The Gold Coast

Oceanway A greenway is usually a shared-use path along a strip of undeveloped land, in an urban or rural area, set aside for recreational use or environmental protection. Greenways are frequently created out of disused railways, canal towpaths, utility ...

is a

foreshoreway A greenway is usually a shared-use path along a strip of undeveloped land, in an urban or rural area, set aside for recreational use or environmental protection. Greenways are frequently created out of disused railways, canal towpaths, utility ...

for use by pedestrians and

cyclist Cycling, also, when on a two-wheeled bicycle, called bicycling or biking, is the use of cycles for transport, recreation, exercise or sport. People engaged in cycling are referred to as "cyclists", "bicyclists", or "bikers". Apart from two ...

s along the

Gold Coast Gold Coast may refer to: Places Africa * Gold Coast (region), in West Africa, which was made up of the following colonies, before being established as the independent nation of Ghana: ** Portuguese Gold Coast (Portuguese, 1482–1642) ** Dutch G ...

Queensland ) , nickname = Sunshine State , image_map = Queensland in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of Queensland in Australia , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , establishe ...

, connecting the Point Danger lighthouse on the

New South Wales ) , nickname = , image_map = New South Wales in Australia.svg , map_caption = Location of New South Wales in AustraliaCoordinates: , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name = Australia , established_title = Before federation , es ...

and Queensland border to the

Gold Coast Seaway 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 ...

. The network includes of poor, medium and high quality pathways.

Social issues

Social issues associated with oceanway investment include equity,

disability Disability is the experience of any condition that makes it more difficult for a person to do certain activities or have equitable access within a given society. Disabilities may be cognitive, developmental, intellectual, mental, physical, ...

and crime prevention (CPTED). As cities grow, the value of coastal property increases and fewer people can afford to live near the

beach A beach is a landform alongside a body of water which consists of loose particles. The particles composing a beach are typically made from rock, such as sand, gravel, shingle, pebbles, etc., or biological sources, such as mollusc sh ...

. As cities grow even larger the carparks along the beach start to overflow and roads leading to coastal areas become increasingly congested. One growth model is just to keep expanding the size of carparks whenever they get full, leading to concern about 'paving paradise' as expressed in the song "

Big Yellow Taxi "Big Yellow Taxi" is a song written, composed, and originally recorded by Canadian singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell in 1970, and originally released on her album '' Ladies of the Canyon''. It was a hit in her native Canada (No. 14) as well as Aust ...

". Another growth model is that beach experiences become increasingly enjoyed by only richer people as the average person cannot afford to overcome the congestion and property value barriers of visiting the beaches as a regular part of their lifestyle. Often local resident groups oppose investment that attracts additional people to visit 'their' beach (known as fortress coast attitudes). Due to local opposition, it is often necessary for a brave

politician A politician is a person active in party politics, or a person holding or seeking an elected office in government. Politicians propose, support, reject and create laws that govern the land and by an extension of its people. Broadly speaking ...

champion A champion (from the late Latin ''campio'') is the victor in a challenge, contest or competition. There can be a territorial pyramid of championships, e.g. local, regional / provincial, state, national, continental and world championships, a ...

the cause before a commitment is made to invest into higher capacity

foreshore The intertidal zone, also known as the foreshore, is the area above water level at low tide and underwater at high tide (in other words, the area within the tidal range). This area can include several types of habitats with various species ...

areas. An example is

Jim Soorley James Gerard Soorley (born 8 April 1951) is a former Australian politician. He served as Labor Lord Mayor of Brisbane from 1991 to 2003. Soorley is a former Roman Catholic Priest. Soorley has a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in psychology, from ...

who championed the cause of the Riverwalk for Brisbane.

Foreshoreway standards

The

Gold Coast City Council The City of Gold Coast is the local government area spanning the Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia and surrounding areas. With a population of 606,774 it is the second most populous local government area in Australia (City of Brisbane being th ...

has developed standards for major foreshoreways including the 'Gold Coast Oceanway'. The standards include chapters about

landscaping Landscaping refers to any activity that modifies the visible features of an area of land, including the following: # Living elements, such as flora or fauna; or what is commonly called gardening, the art and craft of growing plants with a goal ...

, connectivity, visual analysis, safety risk assessment and CPTED, width, geometry, construction materials, finishes and colour, path jointing detailing, line marking, intersections and crossing treatments, lighting, signage, furniture, public art, vegetation, and equitable access.

Sections

The 'Gold Coast Oceanway' includes a number of different sections including * Federation Walk 36 km-32 km * The Spit Oceanway 32 km-31 km *

Main Beach Main Beach (originally Southport East) is a coastal town and Suburbs and localities (Australia), suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In the , the suburb of Main Beach had a population of 3,883 people. Geography Historical ...

Oceanway 31 km-30 km * Surfers Paradise Oceanway 30 km-26 km *

Broadbeach Broadbeach is a suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In the , Broadbeach had a population of 5,514 people. Geography Development in the area today mostly incorporates low rise structures, consisting of single bedroom hous ...

Oceanway 26 km-24 km * Mermaid Beach Oceanway 24 km-20 km * Burleigh Oceanway 20 km-16 km * Palm Beach Oceanway 16 km-11 km *

Currumbin Currumbin ( ) is a coastal suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. In the , Currumbin had a population of 2,920 people. Geography The suburb extends from Currumbin Creek in the north to Wyberba Street in the south. The Pac ...

Oceanway 11 km-8 km * Bilinga and Tugun Oceanways 8 km-4 km * Southern Points Oceanway ( Kirra,

Coolangatta Coolangatta is a coastal suburb in the City of Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia. It is the Gold Coast's southernmost suburb and it borders New South Wales. In the , Coolangatta had a population of 5,948 people. Geography Coolangatta and its ...

, Rainbow Bay, Point Danger). 4 km-0 km Travel times and distances for

walking Walking (also known as ambulation) is one of the main gaits of terrestrial locomotion among legged animals. Walking is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an ' inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults ...

journeys along the Gold Coast Oceanway have been calculated. There are viewing platforms at popular outlooks all along the Oceanway that are accessible for people with a

and the entire route is serviced by Surfside Buses.

Logo

The Gold Coast Oceanway logo is made up of a number of elements including * Blue

ocean wave In fluid dynamics, a wind wave, water wave, or wind-generated water wave, is a surface wave that occurs on the free surface of bodies of water as a result from the wind blowing over the water surface. The contact distance in the direction of t ...

s * Golden sand along the beaches * Green dunes along the coast * Cyclist (viewed from above) * The Gold Coast Oceanway laid out as a journey alongside the dune area * Two pedestrians of different ages (viewed from above) * Family group moving together * The Oceanway website for more information

Investment program

The

has a program to invest into the quality and capacity of the Gold Coast Oceanway. It is already possible to enjoy walking and cycling along the full Gold Coast Oceanway corridor from Point Danger to the

but many sections are narrow and of low quality.

Mirage to Seaworld Oceanway

In July 2008 a new section of Oceanway pavement was completed between the Sheraton Mirage Hotel and

Seaworld SeaWorld is an American theme park chain with headquarters in Orlando, Florida. It is a proprietor of marine mammal parks, oceanariums, animal theme parks, and rehabilitation centers owned by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment (one park will be ...

on The Spit.

Main Beach South Oceanway

Council will construct the Main Beach South Oceanway between Woodroffe Street and Narrowneck between February and June 2023.

Surfers South Oceanway

In November 2020, Council is consulting about constructing the Oceanway between Laycock Street Surfers Paradise and First Avenue Broadbeach. In 2021, a group of beach front landowners has sought a court injunction to stop construction near their homes. The Court challenge was not successful. Council has announced it will now construct the Surfers South Oceanway between April and December in 2022.

Broadbeach North Oceanway

In June 2008, funding from the innovative Wave highrise building in Broadbeach allowed completion of the Oceanway between Kurrawa Parklands and First Avenue,

Mermaid Beach Oceanway

There are wealthy people along Hedges Avenue who do not support the construction of the Oceanway along this section of the beach. Sections of the public road reserve (Los Angeles Esplanade) have been fenced off from public access and are vegetated with turf and landscaping that incorporates public road into the private gardens for the adjoining houses. The footpath on the landward side of the houses is narrow and impeeded by driveways and powerpoles.

Palm Beach Oceanway

In March 2008 works commenced on the Palm Beach Parklands including a new upgraded section of Oceanway between Lacey's Lane and Tarrabora Reserve. In 2021 the Palm Beach Oceanway was extended from Tallebudgera Drive to twenty-Third Avenue. Houses and apartments along the central sections of Palm Beach were built further seaward than other parts of the Gold Coast. This means that the remaining dunes are regularly eroded with waves reaching the seawalls. The instability of the dunes does not leave much room to construct an Oceanway between the 11th and 21st Avenue

groynes A groyne (in the U.S. groin) is a rigid hydraulic structure built perpendicularly from an ocean shore (in coastal engineering) or a river bank, interrupting water flow and limiting the movement of sediment. It is usually made out of wood, concre ...

Tugun to Bilinga Oceanway

In July 2018, Council commenced construction of the 1.7 km missing link of the Oceanway from Tugun to Bilinga. The section of Oceanway pathway opened by Christmas 2018.

Southern Points Oceanway

In September 2008 works commenced on improving the Southern Points Oceanway between Greenmount and Bilinga. In 2009 the Oceanway was completed between Kirra Point and North Kirra and in 2010 the Oceanway was extended up to Bilinga SLSC.

Realignment proposals

There are many places where a realignment of the Oceanway traffic routes from the landward side of beachfront buildings to the beachfront itself would allow a superior pavement to be constructed. Beachfront residents are concerned that opening up the public land between their houses and the beach will detract from enjoyment of their property, citing in particular CPTED and

coastal erosion Coastal erosion is the loss or displacement of land, or the long-term removal of sediment and rocks along the coastline due to the action of waves, currents, tides, wind-driven water, waterborne ice, or other impacts of storms. The landwa ...

concerns.

TD23A Palm Beach Oceanway

is considering proposals to invest into the quality and capacity of the Gold Coast Oceanway at northern Palm Beach. A controversial area is the TD23A Oceanway between Tallebudgera Drive and 23rd Avenue. The current route for pedestrians is along the busy Gold Coast highway. A new pavement is proposed for the dune front area. Residents who currently enjoy beach front property are concerned about CPTED. In 2009, Council resolved to put construction of this section of the Oceanway on hold due to the opposition of beachfront property owners. In 2019 Council was preparing to construct the TD23A Oceanway. This section was completed in 2021

FERO Flat Rock to Elephant Rock Oceanway

Opening up public access along the beachfront between Flat Rock and Elephant Rock

has been debated in the community for over a decade. There has been petitions both in support and opposition to opening the public road reserve along the beach so the public can walk along the dunes. The Friends of Currumbin have been quoted in the Sun Newspaper as in support of the public's right of access to the road reserve. Local beachfront property owners are lobbying politicians to ensure the road reserve remains for their exclusive beachfront enjoyment. Opponents to public access along FERO have submitted a formal legal injunction that questions the right of local government to allow people to walk along a public road reserve. In 2010 the FERO section of Oceanway was completed as a turf walkway. This section of the Oceanway was completed as a concrete accessible path in 2019.

Awards

The Gold Coast Oceanway has received a number of awards including * 1998 Award of excellence in Environmental Planning. * 2001 Community Safety award * 2003 Healthy Heart award for active lifestyles * 2004 Queensland award for the Clean Beach Challenge * 2005 Queensland award for services to the disabled community * 2007 Gold Coast Urban Design Awards - Helen Josephson award for innovation in Urban Design * 2008 Featured on Getaway

References

External links

Gold Coast Oceanway
Transport in Queensland Transport on the Gold Coast, Queensland Cycleways in Australia Hiking and bushwalking tracks in Queensland