Northeast Division

Abstract

The northeast division extends from Cape York for 4205 km to Hervey Bay-Fraser Island. This is a long division unified by its humid tropical to sub-tropical climate, onshore trade winds and protection afforded by the Great Barrier Reef. The coastal orientation and structure is controlled by its geology, a mix of blocks and basins, all paralleled by the eastern highlands, from which several moderate to large rivers and numerous streams flow to the coast depositing deltas and supplying terrigenous material, with beach sediments a combination of shelf and terrigenous (fluvial) quartz sand. Waves are low to moderate, and tides range from meso to mega and beaches from tide-modified to tide-dominated. Barrier type depends on exposure and ranges from cheniers to massive Pleistocene and Holocene transgressive dunes. Sediment transport is northwards though interrupted by numerous obstacles including headland, changes in coastal orientation and rivers and inlets. This chapter describes the northeast’s geology, climate, coastal processes, sediment supply and transport, beaches and barriers.