The moment a large section of beach shoreline collapsed into the ocean has been filmed by Australian park rangers.
Staff from the Queensland Department of Environment, Science and Innovation watched the landslip, otherwise known as a sinkhole, at Inskip Point on the state’s south-east coast on Monday.
Witnesses were stunned as the sinkhole rapidly ate away a large part of the sandy shoreline, which crumbled into the waves.
The department explained: ‘Inskip Point is a sandy body of land that has been built up by wind and waves.’
The beach is the nearest point on the mainland to K’Gari, formerly Fraser Island, and tourist congregate at the spot to take the car-ferry trip over to the island.
The same beach made headlines after a sinkhole, longer than a football field and several metres deep, swallowed a car, caravan, camper trailer and tents.
Rangers filmed the moment a large section shoreline collapsed in a landslip – commonly referred to as a sinkhole – at Inskip Point in Queensland
The sheer edge left by the landslip was well over the height of an adult with the sand forming a layer on top of the salt water
The department said sinkholes in the area were common.
‘The peninsula is a highly dynamic environment where strong winds and waves naturally impact the sandy shoreline.
‘These events at Inskip Point are commonly called sinkholes, but technically they are known as near-shore landslips or landslides.’
They said while they ‘cannot be predicted’ Inskip Point is a well-known sinkhole site.
Despite the shoreline collapse, sand at the beach will soon be replenished as cliffs collapse further south along the Cooloola coast, causing sand to move north.
‘Following similar events near Inskip Point, QPWS introduced a buffer zone along the coastline with no camping or vehicles permitted in this zone. The section of beach remains open to pedestrians and day activities,’ the department said.
‘Camping area boundaries are maintained behind the vegetated foredune areas to reduce impacts on stabilising vegetation and reduce potential risk to campers.’
The department noted landslides ‘cannot be predicted’ but Inskip Point is a well-known sinkhole site
The department introduced a ‘buffer zone’ near the sinkhole prohibiting camping and vehicles
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