Members of the public have the chance to participate in a free workshop on "Beach protection: risk and management", due to be held at Yeppoon's Bayview Tower, from 9.30am to 5pm on Thursday, Feburary 7.

Input from participants will be compiled and discussed with Livingstone Shire Council in relation to preparation of a beach protection strategic plan.

Coffee and lunch will be provided for participants. Seats can be reserved by contacting Associate Professor Jurek Piorewicz of Central Queensland University (4930 9632), or Vicki Malone of the Department of Natural Resources (4938 4243).

Associate Professor Piorewicz said Australia's coastal zone was a scarce and fragile commodity and that beaches were under pressure from population growth and development pressures.

He said all beaches were susceptible to losing sand during storms and cyclones but that nature had designed dune-beach systems to cope with major erosion emergencies for thousands of years.

"For this reason, in modern coastal engineering design and coastal management, the fundamental principles are to avoid disturbing existing dune-beach systems, to encourage growth of the dune-beach systems and to emulate dune-beach systems whenever possible," he said.

"This is in agreement with the general trend in implementation of so called "soft" shore protection. However, greed and ignorance have disturbed many dune-beach systems with the serious and costly consequences." Associate Professor Piorewicz said the workshop's goal was to keep open discussion about the matters of beach protection from the researchers and local community points of view. The discussion will go from a general view to a particular problems along the Capricorn Coast beaches. The speakers represent Cooperative Research Centre for Coastal Zone, Estuary and Waterway Management (Coastal CRC). One of the goals of CRC is to recognise coastal ecosystem for its intrinsic value through community participation in integrated approaches to restoration development and management.

Prof Rodger Tomlinson, Director of the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management, Griffith University, will discuss the risk of beach damage connected with possible storms or cyclones; Jeff Callaghan (the Head of the Bureau's Severe Weather Unit in Queensland) will discuss "Tropical Cyclone Risk along the Capricorn Coast".

David Robinson, A/Manager of Coastal Services, Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane, will discuss the jurisdiction of coastal management and the organisation of the Beach Protection Authority, Queensland.

Dr Steve Mullins, School of Humanities, Faculty of Arts, Health and Science, CQU, is involved in collection of the historical material about development of Yeppoon region. His presentation will remained us about changes which happened to the Capricorn Coast during the last 80 years.

A/Prof Jurek Piorewicz, the Faculty of Engineering and Physical Systems, CQU, will present general review of traditional "hard" engineering method of beach protection versus " soft" solution and their potential application to the Capricorn Coast beaches.