Training ensures Gold Coast first-strike pollution response is world class

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Our Waterways Team undergoes regular training to make sure it keeps pace with innovation and changes in technology used to respond to reports of oil pollution in Gold Coast waters.

It’s part of the team’s brief to act as first-strike responders in the event of vessel-sourced oil spills.

This included managing the vessel pictured above that took on water in Currigee Inlet, off South Stradbroke Island, over the Easter break.

The vessel ended up on its side leading to some oil escaping into nearby waters.

The team deployed containment booms to prevent further discharge and used absorbent pads to mop up leaking fuel in the engine room.

Since the start of July last year, GCWA has responded to 18 reports of vessel-sourced oil pollution, including this one.

Under pollution law, GCWA is obliged to recover all expenses for pollution response from vessel owners.

The team also actively works with marina operators and boat owners to improve awareness and education around reducing marine pollution. Team members also keep their skills up to date through regular participation in industry training exercises.

This includes Exercise Cremer, which was a pollution response exercise run by Maritime Safety Queensland in Mackay in February this year involving local, Queensland and Commonwealth Government agencies.

The exercise was named after the Cremer, a 50-metre passenger and cargo ship that was employed in trading with Indonesia, Singapore and China. It ran aground off St Bees Island (nearby Keswick Island) off the Mackay coast during a major storm in September 1943. Luckily, there were no casualties

The 2020 exercise centred on providing a response to a fictitious shipping incident which caused an oil leak off the coast of Mackay.

A key member of our Waterways Team performed the role of team leader for shoreline assessment and establishment of a decontamination area. This included delivering a field briefing to agency officials and community leaders about the correct use of decontamination equipment.

Not only did the response team have to manage oil spills but they were given a crash course in crocodile safety to ensure they were equipped to deal with a marine hazard not found in Gold Coast waters!

Learnings from the exercise will be put to good use in GCWA’s operations, ensuring our first response capabilities remain world class.

GCWA is a member of the National Response Team for marine pollution response. This has seen team members participate  in pollution responses nationally and internationally, with one team member taking part in a response near a World-Heritage-listed site in the Solomon Islands in 2019.

A reminder – oil pollution from boats should be reported to us as soon as possible on 07 55397350 or after hours on 07 55397373.

Alberton Pontoon improves access to waterways network

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Our new pontoon at Alberton is officially open, giving boaties more options for accessing our beautiful waterways network.

We’ve invested $380,000 in the new pontoon and flood resistant boat queuing facility built next to the Alberton boat ramp at Alberton on the Logan River.

Studies undertaken by us and the Department of Transport and Main Roads have shown there’s a need for more boating facilities in the northern part of the Gold Coast to keep pace with population growth and rising boat registrations.

There are already almost 33,000 registered vessels in the region and that number is expected to increase to 55,000 by 2036.

We’re providing new facilities to encourage people to explore different parts of the waterways particularly in the northern Gold Coast corridor.

The pontoon is the first stage of works to improve facilities in this area.

In the next couple of years we plan to upgrade the boat ramp at Alberton by adding an extra access lane and increasing the number of parking spaces for car trailer units.

The pontoon was manufactured and installed by local company Pacific Pontoon & Pier.

Since we were established in 2012, we’ve installed or upgraded 9 pontoons to promote public access to the waterways network, including the Alberton pontoon.

Once the pontoons are completed they are handed over to the City of Gold Coast for maintenance and management under an agreement with us.

Dredging to keep lower Coomera River open and safe for boaties

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Dredging is underway in the Coomera River between Sovereign Islands and Sanctuary Cove to keep the navigation channel open and safe for boaties.

The lower Coomera River project is part of our $15 million, 4-year investment in waterways dredging.

The Coomera River is one of our main arteries, supporting boaties, tourism and the Gold Coast marine industry

Under the project, about 35,000 cubic metres of material will be dredged from the lower Coomera River. That’s the equivalent of filling C-Bus stadium at Robina with sand to a depth of about 7 metres.

The material is being placed in an approved offshore site to help with beach replenishment.

GCWA has issued a Notice to Mariners  advising of the dredging operations which can be accessed here https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/southport-notices-to-mariners

The project is due to finish in June 2019.

* The photo shows McQuade Marine’s dredge, Port Frederick

Coomera Dredged Sediment Management Facility one step closer

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For many years, the Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA), City of Gold Coast Council (CoGC), developers and managers of estates situated along Coomera River and nearby waterways and canals  have been searching for a cost effective and environmentally sound solution for handling the sediment that must be dredged to enable safe navigational access for boating – particularly the Gold Coast Marine Industry Precinct which is a critical element of the Gold Coast boating industry and the doorway to national and international markets.

Removing accumulated sediment is also essential to assisting in flood mitigation for the Coomera River catchment.

Sediment removed from Gold Coast waterways is often used to replace sand eroded from our beaches and waterway foreshores. However, sediment from some waterways, including the Coomera River, is not sand and therefore is unsuitable for replenishment of riverbanks or beaches. This unsuitable material requires a land based solution to be appropriately managed.

The Coomera Dredged Sediment Management Facility is a long-term solution to minimise potential environmental impacts by properly managing this type of dredged sediment. Located at 91 Shipper Drive, the Facility consists of a settling pond for separating the sediment from the water, clean water discharge pond and drying area. Potential uses for the material include commercial use as non-structural fill.

The Facility is one of the projects that the GCWA is investing $35.3 million in over four years to Sustain, Enhance and Promote local waterways.

Construction Commencing

The Coomera Dredged Sediment Management Facility has been approved through Community Infrastructure Designation described under the Sustainable Planning Act (Qld), Schedule 2, Part 2 and preliminary construction activities have commenced.

Completion is scheduled for April 2018. However, critical elements will be completed to enable commencement of the first dredging campaign in March 2018.

For more information about the project, read the Factsheet here: Construction of the Coomera Dredged Sediment Management Facility  or contact the project team at mail@ydsgroup2.com.au or telephone (07) 5539 7350.

Evolution of the Broadwater

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At the Meet the Board session held at SeaWorld Resort on 16 October 2017, GCWA Board member Professor Rodger Tomlinson (Coastal Program Leader, Climate Response at the Griffith School of Environment) presented an informative Q&A session on the evolution of the Broadwater with some fascinating facts, figures and images of the sand and tidal flow in the Broadwater.

You can view the presentation here

Dredging the Gold Coast waterways

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Since our establishment we’ve invested $8.5 million in channel dredging to ensure safe navigational access is maintained throughout our waterways.  And there’s more to come!  Over $7.5 million worth of investment is currently planned across the city over the next four years.  Our Waterways Management Program 2017-21 will soon be released, detailing all of our upcoming projects to improve access and management, ensuring the vitality of our city’s waterways.

Dredging the Gold Coast waterways

 

Last updated: 13 September 2017

Latest report on Seagrass Sensitivities released

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The latest report on Seagrass Sensitivities has been released. This report provides a review of known seagrass sensitivities and resilience, including known minimum stressor thresholds and ranked threats to seagrass relevant to Gold Coast waterways.

Gold Coast Waterways Authority sponsored the Griffith University study.

Read the study: Gold Coast seagrass sensitivities and resilience (SRMP-003)

Any damaged or missing aids to navigation such as beacons, buoys, markers or signs, should be reported as soon as possible on
07 5539 7350

For community engagement, communications or media enquiries please contact mail@gcwa.qld.gov.au

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Who’s Who in the Blue

We know that governance of our waterways can sometimes be complex and confusing.

That’s why we’ve developed this tool to identify who can assist you…

Access, Management & Destinations

  • Access & Management

    Information on Anchoring & Mooring, Boating, Dredging, Operations Team & Tidal Works

    Learn More

  • Our Destinations

    GCWA managed multi-use destinations, building infrastructure for commercial and recreation use of Gold Coast waterways.

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Acknowledgement of Country

The Gold Coast Waterways Authority acknowledges and pays respect to the traditional custodians, the Yugambeh peoples of South East Queensland, including the Kombumerri, Mununjali, Wangerriburra, Bullongin and other clans, and their Elders past, present and emerging. We recognise their unique and ongoing spiritual and cultural connection with the land and waters of the Gold Coast area.