Consultant plans which show a ‘Venice on the Gold Coast’ from Mudgeeraba to Broadbeach

Residents and tourists will be able to kayak from the Gold Coast hinterland to Broadbeach, as part of a futuristic sports park upgrade. Check out the designs

Residents and tourists will kayak from the Gold Coast hinterland at Mudgeeraba under the Pacific Motorway to Broadbeach, as part of a futuristic sports park upgrade.

Consultant designs for flood land at Firth Park, on the western edge of the M1, show how a small lake used as a catchment for flooding can be made into a bigger waterway.

Resident reviews are upbeat with some saying “this will become Venice on the Gold Coast”.

Councillor Glenn Tozer said the lake system has been designed by the consultants at Place Design Group to manage the water which engulfs the basin and travels under the M1.

“It’s over eight hectares, I guess, although the actual size of the area will remain subject to detailed design as this process continues to evolve,” he said.

“There is one small lake currently but we’re hoping that enabling this larger area to hold water should have a positive impact on the broader catchment and surrounds when it rains. The catchment will still flood, but this might just improve it a little.”

New mapping show a future lake at Firth Park, Mudgeeraba, which could link with the Robina Greenheart on the Gold Coast.

Cr Tozer describes the kayaking connection with the Greenheart as a “dream and aspiration” which would require some broader work including consultation with landholders.

“I love the idea that anyone might be able to kayak from Mudgeeraba to Broadbeach via the Greenheart and canals,” he said.

“This proposes a connection using Mudgeeraba Creek, which would need to be considered carefully by environmental consultants, and then through The Glades Golf Course to the future Greenheart area.

Councillor Glenn Tozer — excited about hinterland sports precinct future. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“While the creek is there, this public access through The Glades would need to be negotiated.”

At the start of consultation with community leaders and stakeholders, Cr Tozer flagged the immediate focus was on the sporting precinct upgrade which included delivery of more netball courts followed by new grass fields.

The future proposed masterplan for Firth Park at Mudgeeraba, which includes a lake which could possibly link with the Greenheart at Robina on the Gold Coast.

Twenty-four netball courts at a cost of $5 million are fully funded with design to be completed late this year and construction next year.

A waterway connection already exists under the M1 due to the Mudgeeraba Creek.

“However, there’s lots of work to do to make it accessible and permissible for kayakers to connect all the way to Greenheart,” Cr Tozer said.

“But now is the time to set the vision in place for what we hope for in the future. I really like it as a unique tourism and sporting proposition for the city — kayak from Mudgeeraba to Broadbeach. That sounds fun, right.”

Aerial footage of Firth Park at Mudgeeraba on the Gold Coast.

Cr Tozer said the Firth Park expansion plan began in 2020 soon after the City acquired the land.

Place Design Group began work about 12 months ago on a more specific concept plan including the hydrology, environmental and traffic studies.

Follow @PaulWestonGC