Gold Coast to get two new surf breaks to ease the city’s chaotic crowds
WHILE hundreds of surfers battled the waves – and each other yesterday, councillors approved a plan that could see new a new surfing break emerge.
Beaches & Fishing
Don't miss out on the headlines from Beaches & Fishing. Followed categories will be added to My News.
WHILE hundreds of surfers battled the waves – and each other – in the first cyclone swell of the season yesterday, Gold Coast councillors approved a plan that could see new a new surfing break emerge.
Next Friday the world first Gold Coast Surf Management Plan which includes recommendations for at least five new artificial breaks to ease the city’s chaotic crowds of surfers will is likely to be approved.
An artificial reef at Palm Beach worth $17 million and which Surf Management Plan committee members hope will be at least 300m long with left and right-handed waves, will be the first break constructed.
WATCH: COPS HUNT VIOLENT ATTACKERS
COAST SHARK HUNTERS LAND 100 A WEEK
It is understood the $2.5 million Narrow Neck artificial reef, originally designed to prevent beach erosion, could also be revamped into a high quality break.
Councillors have also said sand pumping could create further breaks at Miami, Mermaid Beach and Broadbeach to ease congestion on southern point breaks by spreading surfing crowds up and down the Coast.
The surf plan – put together by a group of Gold Coast surfing stalwarts and approved by council engineers – was debated for more than an hour yesterday before being sent to the last council meeting of the year next week for approval.
The city’s surf industry is estimated to pump $3.3 billion to the local economy each year and Gold Coast surfers are thought to spend total of $233 million annually buying equipment, getting to the beach and riding waves.
Gold Coast Surf Management Plan Committee member and former world champion Wayne
“Rabbit” Bartholomew said the surfing was becoming so crowded many surfers were avoiding popular local spots.
“There are some serious problems just over the horizon unless new (surf) breaks are introduced,” Mr Bartholomew said.
“The problems are happening now and the projections are that surfing is going to get more and more popular.
“Unless more breaks are introduced, people will just turn off the Gold Coast.”
Committee member and National Surfing Reserves founder Brad Farmer said he was optimistic about the plan which kicked off in September last year.
“Surfing on the Gold Coast is the goose that lays the golden egg,” Mr Farmer said.
“We want this commitment from council.
“Five new surf breaks is what we have asked for to adequately reduce the crowds and spread them from Burleigh north.”
Coolangatta councillor Chris Robbins urged her colleagues to support the plan.
“Let’s not muck around because we did not build this city on rock and roll – we built it on surf and beaches,” she said.
“We are a leading city around the world on (surfing) and we have the ability with this to go forward and enhance our position as the lead city and I say sooner rather than later,” she said.
A majority of councillors overcame a push from committee chairman Paul Taylor and Southport Cr Dawn Crichlow to stall a decision until late January.
Burleigh councillor and surfer Greg Betts said it was important to work with boardriders.
“We want to show people we are working with the surf community to ensure we maintain the amenity of the water while the city progresses without diminishing the breaks we have,” he said.
Cr Betts said there would also be an investigation into how to educate surfers on how to act at a crowded break.
“Beginners are not necessarily up on that and it is the sort of thing that you learn over time,” he said.