An amazing transformation at one of the region’s most notorious beaches has had an unexpected safety benefit.
A tidal breakthrough 2km from the northern tip of Bribie Island has become the new dominant channel between the Pumicestone Passage and Coral Sea.
Locals say the rapid – and sometimes treacherous – outgoing tide that funneled into the traditional Caloundra bar between Bribie and Happy Valley has slowed dramatically as a result.
In a matter of weeks, the new channel opposite Golden Beach has changed the water movement at popular swimming spot Bulcock Beach. There’s also more sand for beachgoers to laze on.
“It’s turning into a very lovely slow water area,” Coast Guard Caloundra commander Roger Pearce said.
“There’s not as much current, so it’s becoming more family-friendly.
“In the past, you had to watch your kids like a hawk because it was running out at 8-10 knots and they could be dragged out to sea quickly.
“But now it’s lovely, even on the outgoing tide.
“There’s not a lot of water movement and there are kids all over the beach.”
Blueys Photography captured some stunning images on Sunday, showing families enjoying their time at the beach.
The images also showed just how much sand there was nearby.
The original Caloundra Bar appeared to be closing over, with a huge amount of sand built up and the entrance appearing to be only about 100m wide.
Experts and long-time locals, including fishing identity Les Clarke, say it is returning to the state it was in in the 1960s.
Ithaca Caloundra-City Life Saving Club captain Lynda Barry said there was less water movement than before, close to shore, at Bulcock Beach.
But she still had a word of warning.
“There can be different intensities to the current as you get further out,” she said.
“We’ve still got the steep drop-off and the tide is still coming in and out every day.
“What does appear to be mild conditions may not necessarily be mild.”
Ms Barry, who has patrolled the beach for 32 years, said they had performed “six or seven rescues” near the new channel, where conditions were very unstable.
“We can’t see it from our patrol area and if something happens there and we respond, that takes away our resources from the beach.”
Meanwhile, Mr Pearce said the breakthrough was about 300m wide last week and it had created rough conditions in the passage.
“It’s a washing machine out there and very dangerous.”
