Gold Coast City Council

Defined by its spectacular beaches, hinterland ranges, forests, waterways and vibrant communities, the Gold Coast is an outstanding global city which is proudly looking towards the future.

Gold Coast City Council provides sporting and recreational facilities for the following activities and programs:

• Active & Healthy Community
• Beaches
• Boating
• City Pools
• Cycling & Bikeways
• Fishing
• Jet Skiing
• Lifeguard Services
• Parks and Gardens
• Skate Parks and BMX Tracks
• Swimming Enclosures

Active & Healthy Community

Active & Healthy GC is a new program designed to encourage our residents to be more active. From fitness to family fun, to relaxation and sports there will be an activity happening in a park near you.

The program offers a range of outdoor activities in our parks all across the Gold Coast, with most of them being FREE.

Beaches

The Gold Coast City’s beaches and foreshores are famous around the world for their unique beauty and contribution to the region’s tourism industry. For decades people have flocked to enjoy over 52km of ocean beaches professionally maintained and protected by the Gold Coast City Council.

Boating

With nine times more waterways than Venice, the Gold Coast is a boating paradise with over 260 kilometres of navigable waterways within the City.

The Gold Coast Seaway also offers convenient access to the Pacific Ocean for those interested in deep-sea fishing.

City Pools

Our pools are many and vary in size. But, combined, they include lap, plunge, diving, wade, heated, beach entry and hydrotherapy pools as well as spring toys for children, tables and chairs, First Aid rooms, spectator seating, grandstands, gyms and kindergartens.

They are fun places for families, schools, groups and individuals whether learning to swim, competing in events or enjoying a day out. And some have been the training grounds for Australia’s greatest swimmers, including local Olympian Grant Hackett.

Cycling & Bikeways

The Gold Coast City Council has an ongoing program to develop bikeways throughout the city. For general bikeway enquiries, please phone (07) 5581 6259. To report demaged bikeways, please contact your local depot:

Beenleigh depot – (07) 3382 5450
Southport depot – (07) 5581 7923
Miami depot – (07) 5581 7801

The Cycling Guide is available at Council offices and as PDF files. For a copy or more information call us on (07) 5581 6259.

Fishing

Fishing is one of the Gold Coast’s favourite past-times and Gold Coast City Council provides a host of platforms and fishing spots for both the serious and recreational angler.

Fishing on Hinze Dam

The Hinze Dam catchment area is a great place to do some freshwater fishing. Fishing permits are required when fishing at Hinze Dam and cost:

$5 (weekly permit)
$40 (yearly permit)

Permits are available from Council offices and Hinze Dam Rangers. Each permit shall entitle an angler, his or her partner and dependant children (under 18 yrs) to fish with one rod or fishing line each.

Fishing platforms

Fishing platforms facilitate easy access and links to some of the best fishing spots in the region. Platforms are located at:

Barney Street
Chevron Island
Coombabah
Coomera River
Currumbin
Eagleby
Labrador
Nerang
Pizzey Park
Waterford
Yatala

 Jet Skiing

Jet skiing is the coolest water sport since surfing!

Our Gold Coast water playground – the ocean, Broadwater and waterways – is the best jet-ski playground in the world, but let’s not forget Gold Coast jet-ski etiquette – Fun but Fair.

Consider the needs of everyone

Complaints about noise from jet skis are increasing. Not all are justified, but some – such as early morning noise close to houses and units – are. So let’s consider the needs of everyone – jet skiers and residents – so we can have fun and live in harmony. Please remember jet skiing should be Fun but Fair for everyone.

Fun but Fair means:
Residents respect the rights of jet skiers to have fun
Jet skiers respect the rights of residents to an enjoyable environment
Unless these noise issues are resolved voluntarily, Gold Coast City Council will have no option but to introduce legislation, with infringement penalties.

Jet-ski etiquette

Consider others
Reduce noise, especially before 7am
Start the jet ski engine in the water
Warm up the engine once in the water
Flush the engine at home, not by revving it in the car park or on the boat ramp
Choose launch ramps away from homes, such as The Spit ramp off Sea World Drive

Remember – jet skiing should be Fun but Fair for everyone.
Lifeguard Services

Keeping you safe in the surf is our long-standing commitment. The Gold Coast City Council employs the largest professional Lifeguard Service in Australia, which is responsible for the surveillance of the region’s 60 kilometre coastal strip.

We employ Australia’s largest professional Lifeguard Service – 37 permanent staff and 120 seasonal staff – who patrol 26 beaches year round and 42 beaches during school holidays.

The service operates 24-four-wheel-drive vehicles, 8 jet skis, 7 Quad bikes and elevated surveillance towers. The Lifeguard Service was the first in Australia to adopt a formal surveillance tower plan along the coastal strip in 1989. Now we operate 39 specially designed towers, strategically placed and numbered to help keep you safe.

The Oceanway is a 36 kilometre network of pathways along beaches from the Gold Coast Seaway (The Spit) to the Point Danger Lighthouse (Coolangatta).

The pathways provide healthy and environmentally friendly ways for pedestrians and cyclists to explore the renowned beaches of the Gold Coast.

Parks and Gardens

Parks play a vital role in the life of Gold Coast residents and visitors. The City’s beaches, foreshores and protected hinterland area are a part of a park network that is unique.

Our parks provide opportunities for interacting with our families and friends and they also assist in developing a more active community.

Skate Parks and BMX Tracks

Gold Coast City has a number of skating facilities within its parks. These are ideal for skateboarders, in-line skaters, roller skaters & stunt bike enthusiasts.

Please remember to wear the appropriate safety gear and share these facilities with other users.

Suburb & Address
Arundel 156 Olsen Avenue, Arundel (Skate)
Ashmore Ashmore Village Park – 99 Currumburra Road, Ashmore (BMX only)
Beenleigh Doug Larsen Park – 33-35 Boundary Street, Beenleigh (BMX only)
Bethania Oppermann Park – 121 Federation Drive, Bethania (Skate)
Bilinga Betty Diamond Sports Complex – Boyd Street, Bilinga (Skate/BMX)
Coolangatta Goodwin Park – 2 Lanham Street, Coolangatta (Skate)
Coomera Viney Park – 2 Yaun Street, Coomera (Skate)
Edens Landing Chatfield Park – 20 Lindau Street, Edens Landing (Skate)
Elanora Elanora Oval – Park Court, Elanora (Skate)
Helensvale Discovery Park – 84 Discovery Drive, Helensvale (Skate)
Labrador 165 Musgrave Avenue, Labrador (Skate)
Miami Pizzey Park – 80 Pacific Avenue, Miami (Skate)
Molendinar Silver Bridle Park – 2 Nerang Road, Molendinar (Skate)
Mudgeeraba Firth Park – Somerset Drive Mudgeeraba (Skate)
Nerang Arthur Earle Park – Nerang Connection Road, Nerang (Skate)
Pacific Pines Brockman Way Reserve – Cnr Brockman Way & Pitcairn Way, Pacific Pines (Skate)
Palm Beach Salk Oval – 16 Thrower Drive, Palm Beach (Skate)
Runaway Bay Runaway Bay Sports Complex – Oxley Drive, Runaway Bay (Skate)
Varsity Lakes Janette Green Park – 1 Cassia Drive, Varsity Lakes (Skate)
Windaroo 49 Kaiser Drive, Windaroo (Skate)

Swimming Enclosures

The Gold Coast City Council has developed a network of enclosed swimming areas throughout the City to supplement the open beaches. The areas are popular with children and less confident or less mobile swimmers.

Most sheltered swimming enclosures are accompanied by nearby playground, barbeque and shopping facilities with the added safety of lifeguard patrols during holiday periods. Residents and visitors are reminded to supervise children at all times. For further information about swimming areas phone (07) 5581 6153.

Southport Swimming Enclosure
Located in the Broadwater opposite Australia Fair, the lagoon is patrolled by council lifeguards from 8.30 am to 4.30 pm during September and school holidays and every weekend in summer. Permanent beach umbrellas and barbeques are provided as well as children’s playground and toilets.

Broadwater Parklands Wet Play area
Young children love Council’s first wet play area at the Broadwater Event Parklands in Southport (opposite Australia Fair). The park is designed around the theme of Southport’s culture and environment with cool water fountains and vibrant marine-themed equipment. Barbecues, swimming enclosure, playgrounds and convenient parking available.

Harley Park Swimming Lagoon
Located on the Broadwater Foreshore near the corner of Broad Street and Marine Parade at Labrador. The enclosure is adjacent to the Charis Seafood Market and offers barbeque facilities nearby.

For those fishing enthusiasts, the area provides access to a boat ramp and fishing spots. Harley Park swimming Lagoon is flood-lit in the evenings for the convenience of patrons.

Paradise Point Swimming Enclosure
Located adjacent to the main shopping area at Paradise Point near the corner of Falkinder Avenue and the Esplanade. A large netted enclosure has been established on the foreshore just north of the Ephraim Island bridge. The enclosure is supervised during peak use periods such as holidays. Check with the City’s lifeguard service on tel: (07) 5581 6740 for details.

The adjacent park has:

barbeque facilities
toilet block
picnic shelters
bandstand regularly hosting entertainers
Adjacent to the swimming enclosure Council has constructed the Paradise Point Pier allowing people on houseboats, motor and sailing vessels to access the sheltered swimming enclosure and shops at Paradise Point.

This enclosure is flood-lit and provides locals and visitors with the opportunity to enjoy early evening swims in an enclosed environment.

Jacobs Well Swimming Enclosure
Jacobs Well Swimming Enclosure is located directly to the north of the Jacobs Well Air Sea Rescue off Jacobs Well Road. The enclosure consists of approximately 150m of netting suspended from floating pontoons. The enclosure has a formalised beach area and barbeque and picnic facilities have been provided in the adjacent park land.

Murlong Swimming Enclosure
The Murlong swimming enclosure has approximately 70m of beach where children can play in the sand or go for a swim in a netted enclosure. Installed within the beach are a number of shade structures to escape from the sun.

Evandale Swimming Lagoon
The Evandale swimming lagoon is located behind the Gold Coast City Council Chambers at Bundall Road. The lagoon offers a sheltered swimming environment with adjacent beach and recreational areas. Surrounding amenities include toilets and showers, picnic areas with barbeques and shaded seating.

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