Marine Stadium Recreational Uses Trial
Gold Coast Waterway Authority (GCWA) is undertaking a trial of a waterways management option that aims to support a broader range of recreational uses within Marine Stadium, located at the Top of The Spit, Main Beach.
PROJECT DETAILS
- A recreational opportunities area that excludes powered vessels has been established to support a range of recreational uses within the northern 300 metres of Marine Stadium.
- Access to the Jetty and Pontoon has been enabled through a 45-metre-wide navigation channel along with a maneuvering area to each side of the structure.
- This management option has been achieved using a Waterways Notice issued under Section 22 of the GCWA Act.
- This is consistent with the vision for the area outlined in The Spit Master Plan (2019).
- GCWA is monitoring the recreational opportunities area to assess its effectiveness. This includes undertaking regular water quality testing, monitoring recreational uses in the area and monitoring vessel compliance with the Waterways Notice.
- Preliminary results from the trial will be available in September 2024.
- Ongoing engagement with the community is continuing through the Place Strategy.
BACKGROUND
- GCWA undertook a destination planning process for Marine Stadium in 2022, including significant community consultation, to find the best future uses of the area focusing on the marine environment and foreshore areas.
- The Marine Stadium Tidal Exchange Investigation (also completed in 2022) attributed breaches of the safe swimming thresholds within Marine Stadium to illegal waste dumping by vessels. The study recommended GCWA adopt a management option that separates vessels from other recreational uses is the most effective way of supporting a range of recreational activities within Marine Stadium (as sought by The Spit master plan, outcome 1.9).
- In March 2023, GCWA issued a Waterways Notice for 12 months to enable the establishment of the recreational opportunities area.
- In March 2024, GCWA extended the Waterways Notice for another 12 months to allow for completion of evaluation activities and determine a suitable future management option for Marine Stadium.
KEY DETAILS
Project start: March 2023
Estimated completion: March 2025
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Can I take my motorised tender to the Marine Stadium pontoon and moor it?
Yes. Watercraft (motorised and non-motorised) are free to moor at the jetty for up to 20 minutes.
Please refer to the exclusion section of the Waterways Notice (Page 1 under “Watercraft to which Notice does not apply” which outlines that the waterways notice does not apply to a watercraft moored to the Marine Stadium jetty and pontoon for no longer than 20 minutes).
Can I take my tender to the foreshore area within the recreational opportunities area?
A tender with a motor must stay clear of the recreational opportunities area. However, a non-motorised tender may come into the foreshore area/beach within the recreational opportunities area.
Non-powered watercraft must still comply with the 7-days anchoring and mooring restriction, and we encourage respect for other’s space so everyone can enjoy the area.
