Before I start, may I ask one thing? Please share this, share it far and wide... it's important...
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| The Seaway, taken from a vantage point that may soon be inaccessable without a passport and boarding pass. Photo: Ryan Pearson |
Well?
I'm waiting?
Oh... you need an explanation first. Ok, if I must...
By Ryan Pearson
The Gold Coast Seaway, the Spit, and the Broadwater are in trouble. They are about to be changed forever, and our access to these precious areas is soon to become severely limited... if our new mayor Tom Tate has his way.
Do you use any of these areas? If so, I'm hoping to hear from you so please leave a comment below. I want to know how you use them, and what they mean to you. Do you walk your dog there? Do you fish? Do you jetski? Do you dive? Do you run a business reliant on these areas? Ultimately, I need to know, if you were unable to access the spit, the broadwater, or the seaway, what would it mean to you?
For those of you who haven't heard, Tom Tate has 'promised' to put in a cruise ship terminal at the end of the spit. The impacts of this should not be considered lightly, and I fear that the 'Broadwater Community Reference Group' is far from an accurate representation of our fine community. Do any of these people represent you and your use of the area?
The issues with building this terminal are numerous, and far outweigh the perceived benefits (which have proven minimal in other regions of the globe). I'll look at these issues in depth in later posts (here) but for now, I need your help, your passion, and your voice. So again, please share this, and comment below telling your story. I aim to build a picture of the real members of the community, and how the spit is actually utilised without the bias of big business with vested interests. It needn't be long if you don't have a way with words, a simple 'I love walking my dog at the spit' would be enough. But we need to make some noise! A group called SaveOurSpit have started to already so throw your support behind them and like the page to stay up to date with the latest news too.
One last thing. The Griffith Uni Dive Club is doing their part this Sunday (27th May 2012) by running an underwater clean-up dive and BBQ. If that sounds like your type of thing then feel free to come on down, help out, and have a chat.
And now I'll leave you with a selection of critters that call the seaway home, most of which can't defend themselves...
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| Anemone Hermit Crab. Photo: Ryan Pearson |
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| Common Sydney Octopus. Photo: Ryan Pearson |
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| Pygmy Scorpionfish. Photo: Ryan Pearson |
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| Southern Dumpling Squid. Photo: Ryan Pearson |
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| Nudibranch. Obscure Hypselodoris. Photo: Ryan Pearson |
11 comments:
I love diving, swimming and running at the Spit! Its the northern end of the Gold Coasts only open space area. For us locals, its our only "get away" from the buzz of surfers paradise.
The seaway is an amazing shore dive site - day or night - my fave as well as providing the Griffith Uni Dive Club with incredible weekly dives. The loss of this area would take away from our ultimate past time, our quiet place to get away from politicians!
The Gold Coast Broadwater is my favourite patch of underwater. I have been undertaking a survey of the nudibranchs of the SW wall and since 1 July 2011 have found with my Buddy Patrik over 80 different species - some of which have not been found in Australia before.
Pics can be seen here http://debastonunderwaterimages.smugmug.com/GoldCoastSeaway/Nudibranchs-Gold-Coast/22400920_45WHnr#!i=1790649557&k=b9P35Cr
A cruise terminal means we will lose our only shore dive within one hour of Brisbane along with the amazing sealife that has made this place its home.
I use the area for diving, swimming, exploring with my 6 yr old son and general leisure activities on the Weekend.....The loss of the dive site alone should stop this ship terminal from going ahead....It would be a horrible thing if we lost this important ecosystem, in which are a bountiful collection of species which many people don't know are there......
Thanks Ryan for this great collection of photos and comment...
The Seaway is an extraordinary tourism attraction which people enjoy and respect - without cost or damage to anyone. It is the ultimate in tourism - but more importantly, a place for locals to love and enjoy their city. Where else but the GC?
Then there's TOS which is passionately loved and respected by all our amazing surfers - and worth $20M in a conservative estimate (Lazarow, Griffith Uni Study 2008)...
Cruise ships are dirty, polluting things which bring 'cheap' tourists... and require massively expensive dredging on a continuous basis...
In fact it is difficult not to conclude that the people behind this push - are people who want the dredging above all else - then they want to trade building a cruddy terminal for land on The Spit for development exploitation.
That's what it's all about.
Me and my family use this most weekends to relax dive swim take my boat out the seaway is a marine superhighway witha large variety of sealife a lot are quite fragile but are thriving it connects the estuaries to the ocean it is very unique being so close to a large metro area with such an abundence of life the parkland and beach spit rock walls are used by thousands of people family's tourists and locals alike for free as they like at their leisure with out the permission of security it is our area and should be left that way there should be more areas like this not less this area is massive asset to gold coast as it is to get away from the fast pace of life of the city we do not need it closed off to the public for a boat terminal and continue dredge the seaway and destroy the Eco system please leave it alone for all to enjoy it the way it is
I dive on the Spit, I cycle to the Spit or just sit and enjoy the marvel of having such a beautiful unspoilt Public area so close. How is it that this can be taken away from us??? We are destroying the things that Tourists come to see.
Russell
I use the spit for boating, swimming, walking and relaxing on the beach watching all of the beautiful boats and jet ski's go by. I love the spit and it has long been one of my favourites parts of the Gold Coast and an important part of it's lifestyle.
My family and I have been boating, fishing, swimming and picnicing at the spit for 30 years. We go there at least once a fortnight. We were part of the last campaign to Save the Spit and we will be fighting again to keep it as an open space for use by the locals and tourists alike.
My dogs and I love going to the Spit! Especially on Sundays - Sundays at the Spit are doggy fun days! It's such a beautiful area and is utilised by so many people, from locals, to tourists to school students. A cruise ship terminal would destroy the area completely!!
I love The Spit. No cruise ship terminal!
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