It’s been a busy year on and beside the water for the Gold Coast Waterways Authority (GCWA) and with the Commonwealth Games just around the corner, GCWA is on track to ensure its water-side and land-side facilities are looking their very best.
GCWA CEO, Hal Morris, said the Authority had invested more than $8.5 million in providing better access to waterways from Cabbage Tree Point to Currumbin and beyond.
“The goal of our dredging program is to keep the waterways safe for navigation and in the past year, we’ve carried out projects throughout the Gold Coast’s most used waterways,” he said.
In addition to managing the vast network of Gold Coast waterways from south of the Logan River to the New South Wales border, GCWA is also trustee for the 30 ha Doug Jennings Park at the end of The Spit. As trustee, GCWA also manages land-side facilities and has implemented a range of major improvements to be enjoyed by tourists and locals alike.
“The Park is a unique place to fish, dive, surf and swim in the Broadwater and ocean, or for other activities such as picnicking, walking and relaxing with the family,” Mr Morris said. “In the past year, we’ve invested around $2 million providing the community with Seaway Emergency Access Stairs, an amenities block, extra beach showers, upgrades to the Seaway Kiosk and the rehabilitation of Moondarewa Spit”.
And there’s more in store.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced in August that the Doug Jennings Park makeover was continuing with $1.35 million being spent on new footpaths, park furniture and car parking areas. The upgrades, including a footpath running the length of the Seaway wall, are designed to make the area more accessible to the public.
“With the installation of park furniture such as picnic tables and seating, landscaping and revegetation, we’re encouraging more people to enjoy and connect to the waterways,” she said.
With the Broadwater as a background, Doug Jennings Park is becoming more popular than ever for commercial and private events.
“In the past three months alone, our team has received and assessed more than 60 new applications for aquatic and other events being held in the Park or nearby in the Broadwater,” Mr Morris said.
High profile events including the Australian Corporate Triathlon, filming of $300 million Hollywood epic “Aqua Man” as well as the Ironman USM have been held in and beside the Broadwater.
“We are proud to be able to offer Doug Jennings Park as a spectacular backdrop for international as well as local events,” he said. “We can’t wait to be able to showcase our waterways to the world throughout the Commonwealth Games.”
For enquiries or to book an event in Doug Jennings Park or Moondarewa Spit, visit https://www.gcwa.qld.gov.au/events-at-doug-jennings-park/
/Sep-Dec2017
