‘Nearshore landslip’ just a few hundred metres from 2015 incident which swallowed caravan, a car and tents

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

Another hole has opened up on a popular Queensland beach, not far from one that swallowed a caravan, a car and tents a few years ago.

The hole, at Inskip Point near Rainbow beach, opened up on Sunday night or early Monday morning and was probably caused by tides, waves and currents undermining the shoreline, authorities said.

Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service rangers monitoring the erosion have asked visitors to the camping area to note park alerts and keep clear of the affected section of beach.

The hole is being described as a “nearshore landslip”, is about 200-300 metres wide and reaches to the tree line, the environment and science department said on Monday.

No one has been injured or had property affected, and the erosion has not affected any campsites or access to the barge to Fraser Island.

Facebook Twitter Pinterest A handout image of the hole made available by Higgins Storm Chasing. Photograph: Higgins Storm Chasing/EPA

Diana Journeaux, from Rainbow Beach Helicopters, said the hole was just a few hundred metres from where another hole opened up in September 2015, forcing campers to flee as their gear was swallowed.

That incident forced the evacuation of the MV Beagle campground and left authorities struggling to retrieve expensive gear, including a caravan, a car, a trailer and tents.

“We fly every day and it wasn’t there yesterday,” Journeaux said.

Greg Pearce, who is skipper with Double Island Point Fishing Charters, said he travelled past the spot in his boat about 5.15am on Monday.

He took a video showing the water lapping heavily eroded sand banks.

“That was beach yesterday afternoon – there were people walking along that section,” he said.

“We could see [the hole] forming, could see stirred-up water and the beach eroding.”

Pearce said it was unlikely to affect the MV Beagle campground because it was moved back from the beach after the 2015 incident.