Airlie’s Beach – Dirt Or Debris?

High tides and wild weather are a fact of life in the Whitsundays and these natural phenomena often cause marine debris to wash up on our shores.

With Airlie Beach considered the gateway to the Whitsundays and many tourists’ first impression of our region, some locals believe that the ‘beach’ in Airlie Beach could do with a clean-up.

“Why can’t we have a machine that cleans the beach every morning, just like they have in the Gold Coast,” said one local who asked to stay anonymous.

While the Whitsundays is known for its sparkling turquoise ocean and picturesque bays, it is the main-land beaches that often suffer the brunt of tidal surges that deposit debris on the sand.

Director of Infrastructure Services for Whitsunday Regional Council (WRC), Adam Hagy, said that local beaches are cleaned on average six to eight times a year.

“The Parks and Gardens teams conduct beach clearing at Airlie Beach, Boathaven Beach, Shingley Beach and Cannonvale Beach, and the multiple beaches in Bowen on an as-required basis,” he explained.

“Parks and Gardens monitor the condition of all the beaches in our region, especially after storms or the wet season and when the northerly winds blow and bring in the debris of leaf matter and driftwood.”

WRC strategically plan beach clean-ups to be most effective and to coincide with when they are needed most, such as following high and king tides.

“Parks and Gardens wait until the tides are low then conduct the cleaning works,” said Mr Hagy.

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