Rescue bid to ready beach for surf titles

Efforts are under way to prepare Maroochydore beach for the surf lifesaving titles Pic Glenn Barnes . Source: The Courier-Mail

REBUILD it and they will come.

A dramatic beach rescue is under way on the Sunshine Coast to replenish erosion-hit Maroochydore in time for this weekend's Queensland Surf Life Saving Championships.

It will also be a welcome boost for tourism with the Easter holidays just over a week away.

Earthmoving equipment has been brought in to take tonnes of sand from the low tide mark and use it to cover the bare rocks higher up the beach.

Council coastal engineers will monitor the impact of the $20,000 operation expected to continue until Thursday.

Severe erosion has forced the relocation of most events in the titles to Mooloolaba, but Maroochydore hopes to host beach sprints, flags and relays.

Efforts are under way to prepare Maroochydore beach for the surf lifesaving titles Pic Glenn Barnes .

It also may run surfboat events to the north of the club with a final decision due soon.

Councillor Jason O'Pray said the main objective was to create a suitable amount of beach for use during the upcoming titles.

Cr O'Pray said the operation had great economic benefits and hopefully the sand would remain so it could be enjoyed by visitors and locals at Easter.

"It's also about the protection and preservation of our sand dunes," he said.

"The intention is to do everything possible to create more buffer and to save infrastructure now being severely impacted and destroyed."

The Queensland Championships attract more than 2000 lifesavers from Port Douglas right through to Rainbow Bay.

Masters events will be held on Friday, followed by the senior titles on Saturday and Sunday.

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