<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Seven months following the most significant weather event in 50 years, the Gold Coast's beaches are showing signs of recovery, but as storm season approaches they remain susceptible to further erosion.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Tropical Cyclone Alfred resulted in the removal of approximately four million cubic metres of sand from the coastline.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Gold Coast City Council estimates natural recovery would take four years, while intervention could reduce the timeframe to one year.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/melbourne-cbd-arrest-man-with-firearm-arrested-after-alleged-car-jackings/21ee0e69-1b4c-49ae-bb75-4904293f2769" target="_blank"><strong><span>Man appears to point gun at police during dramatic arrest in Melbourne CBD</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the extent of the damage has left a significant portion of the coastline in a precarious state.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"These locations are now very vulnerable to follow-up events," a council representative said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>According to council data, 50 per cent of beaches require ongoing monitoring or immediate action as a result of erosion caused by Alfred.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/gold-coast-beaches-vulnerable-as-storm-season-approaches-erosion-tropical-cyclone-alfred-queensland-news/13e4fd0e-ccab-44b4-a174-7538aede975c" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Furthermore, 86 per cent of beaches are in need of attention due to substantial dune loss.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The six months following Tropical Cyclone Alfred we just kept getting hit again and again and again, impacting our recovery efforts.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Without any assistance or any work that the city is doing at all it would likely never recover."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The council has outlined a three-stage beach restoration program.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>While stages one and two have been implemented, stage three, focusing on resilience, is yet to be completed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This delay leaves fragile seawalls, particularly in the northern beaches, vulnerable to significant setbacks.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><em><span>This article was produced with the assistance of</span></em><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/technology/9express/16480c33-636a-461f-9c4f-d0e2522c722a"><em><span>9ExPress</span></em></a><em><span>.</span></em></div></div>