Gold Coast Beach Use & Carrying Capacity

Abstract

Australia has over 70,000 kilometres of coastline, of which Queensland has 7,000 kilometres. The beach has long occupied a special place in the Australian identity. The beaches are not only important to the Australian people but they are a highly valuable tourist resource. Determining their carrying capacity is an essential factor for their sensible use and management. A preliminary perception study of Gold Coast beaches was conducted over a two-year period - in 2004 and 2005. The survey, adapted from one used in Portugal by Professor Carlos Pereira da Silva (Da Silva, 1998), was conducted with a group of Griffith University students. This survey provided a base from which further research was conducted in April 2006. Using a modified, shorter, more precise, survey with an expanded population range the survey explored beach perception, landscape, and behaviour. The modified survey was conducted at four designated Gold Coast beaches using a random selection process. This initial survey work revealed some interesting results including that the majority of the people surveyed thought beach crowds were perfect in their current state but 79% of the remaining respondents indicated carrying capacity had already been exceeded; with Gold Coast beaches perceived as either over-crowded or could do with less people. The future analysis of this data will assist in gaining a wider populations' perception of the Gold Coast beaches and to better determine what Australians use their beaches for, which can aid in future development and conservation programs.