Spit Ocean Park: the glaring surf safety gap which is a killer for locals and tourists

The $95 million plan for the Spit Ocean Park has won a lot of praise. But there is one major omission that is causing serious concern.

THE $95 million plan for the Spit Ocean Park has ignored surf safety and the wave of tourists to be confronted with the Gold Coast’s most hazardous unprotected beach conditions, warn the Opposition and lifesavers.

Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek told State Parliament: “Although I welcome Labor taking the idea for a Spit master plan, its plan has completely missed the point – safety.

Rough seas off Main Beach.

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“There was no mention of the increased support, planning provisions and space that our surf lifesavers will need.

“If we are going to attract thousands more people to an ocean park where there is up to five kilometres of beach, we need to make sure that we consult with Surf Life Saving Queensland and the local clubs.

“They will need increased storage capacity for more inflatable rescue boats and training opportunities for our nippers.”

The Bulletin has obtained a submission to The Spit Draft Master Plan where Greg Clarke, a Southport Surf Life Saving Club member and assistant age manager in the nippers, warns that surf safety is a “glaring omission”.

“In the whole 88-page draft master plan, there is not even a mention of lifeguards and surf lifesavers, and the vital role they play,” Mr Clarke wrote.

Police and surf lifesavers search for a suspected missing swimmer just north of Southport SLSC.

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A father of five children involved in nippers, Mr Clarke highlighted several recent mass rescues including two within half an hour of each other in which first eight then six swimmers were rescued at Main Beach.

“When I asked a couple of lifesavers involved in these mass rescues “what would have happened if there had only been two lifesavers on patrol”, they gave me a simple one word answer – death,” Mr Clarke wrote.

He said risk management strategies needed to be put in place in various sections of The Spit as the Ocean Park was created. About 34 people were rescued in the final weeks of the surf season.

Lifesavers patrol Main Beach but the only other patrolled beaches outside the Sheraton Hotel, Philip Park and the notorious sea jetty end where deaths have occurred are looked after by council lifeguards.

“If a large group of swimmers were suddenly swept out in a flash rip at say Philip Park, opposite Sea World, would there be adequate lifeguard resources to cope with a mass rescue?” Mr Clarke asked Spit master planners.

Water Police and VMR Southport rescue boat at the Spit Wall, Main Beach. Picture: Jerad Williams.

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Some club officials believe a “satellite club” will need to be created around Philip Park which is either supported by Southport or the northern branches.

“It would take more volunteers. And it takes a lot of club resources. It’s something for the club to debate,” Mr Clarke told the Bulletin.

“You have 4.2 kilometres of beaches, some of the most hazardous surf and most beautiful spots, but you need support.”

Mr Clarke said the Government had acknowledged his submission and was considering the points he had made.

The Government says Southport SLSC officials were invited to participate in the master planning process when the project began in late 2017 with representatives attending four community master planning workshops and taking part in the key stakeholder group.

John Paul Langbroek has concerns about the Spit master plan. Pic Adam Head.

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The master planning team also met separately with a senior representative of Surf Life Saving Queensland in April 2019.

Discussions included the master plan’s proposal for premises in Muriel Henchman Park for organisations such as Volunteer Marine Rescue and Surf Life Saving Queensland.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick told the Bulletin: “The only vision John-Paul Langbroek and the LNP have had for The Spit is to sell Wavebreak Island and turn the Broadwater into a canal estate.

“The Palaszczuk Government has not just engaged with and listened to Gold Coast residents about The Spit, we’ve delivered for them a plan that will revitalise and protect the area for generations to come.

“Given the level of support for The Spit master plan from the Gold Coast community, it’s head-scratching that John-Paul Langbroek continues to talk down positive progress made in his own backyard.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick - says John-Paul Langbroek lacks vision. (AAP Image/Dave Hunt).

“Part of this master plan engagement was with Surf life Saving Queensland and Southport Surf Life Saving Club to discuss future surf lifesaving services needs on The Spit.”

The implementation of the plan would feature ongoing consultation with both SLSQ and the club, Mr Dick said.