Gold Coast Oceanway

The Gold Coast Oceanway is a foreshoreway along Gold Coast beaches. The Gold Coast Oceanway is a shared use pedestrian and cyclist pathway on the Gold Coast connecting the Point Danger lighthouse on the NSW and Queensland border to the Gold Coast Seaway. The network includes 36 km of poor, medium and high quality pathways.

eachange Growth

Many new people are moving to coastal areas seeking seachange lifestyles. Tourist numbers for major coastal areas are also growing increasing the need for sustainable coastal tourism. Seachange growth poses challenges for coastal management. Oceanway investment is an example of a sustainable transport program that aims to increase the modal share of non private vehicle movements along an oceanway. A key goal of the Gold Coast Shoreline Management Plan is to reduce the average coastal footprint for visitors to the coast so that beach experiences remain an active and healthy part of the average person's lifestyle as coastal communities grow.

ocial Issues

Social issues associated with oceanway investment include equity, disability and CPTED. As city's grow, the value of coastal property increases and fewer people can afford to live near the beach. 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 conern about 'paving paradise' as expressed in the song Big Yellow Taxi.

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 attacts additional people to visit 'their' beach (known as Fortress Coast attitudes). Due to local opposition, its often necessary for a brave politician to champion the cause before a commitment is made to invest into higher capacity foreshore areas. An example is Jim Soorley who championed the cause of the Riverwalk for Brisbane.

Foreshoreway Standards

The Gold Coast City Council has developed standards for major foreshoreways including the 'Gold Coast Oceanway'. The standards include chapters about the following;
* landscaping
* 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
* equitable access

Gold Coast Oceanway Sections

The 'Gold Coast Oceanway' includes a number of different sections [ [http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/attachment/oceanway_map.pdf Gold Coast Oceanway Map] ] including
* Federation Walk 36 km-32 km
* The Spit Oceanway 32 km-31 km
* Main Beach Oceanway 31 km-30 km
* Surfers Paradise Oceanway 30 km-26 km
* Broadbeach 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 Oceanway 11 km-8 km
* Bilinga and Tugun Oceanways 8 km-4 km [ [http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?pid=5899 Tugun Oceanway] ]
* Southern Points Oceanway (Kirra, Coolangatta, Rainbow Bay, Point Danger). 4 km-0 km

Travel times and distances for walking journeys along the Gold Coast Oceanway have been calculated. [ [http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?pid=3965 Oceanway Ready Reckoner] ]

There are viewing platforms at popular outlooks all along the Oceanway that are accessible for people with a disability [ [http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_gcccaccess.aspx?pid=3687&mode=app&CategoryID=18 Access Gold Coast] ] 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 waves
* 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

Gold Coast Oceanway Investment Program

The Gold Coast City Council 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 36 km Gold Coast Oceanway corridor from Point Danger to the Gold Coast Seaway but many sections are narrow and of low quality. [ [http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,23483,21115348-5012671,00.html Golden Trail] ]

Palm Beach Parklands 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.

Mirage to Seaworld Oceanway

In July 2008 a new section of Oceanway pavement was completed between the Sheraton Mirage Hotel and Seaworld on The Spit.

Broadbeach North Oceanway

In June 2008 works will commence to improve the section of Oceanway between Queensland Avenue and First Avenue Broadbeach.

outhern Points Oceanway

In September 2008 works will commence on improving the Southern Points Oceanway between Greenmount and Bilinga.

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 concerns.

urfers South Oceanway

The Oceanway south of Cavil Mall, Surfers Paradise travels along the narrow footpath of Garfield and Northcliffe Terraces. Gold Coast City Council has consulted with the community [ [http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/minutes/gcccminutes/1997%20-%20mar2004/water/agenda/2002/wa021205_g021213.pdf Surfers South Oceanway (starts page 8)] ] regarding realigning the Oceanway traffic along the beachfront public road reserve between the highrise buildings and the sand dunes. [ [http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/attachment/Sth_Surfers_Oway.pdf Surfers South Oceanway] ]

TD23A Palm Beach Oceanway

Gold Coast City Council is considering proposals to invest into the quality and capacity of the Gold Coast Oceanway at northern Palm Beach. [ [http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?PID=6337 TD23A Oceanway] ] 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. Its likely that works will commence on paving this section of Oceanway in March 2009.

FERO Flat Rock to Elephant Rock Oceanway

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

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 [ [http://www.keepaustraliabeautiful.org.au/qld/01_cms/details.asp?ID=6 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 [ [http://www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/t_standard.aspx?pid=749 Urban Design Awards 2007] ]
* 2008 Featured on Getaway [ [http://getaway.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=379687 Channel #9 Getaway 2008] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.goldcoastcity.com.au/oceanway Gold Coast Oceanway]