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.

Northern Gold Coast dredging benefits boaties

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A $2.5 million dredging campaign in northern Gold Coast waterways will benefit boaties in one of the city’s fastest growing areas.

Work is underway on dredging Main Channel (North and South) in the Jacobs Well area.

The dredging is being done by south east Queensland company, Hall Contracting.

The channel is a key connection in the waterways network, giving boaties direct access to the southern parts of Moreton Bay Marine Park down into the northern end of the Broadwater.

The project is part of GCWA’s wider Waterways Management Program which will see $34.7 million invested in Gold Coast waterways over the next four years.

GCWA continues to receive strong feedback from waterways users wanting to see improved waterways access and the ability to travel to new destinations.

Dredging navigation channels so they remain safe and accessible enables people to go out and explore our waterways city.

The project also includes dredging of the Calypso Bay access channel on behalf of City of Gold Coast, which has responsibility for dredging these channels.

The dredged material will be placed in an approved area within the Calypso Bay residential development for beneficial reuse.

The dredging campaign is expected to be finished in May 2021.

West Crab Island channel dredging supports our waterways city’s marine industries

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GCWA is pushing ahead with dredging works on the Gold Coast, ensuring vital transport links remain open for our waterways city’s marine industries.

“Dredging is starting in the West Crab Island Channel in the section from the Ephraim Island bridge down to the intersection with the North Channel,” CEO Hal Morris said.

“South East Queensland-based business Q Sand North will be carrying out the works as part of our $27.6 million investment in the our Waterways Management Program.

“The Gold Coast’s waterways support 6,000 direct and indirect jobs and contribute $770 million directly and indirectly to the local economy every year, so it’s crucial we continue to support the industry, especially in the face of COVID-19.

“The channel which runs along the eastern shore of the Broadwater forms an important connection between Paradise Point, Runaway Bay and the wider marine channel network which supports access to marinas, manufacturing precincts, service centres and the canals to the west of the channel.”

GCWA will work with Q Sand North to ensure recommended health guidelines are implemented to manage and mitigate any potential impacts on the project by COVID-19 so that work can safely proceed.

The dredged material will be deposited in an approved site offshore to support beach nourishment on the eastern side of South Stradbroke Island.

This will replenish sand lost to erosion, improve storm resilience and provide habitat for marine animals.

Dredging is due to finish in June.

About 30,000 cubic metres of clean sand will be removed from the channel during the dredging campaign.

Sand Bypass System Jetty Upgrade Reaches The Half-Way Mark

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A major upgrade to the Gold Coast’s Sand Bypass System jetty has just passed the half-way mark, with 5 out of the 10 concrete slabs poured.

Once complete, the $3.35 million project will enable critical maintenance works to be carried out effectively and safely on the System’s jet pumps.

Extra beams are being installed underneath the jetty and the deck near each of the 10 jet pumps is being widened so the maintenance crane can continue to operate safely and keep the pumps functioning.

This will ensure sand continues to be pumped northward keeping the Seaway open for the recreation, tourism and marine industries.

For safety reasons, the jetty is still closed to the public until the project is finished late 2020.

Read more about the project here.

Sand Bypass System jetty upgrade supports maintenance works for safe, navigable Seaway

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A major upgrade to the Gold Coast’s Sand Bypass System jetty will ensure sand continues to be pumped northward keeping the Seaway open for the recreation, tourism and marine industries.

The Gold Coast Waterways Authority is investing about $3.35 million in the project which will enable critical maintenance works to be carried out effectively and safely on the System’s jet pumps.

CEO Hal Morris said the upgrade is essential as the pumps are the powerhouse of the Sand Bypass System’s operations.

“The pumps suck up sand from the seabed beneath the jetty and then the sand gets pumped underneath the Seaway to South Stradbroke Island, keeping this vital connection between the ocean and the waterways open for recreational and commercial vessels.

“We need to keep that sand moving because the Gold Coast’s beautiful waterways contribute $770 million each year to the local economy and support 6,000 direct and indirect jobs.”

Mr Morris said the ten jet pumps on the jetty require frequent maintenance which can only be undertaken when they’re lifted from beneath the sea floor by a crane on the jetty deck.

“This is one of the biggest upgrades we’ve undertaken on the Sand Bypass since it was built back in the 80s.

“Work starting today involves installing extra beams underneath the jetty deck and widening the decking near each pump so the maintenance crane can continue to operate safely and keep the pumps functioning.”

The contract to undertake the work has been awarded to local company, Alder Constructions.

Alder Constructions General Manager Dean Cheffers said the company undertook previous upgrade works on the jetty which were completed in 2006.

“Alder successfully collaborated with Gold Coast Waterways Authority to deliver a complete refurbishment and upgrade of the jetty in 2006, on time and on budget,” he said.

“With the knowledge of this particular site and project, along with our other bridge refurbishment experience, Alder possesses the specific skills required in every area of this contract.

“From our home base on the Gold Coast we have expanded to other regions in the south-east, but it’s always a privilege to be involved in iconic local infrastructure projects like the Sand Bypass System jetty.”

For safety reasons, the jetty will be closed to the public until the project is finished in September next year.

Public access to the beach beneath the jetty will also restricted from time-to-time while work is being done.

The Sand Bypass System is designed to replicate the natural northerly movement of sand along our coastline by transporting at least 500,000 m³ of sand under the Seaway to South Stradbroke Island each year.

Completed in 1986, the System was the first of its kind in the world.

Surfers Riverside Edge Treatment gets special mention at Gold Coast Urban Design Awards

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The Surfers Riverside Masterplan established a shared vision for a high quality public space that connects Surfers Paradise and the Nerang River and encourages enjoyment of the uniquely Gold Coast waterways.

The Masterplan identified a need for an upgraded river edge treatment in Appel Park, requiring a design response to enhance it, including replacing the armour rock for protection against wave action. This provided an opportunity to redefine the edge of the river and to increase connectivity between the park and the river by improving pedestrian access to the water’s edge.

The built form was designed to be used in a variety of ways including as a platform to sit alongside the river, as steps down towards the water’s edge, as a barrier to prevent falls into the river and the functional purpose of protecting the embankment from damage caused by wave or tidal action. The new rivers edge was designed to take the eye to the water instead of detract from the river or impede the view.

The interlocking and staggered concrete blocks create aesthetic interest and seek to introduce colour to the river’s edge.  The selected colour reinforces the colour of the Poinciana flowers in the park and also helps to provide visual contrast and therefore improved safety along the river edge.

Further safety features included the staggering of the blocks to encourage interaction, yet stop people falling into the water, as well as identifying the oyster level and using that as a level to transition from the blocks to rock armour to discourage pedestrians from venturing to a level that would have oyster growth.

The built form created used a modular design and standard block sizes for ease of construction. The concrete blocks interlock with a pin connection to withstand water forces and movement.

This project shines a spotlight on the Nerang River so that the Gold Coast waterways become something that residents of the Gold Coast can use, understand, protect, respect, enhance and enjoy as much as the city’s beaches.

We’re thrilled to have received a special mention for our Surfers Riverside Edge Treatment project at the 2017 Gold Coast Urban Design Awards. The project was completed by GHD Woodhead.

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

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.

https://gcwa.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Whos-Who-in-the-Blue-v4-004.pdf

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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.