This might all get very, very interesting before the season is done.

So now we have North Bribie and South Bribie Islands.

Great to see golden beach return to its world class roots.

Coast Guard reported 2.5m water depth.

Blueys photography on Facebook has some good video of the new channel forming, check it out.

So a NE let's us rip straight thru the Bermuda triangle n onto the new bar?
Not such a flatwater spot now!

Select to expand quote

azuli said..
Coast Guard reported 2.5m water depth.

What do you think about the Coast Guardie's comments. I heard one of the say that this is bad news because it will now silt up around Bulcock Beach and that the sand will be covered by mud at Golden Beach. I thought that most of the mud covering the clean sand along the passage came from the stormwater generated from overcrowded housing estates.

Select to expand quote

azuli said..
Coast Guard reported 2.5m water depth.

this photo just puts a big smile on my face..

I have heard comments that the new bar is returning to how it was back in the 50's but when looking back on the QImagery site that does not look to be the case. Where the new bar is, looks further along than what is was back then.



This is how I remember it back in the 80's when sailing there and you can see how the northern end of Bribie Island Bribie Island gets changed so much. This is nature at work and lets hope it gives a better spot to sail at.

The best type of government management is to leave it alone. This is what they are saying on the State Government site -

"The Department of Environment and Science is monitoring the situation and working closely with the Sunshine Coast Regional Council in relation to the ongoing management of erosion and tidal breakthrough. This is a natural occurrence. The entrance to the Pumicestone Passage used to be 700 metres south of where it is - right about at the point of this breakthrough. Bribie Island at this breakthrough location used to be 80m wide, and erosion is a natural part of the coastal area."

They may not leave be because the council has also had a committee investigate this possibility. They probably represent all the interest groups except our own. From what I have heard, many want it to revert back to the 'old days', so here is a photo from 1964 to fuel our nostalgia and hopes for better channels to sail in.

Select to expand quote

MarkSSC said..

azuli said..
Coast Guard reported 2.5m water depth.

What do you think about the Coast Guardie's comments. I heard one of the say that this is bad news because it will now silt up around Bulcock Beach and that the sand will be covered by mud at Golden Beach. I thought that most of the mud covering the clean sand along the passage came from the stormwater generated from overcrowded housing estates.

I'm not an Enviro Engineer but the aerial photos above seem to show what could happen as the water from the passage makes its way in and out with the tide over time. Would expect it to change the deep water channels for boats from Pelican waters.

It's all a conspiracy there isn't even an island there

Select to expand quote

bowsa said..
It's all a conspiracy there isn't even an island there

Think you are onto something mate. Prime examples of 'photoshopped images' to discredit our fellow Qlder's exercising their rights+freedoms in the face of overwhelming 'mainstream' misinformation such as weather forecasts & tidal data...

notice on google maps there is another spot down near bells creek that's close to breaking through. once all the trees between the new bar and bells creek have been removed by global warming imagine the speed strip potential.

Wow those old satellite images are wild, so much sand moves around on this coastline! Will definitely be worth a look if this northerly kicks in this weekend as still plenty of swell around!

Looking at the tidal observations, the break through is having an impact on the tides at golden beach. Higher highs, and slightly lower lows.

The noise in the last few hours is from the effects of the volcano eruption off Tonga


www.qld.gov.au/environment/coasts-waterways/beach/storm/storm-sites/golden-beach

On the ocean side, there appears to be a sandbank building on to the northern part of Bribie Island. It is extending out into the ocean rather than being parallel to the land To my eye it looks like this bank creates a point style break, with the waves bending around it. This photo is from the Bulcock Beach surf cam today just before the 1.6m high tide.

great spotting Mark.

i took another look just now and got some more angles.

As a regular sailor in that area.... all I can say is "those pics are awesome - bring it on"

yeah it really feels like a lot of people are going to benefit from this. The waves in that pick are big tho.. bigger than my skill set. keen to see what happens when the swell dies down and the channel matures.

i was going to go on sunday but the tsunami put an end to that. i was told the waves on the inside of the new channel were about 2-3 foot but very messy. hoping that tidies up in time too.

crazy to think none of this existed 2 weeks back.

Checked it again this morning, getting wider! Few more trees down and washed away

Is this going to be an epic jumping spot or what? Easy flat water launch with no shorebreak from Golden Beach. Shouldn't be much wind shadow compared to most of the other bars around

fingers crossed.
it was like that back in the late 80's early 90's. the best bit was the wind was full strength because of the gap and lack of trees. back in the day the seabreeze would kick in every day unrestricted. we would rig up and just sit and wait. it was either a 5.6m day or a 6.5m day. lol.

only thing is the current kinda sux.

Id be very wary about sailing a run out tide. Especially in a northerly. The Bermuda triangle will get you.(windshadow n currents) Massive amount of water pulling thru the new bar. Much stronger current than old bar. Cranking peak waves either side.
The tides times n heights have also changed. Higher highs n lower lows. We never got a full OCEANIC tide at GB bcoz of restrictive bar entrance. Tide times are also closer to advertised times. Used to add 1.5hrs to Mooloolaba times. Now its closer to half hour.
Fishing wise we may lose the biggest yabby bank at GB. Wave action has already decreased the amount of yabs available. The Skids , where the Moreton bay tide meets the Northern passage tide will most likely move further south from Coochin ck area. As there is a lot more flow from the new bar pushing south on a run in tide.
Interesting times for the GB Crew.
Just looking at the changing sandbanks id think we will LOSE our Lighthouse sailing area. Especially half tide down.

Select to expand quote

Gestalt said..
fingers crossed.
it was like that back in the late 80's early 90's. the best bit was the wind was full strength because of the gap and lack of trees. back in the day the seabreeze would kick in every day unrestricted. we would rig up and just sit and wait. it was either a 5.6m day or a 6.5m day. lol.

only thing is the current kinda sux.

Yeah it will be one to keep an eye on for sure, the swell on the open's has been double overhead up this way thanks to TC Cody and the northerly on the weekend never really happened, so float and ride wouldn't have end well! Keen to give it a crack in some smaller swell and an incoming tide, if we get any more decent northerlies...

Select to expand quote

OceanPitch said..

Gestalt said..
fingers crossed.
it was like that back in the late 80's early 90's. the best bit was the wind was full strength because of the gap and lack of trees. back in the day the seabreeze would kick in every day unrestricted. we would rig up and just sit and wait. it was either a 5.6m day or a 6.5m day. lol.

only thing is the current kinda sux.

Yeah it will be one to keep an eye on for sure, the swell on the open's has been double overhead up this way thanks to TC Cody and the northerly on the weekend never really happened, so float and ride wouldn't have end well! Keen to give it a crack in some smaller swell and an incoming tide, if we get any more decent northerlies...

i need to get there to have a look. will try again this weekend. it's hard to tell scale but the waves in the photos posted above at happy valley are overhead. today there was some tow in going on. i reckon those wave at the new bar would be double mast high because they are 2km away.

been thinking about a downwinder from mouth to mouth on wave gear.
circumnavigate north bribie on the longboard with 2 bar crossings.
freestyle fun along the bank on the inside with small waves.

The pictures seem to show a narrowing of the channel at Happy Valley. Perhaps if it closes off there we will have an enclosed flat water blasting area without the run-out tide and wind obstructions when it is easterly.

I sailed at GB recently, just after the break through, when the tide was about 30 cm above normal levels. I lauched about midway between the lighthouse and the jetty before the GB swimming area. The sandbanks were well and truly covered. There was a tiny tiny bit of messy swell which was useful when needing a little help to get on the plane. The wind was still a bit up and down, as per usual. When the tide started going out a lot of branches and grass started drifting past towards Bulcock Beach (much the same speed it always has).

On the down side, the showers in picnic areas now have fancy taps that automatically turn off after about 10 secs. To wash your stuff you have to keep pressing the button every few seconds. There is no longer a tap to connect your hose to!

some new photos on blueys facebook... and oh my... have we been gifted.

this one photos speaks volumes.