Navigational Aids Major Maintenance and Renewal

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Gold Coast Waterways Authority is delivering a major maintenance project on 27 large beacons in the Gold Coast Seaway and the Broadwater, to extend the operational lifespan of these assets.

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Oxenford Pacific Highway pontoon and boat ramp upgrade project

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The Gold Coast Waterways Authority is upgrading the boating facility at Oxenford. This project involves installing a new pontoon to the west of the existing boat ramp and expanding the existing boat ramp’s footprint by four metres to accommodate an extra lane.

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Muriel Henchman Park Improvements – Construction Contract Awarded

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Major improvement works have commenced this week at a popular boat ramp at The Spit, with local based company Ertech (Queensland) Pty Ltd awarded the contract for construction.

The works are expected to take 11 months to complete and will improve the operational use of the site by reducing congestion during peak periods and enhancing access and safety for launching and retrieving vessels. Once finished, the park will offer a total of six boat ramp lanes, an upgraded pontoon, a new floating walkway on the northern boat ramp, 160 trailer parks, 144 car parks, 6 car parks for people with disabilities, line marking, pathways, landscaping, public toilets and shade.

This $19M project is funded by the City of Gold Coast, Queensland Government as part of the implementation of The Spit Master Plan and Gold Coast Waterways Authority, and will enhance access to the Broadwater and the Seaway for recreational and commercial vessels as well as community organisations.

To enable works to be completed safely and as quickly as possible, the Muriel Henchman Park boat ramp and main carpark will experience temporary disruptions from August 2023 to mid-2024. Delays may be experienced as well as reduced number of boat lanes and car parking available.

Alternative launch points include Proud Park, Broadwater Parklands, Harley Park and Loders Creek. For updates and more information on the Muriel Henchman Park Improvements visit HERE.

GCWA Climate Change Response

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The Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) is supporting a sustainable future for our waterways by undertaking work that acknowledges our responsibility to mitigate, plan, and respond to climate change impacts.

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Jabiru Island recreational boat ramp upgrades

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A popular Paradise Point boat ramp near the Broadwater is undergoing major upgrades.

The $950,000 project commences in mid-June 2023 and will see recreational boat ramp lanes at Jabiru Island expanded and upgraded to the latest specifications.

The Jabiru Island boat ramp is an important access point for recreational boaties. It is located on the southern side of Jabiru Island, near the junction of the southern arm of the Coomera River, Coombabah Creek, and Saltwater Creek.

Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) Chief Executive Chris Derksema said maintaining boat ramp facilities was an important part of ensuring safe navigable access for waterway users.

“Especially as demand for these facilities continues to climb on the Gold Coast,” Chris Derksema said.

“These upgrades are part of the $50.4 million investment in construction and upgrade projects to improve access to the Gold Coast waterways recommended in the Gold Coast Waterways Management Program 2022‐26.

Boaties and other recreational users will be able to access three other mixed‐use lanes on weekends while the work is carried out.

The Jabiru Island boat ramp upgrades project is expected to be completed in July 2023. More details are available in the project factsheet.

Trial to test recreation waters for Marine Stadium

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A popular bay at the Top of The Spit in Main Beach has been opened to a broader range of recreational uses under a new 12-month trial that separates powered watercraft from passive recreation activity.

The Gold Coast Waterways Authority’s Recreation Uses Trial in Marine Stadium will support the transition from a predominantly long-term anchoring site to an area that supports a range of recreation activities.

At the centre of the trial activated on Friday 31 March is a Recreation Opportunities Area in the northern 300 metres of Marine Stadium which will be reserved for non-powered watercraft, freeing up the space for passive leisure opportunities such as fishing, sailing, stand-up paddle boarding and kayaking.

Powered watercraft can access the new jetty and pontoon through a 45-metre-wide channel and dedicated use area for dropping off passengers and vessel manoeuvring.

GCWA Chief Executive Chris Derksema said the Recreation Uses Trial was a significant step towards realising the full potential of Marine Stadium as a waterways destination that everyone can enjoy.

“This trial is a significant step towards fulfilling the vision of Marine Stadium outlined in line with The Spit Master Plan’s (2019),” Mr Derksema said.

“The community feedback we’ve received for Marine Stadium has been overwhelmingly in support of a shift to improved access to the water by limiting the number of vessels anchored in this area.

“We have also listened to concerns about the impacts of long-term anchoring on water quality which have been verified by the Marine Stadium Tidal Exchange Study.”

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. The establishment of a recreational opportunities area responds directly to this recommendation.

Mr Derksema said the trial was underpinned by a Waterways Notice which outlines the regulations for vessels using each of the areas established in the Recreation Opportunities Area.

“We think this management option strikes the right balance between continuing to allow access by boat users, but also opens up the area to others,” he said.

“The Waterways Notice clearly sets out the perimeters of the new recreation opportunities area, the jetty and pontoon use area, and the approach channel into Marine Stadium.

“We will monitor and evaluate how the trial is performing throughout the year.”

The Recreation Uses Trial zone includes:

  • Recreation Opportunities Area (no powered watercraft permitted)
  • Jetty and pontoon use area (powered watercraft accepted, no anchoring or mooring)
  • Approach channel (powered watercraft accepted, no anchoring or mooring).

Alberton boat ramp widening complete

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A $300,000 project to improve waterways access from the Alberton boat ramp on the Logan River has been completed, just in time for the school holidays.

We’ve aid the Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) has widened the Alberton boat ramp on the Logan River from one to two lanes.

‘The northern Gold Coast is one of the fastest growing areas of the city, so we need to keep pace with demand for access to the waterways network in that area.

‘Widening the boat ramp will improve traffic movements particularly in busy periods.

‘The angle of the boat ramp has also been realigned to improve the launching and retrieving of boats.

‘Now that the upgrade is open, more people will be able to use the Alberton boat ramp as a launching point for exploring the Logan River and the waterways beyond it,’ Minister Bailey said.

The Alberton boat ramp upgrade is one of several projects being undertaken by GCWA as part of its $34.7 million Gold Coast Waterways Management Program.

CEO, Hal Morris, said feedback received from a recent community survey conducted by GCWA had identified a need for alternatives launching spots to busier boat ramps such as Jacobs Well.

‘The upgrade at Alberton increases the access options for boaties who might want to avoid some of the busier spots, especially on weekend.

‘We’ll continue to work with the community, particularly in the northern Gold Coast area, to identify ways of improving access to our beautiful waterways destinations.

Tender awarded for major dredging project

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Safe, ongoing access to the Gold Coast Seaway and adjacent navigation channels will be underpinned by a $6.3 million dredging campaign which will be underway within weeks.

The dredging contract has been awarded to a south-east Queensland firm, Riverside Marine.

The Seaway is the gateway which connects the Gold Coast’s inland coastal waterways network to the open ocean.

This dredging project will remove sand which has built up near the entrance to the Seaway and in the adjacent North and South Channels.

The result will be improved and safer access for boaties to waterways destinations, especially small and medium vessels travelling through the Seaway.

The project will also ensure ongoing access for commercial vessels including trawlers, the local whale-watching fleet and superyachts coming in for maintenance and servicing. These industries combined are worth tens of millions of dollars to the Gold Coast every year and support thousands of jobs.

It’s the first time in over a decade that dredging has needed to be done near the Seaway entrance.

The campaign will remove over 420,000 m³ from the Seaway and adjacent channels – which would be enough sand to fill Cbus stadium at Robina to a height of 25 storeys.

Whilst the Sand Bypass System at the Spit has done a great job of keeping the Seaway open by transporting sand north to South Stradbroke Island each and every year, storm activity has brought some of that sand back in near the Seaway entrance over time, so we need to dredge the area.

The dredging campaign should be finished by January 2022.

GCWA is planning to deposit the dredged sediment offshore from Narrowneck, Surfers Paradise and South Stradbroke Island beaches and Moondarewa Spit at The Spit to support coastal protection from storm surges.

Upgrade sparks Sand Bypass System improvements

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High voltage switch gear which keeps the Gold Coast’s Sand Bypass System pumping is about to undergo a major upgrade.

We’ve awarded a $1.2 million contract for the work to locally based firm, TEW Solutions.

The investment is vital because the Sand Bypass System supports safe, navigable access to the Gold Coast Seaway and coastal inland waterways network for the marine, tourism and recreation industries and the thousands of Gold Coast jobs they support.

The Sand Bypass System has been reliably pumping sand north and helping keep the Seaway open for boaties for more than 30 years, relying on the same high voltage switching gear installed back in the late 1980s.

Whilst it’s done a great job the switching gear is reaching the end of its natural life so it’s time for us to upgrade it in line with modern operational and safety standards.

This project builds on other investments we’ve recently made to improve the System’s operations including strengthening the jetty decking to support bigger maintenance cranes, and the installation of solar panels to meet daytime electricity needs.

The Sand Bypass System was the first of its kind in the world and is designed to transport 500,000 cubic metres of sand from The Spit to South Stradbroke Island each year.

Ongoing improvements saw it pump almost 661,000 cubic metres along the coastline last financial year.

The upgrade to the high voltage switchgear is expected to be finished in August this year.

Work starts on major enhancement to Gold Coast waterways gateway

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Preliminary works have started on a multi-million-dollar project to dredge an area near the Gold Coast Seaway entrance and in the adjacent navigation channels to improve access to the waterways network.

A contract to undertake sediment sampling for the project has been awarded to Gold Coast firm, Pacific Geotech Pty Ltd.

The Seaway is the gateway to the Gold Coast’s inland coastal waterways network and is a vital connection point for boaties.

The $6.3 million Seaway and North and South Channels dredging project will remove sand which has built up near the entrance to the Seaway and in the adjacent North and South Channels.

The result will be improved and safer access for boaties, especially small and medium vessels travelling through the Seaway.

The project will also ensure ongoing access for vessels coming in for maintenance and servicing, including superyachts. These visitors alone are worth tens of millions of dollars to the Gold Coast every year and support thousands of jobs.

The sediment sampling is being done to identify the type of material which will be removed during the dredging process so that GCWA can determine where it can be deposited as part of its Dredge Management Plan and Environmental Management framework.

The sampling process is expected to be completed in the next few weeks with dredging due to start in June this year.

It’s the first time in a decade that GCWA has had to dredge the Seaway.

GCWA CEO Hal Morris said the Sand Bypass System at the Spit has done a great job of keeping the Seaway open by transporting sand north to South Stradbroke Island.

‘Unfortunately, storm activity has brought some of that sand back in near the Seaway entrance over time, so we need to dredge the area.

‘We’ll dredge the North and South Channels at the same time to ensure boaties have clear access into the waterways network.’

Mr Morris said the dredging campaign should be finished by January 2022.

GCWA is planning to deposit the dredged sediment offshore from Narrowneck, Surfers Paradise and South Stradbroke Island beaches and Moondarewa Spit at The Spit to support coastal protection from storm surges.

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

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  • Our Destinations

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

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