Lower Speed limit on Gold Coast waterways for the Australia Day long weekend

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Historically for one of the busiest days of the year on the water, Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) will again introduce a 6 knots speed limit on the Broadwater near Wave Break Island to enhance marine safety.

The speed limit will come into effect at 12:01am on Saturday 25 January 2025 and will end at midnight on Monday 27 January 2025.

GCWA will establish a series of yellow buoys with speed signs to mark the area of the 6 knots speed zone on The Broadwater near Wave Break Island.

A map of this area, along with other speed limit maps for Gold Coast waterways can be found here.

The Advice to Mariners, published by Maritime Safety Queensland can be found here.

Additionally, GCWA has placed information signs at all nearby public boat ramps that show a map of the speed zone to remind people of the lower speed limit.

In previous years the 6 knots speed limit has been an effective measure for ensuring greater marine safety during the period of very high levels of water traffic.

Maritime Safety Queensland, Gold Coast Water Police, and Queensland Boating and Fisheries Patrol will be actively patrolling the Broadwater to ensure the waterways remain safe and accessible.

Community and industry consultation – Strategic Planning Framework

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Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) is extending the Marine Stadium Recreational Uses Trial (the trial) at the Top of the Spit for another 12 months.

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GCWA sponsorship of ‘Climate Ready Guidebook’ for marinas

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Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) has continued its commitment to sustainability and environmental stewardship through the sponsorship of a Climate Ready Guidebook for marinas.

At the recent Marina’s24 conference, GCWA proudly announced its sponsorship of the ‘Climate Ready Guidebook’, a publication by the Marina Industries Association (MIA). The guidebook serves as a comprehensive resource to assist marinas in embracing climate resilience strategies and advancing decarbonisation efforts.

During the conference, GCWA’s CEO Chris Derksema presented, sharing of our unwavering dedication to safeguarding the Gold Coast waterways for future generations. Emphasising the critical role of sustainable practices in marine management, Chris Derksema spoke on GCWA’s ongoing initiatives aimed at mitigating the impacts of climate change and promoted the responsible use of our cities coastal resources.

The Climate Ready Guidebook represents a significant milestone in GCWA’s broader mission to foster environmental sustainability and resilience across the region, while supporting its stakeholders and supply chain in their journey. By supporting the development and distribution of this guidebook, GCWA aims to empower local marinas to implement effective climate adaptation measures and reduce their carbon footprint.

GCWA would like to congratulate MIA for bringing the guidebook to life and are excited to see its widespread use within the local marina community. The organisation also extends its commitment to providing ongoing support and guidance to our local marinas embarking on their climate resilience journey.

For marina operators and stakeholders interested in accessing the Climate Ready Guidebook, it is readily available for download for all MIA members through the MIA website. Further enquiries and feedback can be directed to MIA.

 

New Place Strategy to enhance the future of Gold Coast waterways

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Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) is developing the Waterways Place Strategy to facilitate future planning, investment decision-making and management activity for our Gold Coast waterways.  

The Gold Coast has grown from a holiday destination to Australia’s sixth largest City and our beautiful waterways are what sets us apart.  As the city continues to rapidly grow and evolve, balanced and considered planning of the waterways is critical to ensure existing values are maintained and enhanced, and future opportunities realised.  

The Waterways Place Strategy will propose what we want the waterways to look like in the future, and how we can maximise its benefits and manage sustainable growth. Ultimately the strategy will guide and inform good decisions when it comes to the future of our Gold Coast waterways. 

We have commenced a series of studies on important themes related to Gold Coast waterways that quantify their economic, social, culture and environmental importance, and the unique land use planning and policy that guides activities and growth on or near our waterways.  This will be supported through comprehensive engagement with the community, key stakeholders, partners and First Nations groups throughout development of the strategy.  

To have your say, please complete the Waterways Place Strategy Survey before 28 April. The survey should take less than 10 minutes to complete and you can go into the prize draw to win 1 of 2 $500 Visa Gift Cards!

The information gathered from our survey will help to inform the development of our Waterways Place Strategy.  We’ll be coming back to the community in July 2024 with a collation of early themes and ideas, before seeking feedback on the draft Waterways Place Strategy in September 2024.  

We will also be holding a series of pop-up engagement events around our waterways to support the project and answer your questions. Please check our Facebook page for details. 

To find out more, please see the Project Webpage and check out the video below:

 

Construction is in full swing at Muriel Henchman Park and The Spit boat ramps.

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As part of The Spit Master Plan implementation, we are upgrading the boat ramps, existing pontoon and adding a floating walkway. Parking, pathways, landscaping and public amenities will also be improved. The project, once completed, will enhance access to the Broadwater and the Seaway for recreational and commercial vessels, and community organisations.

The following works are underway in February 2024:

  • Work on the southern access road and services installation
  • Steel sheet piles have been installed for construction of the sewer pump station
  • Installation of gravity feed sewer
  • Earthworks between car park and southern boat ramp
  • Revetment wall construction progressing
  • Preparation of pedestrian pathway at northern end of car park
  • Dune fencing installation at northern end of car park.

For up-to-date project information, fact sheet, progress videos and photos please visit https://gcwa.qld.gov.au/2023/09/10/muriel-henchman-park-improvements/

Navigational Aids project completed

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Gold Coast Waterways Authority has completed another major project to ensure safe access on the Gold Coast waterways.

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Upcoming webinars – Gold Coast waterways management planning including Spit Master Plan

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We are developing the next Waterways Management Program 2024-2028 and Spit Works Program (Community Infrastructure) 2024-2028 to guide our projects and operations for the next four years.

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What We Heard: Engagement on Top of The Spit Precinct Plan

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Community and key stakeholder engagement was undertaken in 2023 to gather feedback on the Top of The Spit Precinct Plan.

The aim of the engagement was to inform and consult with a broad range of people about The Spit Master Plan outcomes. It also sought to obtain feedback on the proposal for greater connectivity, improved amenity, and enriched vibrancy of the public domain.

These engagement activities generated considerable interest with 941 pieces of feedback. The feedback centred around the following topics:

  • Retention of car parking along the ring road, immediately west of the round-a-bout
  • Access to the (middle) Emergency Access Stairs
  • Support for bus stop and for EV charging (located closer to Kiosk/SBS for security)
  • Limited support for future children’s play area
  • More shade / leave as natural as possible.

The full report can be viewed HERE.

We thank the community and key stakeholders for taking the time to provide such valuable feedback. It is fundamental in shaping the future experiences for this parkland of regional significance.

The Spit Redevelopment Project secures Gold Coast Urban Design Award of Excellence 2023

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The Seaway Promenade and Moondarewa Spit redevelopment project has been honoured with the City of Gold Coast Urban Design Award for Public Projects at their annual awards evening on 9 November 2023.

The Revitalisation project was a key outcome of The Spit Master Plan Implementation undertaken by the Queensland Government and delivered by Gold Coast Waterways Authority.

The award recognises projects which exhibit a high standard of excellence in design and execution of a public or institutional nature, and achieves all six key design principles in Responsiveness, Connected, Engaged, Sub Tropical, Attractive and Adaptable.

The collaborative project which included design firm, Place Design Group and Engineering firm Michael Bale and Associates is a strong example of positive open space design within the context of foreshore infrastructure.

The design focused on brining the community’s vision for The Spit to life, using material that complimented the stunning landscape, while still providing clear accessibility and a variety of public viewing spaces.

Works will continue over the coming years to further transform The Spit into one of the Gold Coast’s premium destinations for locals and visitors.

Celebrating a decade of Gold Coast waterways management

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The Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) is approaching the end of our tenth year of guiding the responsible and sustainable management of Gold Coast Waterways.

The GCWA was established in December 2012 by the Queensland Government through the Gold Coast Waterways Authority Act 2012.

With the responsibility for a waterways network that stretches from Jumpinpin in the north, to Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creeks in the South, GCWA has worked in partnership with the community, industry, and partner agencies.

Over the past decade GCWA has delivered:

  • An extensive capital works program to upgrade and deliver new boating facilities like boat ramps and pontoons.
  • The development and implementation of The Spit Master Plan in partnership with the Queensland Government.
  • Effective management of our waterways maintaining navigable aids, dredging to maintain navigable channels, and operating the Gold Coast Sand Bypass System at Main Beach.
  • Supporting safe and equitable use of our waterways through managing anchoring and mooring, permitting of aquatic events, setting and reviewing speed limits, management of abandon vessels and first response for vessel-related oil spills.

Looking forward, GCWA is guided by the Gold Coast Waterways Management Strategy 2021-2030. This strategy is intended to provide direction for all stakeholders involved in waterway management or activities that may affect waterway conditions.

For the next decade the vision of GCWA is to be a Waterways City. To achieve this there are three focus areas to ensure the Gold Coast continues to embrace our waterways as it embraces the opportunity to be a waterways city – access, connections and destinations.

To further understand the uniqueness of the waterways, GCWA will develop a Place Strategy to inform effective place-based planning outcomes. The Place Strategy will be developed in consultation the with community, and draw together important information about the economic, social, and environmental values of our waterways. This strategy will ensure effective and sustainable management of Gold Coast waterways.

 

Who’s Who in the Blue

Who’s Who in the Blue explains who is responsible for managing, protecting and
regulating Queensland’s waterways, particularly on the Gold Coast.

It clarifies agency roles across safety, environmental protection, pollution response,
compliance and infrastructure, helping avoid confusion and duplication.

Overall, it’s a quick reference guide that supports coordination, accountability and
effective waterway stewardship.

Download Who’s Who in the Blue

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.

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

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.

    Learn More