The eighth wonder of world surfing: Gold Coast wins elite reserve status
EXCLUSIVE: The Gold Coast’s perfect point breaks from Burleigh south to the border were today officially declared a World Surfing Reserve.
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THE Gold Coast’s perfect point breaks from Burleigh south to the border were today officially declared a World Surfing Reserve.
The announcement was expected to be made on November 1 but the Bulletin can exclusively reveal a committee of 17 experts from the Save the Waves Coalition gave the Coast the title overnight.
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About 16km of coastline including the Burleigh Headland, Currumbin Alley and the Superbank at Coolangatta beat out Noosa on the Sunshine Coast and a Brazilian beach.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the announcement was a “terrific achievement” and Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve chairman Andrew McKinnon welcomed the announcement after “one hell of a fight”.
The door was opened for the reserve when Labor came into power earlier this year and began working with council to make the reserve a reality.
Mr McKinnon said he worked for almost two years with the help of former world champion Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew to have the Gold Coast recognised.
“Last year we did not think it would even be possible and to be named as just the eighth surf reserve is such a big deal for the Gold Coast and certainly one of the biggest love jobs I have ever been involved in,” he said.
Despite council conditions making the reserve purely ceremonial, the Premier said the decision would help preserve the city’s world-renowned beaches and surrounding environment.
“This is a terrific achievement and a fantastic reward for everyone who has worked so hard to have the Gold Coast beaches declared a world surfing reserve,’’ she said.
“It was one of our election commitments to work with Gold Coast City Council and the community to help achieve this, which is great news for the region and the environment,” she said.
Burleigh MP Michael Hart and Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey both voiced concerns about the reserve status.
Mr Hart was concerned it would be another layer of red tape for the area.
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