$2 million to restore Cairns’ northern beaches

• $2.02 million coastal recovery project will restore and strengthen dunes across Cairns’ northern beaches, following ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper.
• Nature-led restoration and community involvement will see native revegetation, sand nourishment, and hands-on planting events with local residents and Aboriginal Rangers to enhance resilience and cultural connection.
• The project safeguards the region’s natural beauty, biodiversity, and lifestyle while supporting local jobs and long-term coastal sustainability.

Cairns’ iconic northern beaches will become healthier and more resilient in the aftermath of ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper, with Cairns Regional Council approving a $2.02 million coastal recovery and restoration project.

The project will deliver essential dune restoration, revegetation, and sand nourishment works along Holloways Beach, Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach, Palm Cove and Ellis Beach through to June 2026, with assistance provided through the jointly funded Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

The works aim to restore the natural coastline, strengthen dune systems and enhance the beaches’ ability to withstand future erosion and storm events, while supporting biodiversity and protecting valuable community assets.

Cairns Mayor Amy Eden said the investment will help safeguard both the region’s natural beauty and the lifestyle that comes with it.

“Our beaches are part of who we are. They’re the places locals love, families enjoy, and visitors come to experience,” Cr Eden said.

“By protecting this precious natural asset, we’re strengthening the resilience of our beaches today and helping to ensure our coastline can withstand the challenges of tomorrow.”

The project will be delivered in partnership with local suppliers, supporting regional employment and ensuring the recovery effort strengthens both the local economy and the environment.

Council will carry out sand nourishment at Trinity Beach, Kewarra Beach and Palm Cove to rebuild natural dune profiles and improve foreshore stability, while a local contractor will undertake revegetation works at Holloways Beach Kewarra Beach, Palm Cove and Ellis Beach using locally sourced native species.

Deputy Mayor and Division 9 Councillor Brett Olds said the focus on native revegetation is a key step in restoring the beaches’ natural defences.

“Healthy dunes are nature’s first line of protection and planting native species helps stabilise the sand, supports local wildlife, and ensures that the natural systems which protect our beaches can recover and thrive,” Cr Olds said.

Community planting events with local residents and Aboriginal Rangers will also form part of the program, fostering environmental stewardship and cultural connection to the coast.

Division 8 Councillor Rhonda Coghlan said community involvement would play an important role in the project’s success.

“Our coastline tells a story of both culture and community,” Cr Coghlan said.

“Working together to restore our beaches strengthens our connection to them and reminds us that caring for them is a shared responsibility.”

The coastal recovery works project aligns with Council’s Coastal Hazard Adaptation Strategy (CHAS) and supports Council’s broader goals for sustainability, liveability, and the protection of natural assets.

Mayor Amy Eden said the initiative demonstrates the balance between environmental care and community resilience.

“The beaches are what make Cairns, Cairns. They’re where our communities gather and a big part of why visitors fall in love with the region. Protecting and restoring them means protecting the very essence of who we are.”

This project is funded through the joint Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), supporting environmental recovery and restoration across Cairns’ northern beaches.