Gold Coast Seaway

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Channel in 2015 Gold Coast Seaway.jpg
Channel in 2015

The Gold Coast Seaway or Southport Seaway is the main navigation entrance from the Pacific Ocean into the Gold Coast Broadwater and southern Moreton Bay and is one of Australia's most significant coastal engineering projects. It is located at the northern end of the Southport Spit where the Nerang River enters the Pacific Ocean. The channel was constructed between 1984 and 1986, primarily to facilitate the safe passage of sea-faring vessels. The passage was previously known as the Southport Bar. The mouth of the Nerang River was once located further south in Broadbeach. The main driving force for this movement is the northward drift of sand along the coast. This northward drift was responsible for the unstable and shifting conditions of the bar, which made crossing it so hazardous for small boats. [1] The southern training wall of the Gold Coast Seaway is the northern end of the Gold Coast Oceanway.

Contents

Design

Two rock walls to stabilise the position of the entrance were constructed. To reduce the entry of ocean swells the breakwater walls were aligned 15 degrees north of east and increasing the length of the southern wall. [1] Models indicated that the western shores of the Broadwater would need further protection from waves. Wave Break Island was constructed from dredged material to act as a barrier.

Rock wall anglers, 2015 Fishing at the Gold Coast Seaway.jpg
Rock wall anglers, 2015

The channel is 250 metres wide. [2] The mean depth is 11 m [2] and it has a maximum depth of 20 m. [3] During outgoing tides, excess treated wastewater from four sewage treatment plants is released into the channel.

Sand bypass

Gold Coast Seaway enjoys the world's first permanent sand bypassing system, which currently delivers all sand that arrives at the Gold Coast Seaway across the entrance and into the Moreton Bay Marine Park. Up to 500 cubic metres of sand can be moved per hour. [4] The Gold Coast Shoreline Management Plan is reviewing this practice and examining the concept of Island welding to determine if 85% of the sand (80,000 cubic metres per year) can be sustainably recycled to Surfers Paradise. This system works by pumping the sand through the jetty and delivers it away to clear the channel.

Tunnel

Promising a result of "no dingoes," Mayor Ron Clarke has proposed building a tunnel under the Seaway, which would link to South Stradbroke Island. His controversial proposal is based upon an end result of making Stradbroke into Australia's premiere eco-tourist destination.

Diving

Gold Coast Seaway is a popular diving and fishing location. Many surfers and body boarders regularly paddle across the seaway on their boards from the mainland to South Stradbroke Island. Popular surfing sites include the sand pumping jetty on the mainland and the sand pumping outlets on South Stradbroke Island.

See also

Related Research Articles

Gold Coast, Queensland City in Queensland, Australia

The Gold Coast is a coastal city in the Australian state of Queensland, approximately 66 kilometres (41 mi) south-southeast of the centre of state capital Brisbane and immediately north of the border with New South Wales. The demonym for the Gold Coast is Gold Coaster. With an estimated population of 679,127, at June 2019, the Gold Coast is the sixth-largest city in Australia, making it the largest non-capital city, and Queensland's second-largest city.

Moreton Bay

Moreton Bay is a bay located on the eastern coast of Australia 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) from central Brisbane, Queensland. It is one of Queensland's most important coastal resources. The waters of Moreton Bay are a popular destination for recreational anglers and are used by commercial operators who provide seafood to market.

Surfers Paradise, Queensland Town in Queensland, Australia

Surfers Paradise is a coastal town and suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Surfers Paradise had a population of 23,689 people.

Nerang River

The Nerang River is a perennial river located in South East Queensland, Australia. Its catchment lies within the Gold Coast local government area and covers an area of 490 square kilometres (190 sq mi). The river is approximately 62 kilometres (39 mi) in length.

South Stradbroke Island Suburb of City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

The South Stradbroke Island, colloquially South Straddie, is an island that lies within Moreton Bay in the Australian state of Queensland, south of Brisbane and forms the northern end of Gold Coast. The island is a locality within the City of Gold Coast. In the 2016 census, South Stradbroke had a population of 41 people.

Main Beach, Queensland Suburb of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Main Beach is a coastal suburb of the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. At the 2016 census, Main Beach had a population of 3,883.

Southport, Queensland Suburb of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Southport is a coastal suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In the 2016 census, Southport had a population of 31,908 people. It contains the Gold Coast central business district.

Gold Coast Broadwater

The Gold Coast Broadwater, also known as Southport Broadwater, Gold Coast Harbour and The Broadwater, is a large shallow estuary of water located in the Gold Coast district of South East Queensland, Australia. The estuary reaches from the locality of Southport in the south, to the southern section of the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Moreton Bay in the north. Separated via the Seaway from the Coral Sea by a thin strip of land called Stradbroke Island, the original body of water was a lagoon created from water deposited from the Nerang River. Part of the Broadwater is contained within the Moreton Bay Marine Park.

Southport Spit

The Spit is a spit and neighbourhood within the northern end of Main Beach, City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is a permanent sand spit that separates the Southport Broadwater from the Pacific Ocean.

The Gold Coast Shoreline Management Plan (GCSMP) is an ICZM plan to manage the coastal resources of City of Gold Coast. The EPA encourages the City Council's to produce shoreline management plans for coastlines and tidal waterways within the local authority area.

Narrow Neck is the name of an isthmus that separates the anabranch of the Nerang River from the southern end of Main Beach and the northern end of Surfers Paradise beach.

Southport Broadwater Parklands

The Southport Broadwater Parklands is a large community park located in Southport. It is designed for large community gatherings and families. The park has many different areas for children and barbecue areas for families. The park went through a major redevelopment and was re-opened by the Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, on 23 August 2009. Southport Broadwater Parklands has become a popular family attraction.

Ferry Road, Gold Coast

Ferry Road is a road in Southport, on the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. Originally a suburban street, it is now part of Southport – Burleigh Road, a state controlled road

Sovereign Islands, Queensland Suburb of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia

Sovereign Islands are an island group in the Southport Broadwater in southern Moreton Bay within the suburb of Paradise Point in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. They were formed by a canal real estate development of the former Andys Island and Griffin Island.

South Passage (Queensland)

South Passage is channel between the South Pacific Ocean and Moreton Bay. The other entrances to the bay are the North Passage and Jumpinpin Channel in the south.

Cavill Avenue Street in Surfers Paradise, Queensland

Cavill Avenue is a street and a pedestrian mall in Surfers Paradise, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is in the heart of the Surfers Paradise shopping and entertainment district. It was named in honour of the man credited as the founder of Surfers Paradise, James Cavill, known as Jim Cavill.

Southport Pier, Gold Coast

Southport Pier is a pier spanning the Gold Coast Broadwater in Southport, a suburb on the Gold Coast in South East Queensland, Australia. The current pier was constructed in 2009, replacing a previous structure demolished in 1969.

Southport Bathing Pavilion

Southport Bathing Pavilion is a heritage-listed changing rooms at Marine Parade, Southport, Gold Coast City, Queensland, Australia. It was designed by Hall & Phillips and built in 1934 by A. Ledbury. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 13 January 1995.

Humphreys Boat Shed

Humphreys Boat Shed was a heritage-listed workshop and slipway at Seaworld Drive, Main Beach, Queensland, Australia. It was added to the Queensland Heritage Register on 31 August 2001, but was removed in June 2015 having been destroyed. However the remnants of the boat shed and slipway are listed on the Gold Coast Local Heritage Register. 

Chevron Island

The Chevron Island is an urban island that lies in the Nerang River and is a neighbourhood within the suburb of Surfers Paradise in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.

References

  1. 1 2 "History of the Gold Coast Seaway". Gold Coast Waterways Authority. 28 August 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  2. 1 2 Wolanski, Eric (2013). Estuaries of Australia in 2050 and beyond. Springer Science & Business Media. p. 97. ISBN   978-9400770195 . Retrieved 27 September 2015.
  3. ↑ "Gold Coast Seaway: a marine lovers' paradise" (PDF). Gold Coast City Council. Retrieved 1 October 2015.
  4. ↑ "The Gold Coast Seaway" (PDF). Gold Coast City Council. Retrieved 1 October 2015.

Coordinates: 27°56′7.02″S153°25′40.76″E / 27.9352833°S 153.4279889°E / -27.9352833; 153.4279889

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