to replace lost sand? The pumping facility does not control the amount of sand transported to the jetty site and accordingly we have no access to any other sand than what is being delivered to the northern end of Letitia Spit by Mother Nature.

How much sand is on the the Letitia Spit side? Enough to make up for the shortfall at Snapper? We have no control of the mechanism of sand feeding to the jetty, its up to mother nature. The very essence of the project was to try and replicate what nature would transport in the absence of the Tweed River entrance training walls, so depending on how much sand nature transports to the jetty that is the amount we will try and deliver into Queensland waters.

When is the next round of dredging due to occur? Dredging is undertaken on an as needs basis and is determined by hydrographic survey of the Tweed River entrance. We are currently awaiting favourable sea conditions to allow our survey vessels to conduct the next survey hopefully with the passing of this next storm event. The results of the survey is then digitised by computer and analysed to identify any changes to the entrance bathymetry which will then determine the need and timing of the next dredging.

Is there enough time between now and the beginning of the Quiksilver Pro to activate dredging, or does it take longer than that to survey and analyse? Yes, it will take longer I’m afraid. The dredger may be committed commercially to another contract which may impose penalties if it breaches its contract, however we do have some assurances that it can be mobilised with sufficient notice - two to three weeks say.

In your opinion do you think the hole at Snapper will be filled by March 2nd? I cannot foretell whether the hole will be filled. It will depend on the impact of this next storm event and any follow up northerly swell conditions. Next week's four day forecasts may give some insight, but you may also have your own sources for swell forecasts.

Comments

zenagain Tuesday, 26 Feb 2013 at 2:36am

Is 'Helmut Rangger' German for 'Redhead'?

I wish he'd stop blaming that cruel mistress Mother Nature.

Maybe if he kept his sleazy paws off her she'd do her thing and allow her daughter Kirra to blossom?

roubydouby Tuesday, 26 Feb 2013 at 9:55am

Did any one else read all Helmut's responses in a deadpan, no nonsense German accent?

stunet Tuesday, 26 Feb 2013 at 11:29am

Helmut Rangger = Ranier Wolfcastle = McBain.

"If you need me, I'll be in the Humvee."

zenagain Tuesday, 26 Feb 2013 at 11:55am

"Who else should be mayor but me? A steroid-abusing, pot-smoking, woman-groping, son of a Nazi, washed-up movie star? (crowd cheers) I think we should keep an open mind toward stem cell research." (crowd boos)