Gold Coast beaches under urgent reconstruction before Easter

Gold Coast beaches are undergoing urgent repairs after ex-Cyclone Alfred caused severe damage. The powerful waves created a 50-kilometre cliff in the sand along the coastline. With Easter holidays approaching, local officials are racing against time to restore the beaches for visitors. The Gold Coast council is expecting a 75-meter dredger from Denmark, which will help suck up sand from underwater and redistribute it across the beach. In the meantime, the council is using truckloads of sand from its stockpile to rebuild the shoreline. The entire repair effort is estimated to cost about $10 million. However, officials believe this expense is minor compared to the $7.5 billion that tourists bring to the area each year.