New surfing data shows Gold Coast’s world class beaches are increasingly overcrowded and under stress

The Gold Coast’s world class surfing beaches are under stress with new data showing an astonishing increase in surfers at point breaks – and beaches will only get busier.

The city’s world class surfing beaches are under stress with new data showing an astonishing increase of 130 per cent in surfers at some of the best point breaks.

In the past five years, the number of people using our best surfing beaches has at least doubled according to the Gold Coast City Council figures, with the region’s high quality surf and the world class reputation of southern beach breaks cited as reasons. At Palm Beach, the number of craft in the water has increased by 150 per cent according to council.

A surfer makes the most of favourable conditions. Picture: Adam Head.

Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve chair Andrew McKinnon says there is a link between soaring numbers of surfers and high-rise development on the coastal strip.

“We are going through a development explosion on the Gold Coast. It’s predominantly residential, and not aimed at having tourists in accommodation like the days of the old hotels,” he said.

“It’s all high rise for residents. There’s more people in cars, more surfers and impact. The overdevelopment has led to overcrowding, this is a big concern for us going into the future.”

A Surfer gets some air at Snapper Rocks. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The Bulletin has obtained council lifeguard data sets which show:

* The stress on beaches will intensify with an estimated resident population of 640,000 projected to increase to between 831,000 and 1,076,000 persons by 2041.

* Of the estimated 9.7 million visitors to the Coast in 2021, 40 per cent listed going to the beach as a visitor activity.

* Across the past five years the largest increase in surfer numbers was seen across all point breaks (Snapper Rocks, Currumbin, Burleigh Heads) – between 50 to 130 per cent growth.

* The largest increase in craft numbers was at Palm Beach (almost 150 per cent) with Miami and the Seaway also experiencing significant rises (100 per cent and 75 per cent).

“New categories of surf craft such as stand up paddle boards and foil boards continue to enter the ocean user market which attracts new ocean users,” a council report says.

Surfers at Snapper Rocks. Picture: Luke Marsden.

“The combination of population growth, surfing’s increased popularity, the introduction of new surf craft categories and increases in annual beach tourists will likely result in further overcrowding of our beaches and surf breaks.

“Education and awareness around local surf safety and etiquette customs is a means to mitigate the risks associated with increased numbers of ocean and beach users.”

Both council officers and surfers say the city’s surf etiquette app was an excellent step forward and had reduced conflict in congested surfing breaks,

Beach sand management and artificial reefs were also helping ease the stress, a Surf Management Plan five-year review presented to councillors on Tuesday revealed.

A crowded line up from Snapper Rocks through to Greenmount. Picture: Luke Marsden.

Councillors are being asked endorse the review report and tick off on targeted stakeholder consultation through the World Surfing Reserve Local Stewardship Committee.

Mr McKinnon said the city must get a balance between the need for economic growth and lifestyle attraction. His group will discuss the council draft management report next month.

“It’s very hard to get a park now and drive to the beach. Surely there has to be a review of overdevelopment,” he said.

“Some people are totally turned off by the crowds. They’ve given the main surf breaks a miss.”

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