Beach erosion grounds Pacific Airshow months after ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred

Australia Broadcast Center

30-05-2025

A popular airshow on the Gold Coast has been cancelled, with organisers blaming beach erosion caused by Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
The Pacific Airshow, which last year attracted 270,000 spectators, was meant to take place over three days from August 15 on Surfers Paradise beach.
The famous stretch of sand remains closed after large swells pounded the beach during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in early March.
The Gold Coast City Council had hoped to restore the beaches by Easter, with a sand-dredging barge brought in to replenish more than 4 million cubic metres of sand, but large swells and king tides have delayed the project.
Until earlier this month, Pacific Airshow organisers were reassuring the public they were confident the city's eroded beaches would be ready in time for this year's event.
However in a statement on Friday the event's director said extensive modelling revealed the site wouldn't be safe for spectators.
"Our team is devastated to be forced to cancel Pacific Airshow Gold Coast 2025, but it's the right thing to do for everyone and the long-term restoration of the beach," said airshow director Kevin Elliott.
He said organisers considered changing the date and moving to another location on the Gold Coast but could not find an option that wouldn't compromise the show or community safety.
Mr Elliott said tickets holders would be given the choice of either receiving a refund or holding the tickets to use for the 2026 event.
The Queensland government had estimated the event generates more than $33 million in overnight visitor expenditure for the Gold Coast, with more than 22,000 people flying to Queensland specifically for the event.