Spanning 1,400 square kilometres and extending from Beenleigh to Coolangatta and Darlington Rangers, the Gold Coast is an exciting city with amazing climate and stunning beaches. In doing this, however, different people, or different groups of people, often come to value places in different ways to one another (Cheng et al., 2003). Native vegetation stabilises coastal dunes. During this time, the Gold Coast transformed from small resort town to become an international tourist city (Dedekorkut-Howes & Bosman, 2015). (eds), Advancing Conflict Transformation. Published June 5, 2017. If youre after affordable Gold Coast accommodation thats close to the beach and all major attractions, your best bet is to book your accommodation in Surfers Paradise. At the time a Gold Coast channel nine TV news program (SOSA, c) conducted a poll with the question: Will the Beattie Government lose your vote over its push for a cruise ship terminal at The Spit? and the published result showed that 86.4 percent of respondents said YES 23In order to determine what place values, meanings and attachments users of the Spit held, we carried out 88 intercept surveys on the Spit between February and September 2007. Burton, P. (2012). This is a picture taken of the insides of a dead bird. Instead the augment put forward by the government was that the decision not to proceed was based on the cost to taxpayers; an economic, rationale not an environmental, nor a cultural, and certainly not a social or community rationale. Visitor Attitudes Toward Tourism Development and Product Integration in an Australian Urban-Rural Fringe, Journal of Travel Research, 42: 286-296. With no overriding jurisdiction covering the enforcement of planning law in coastal areas, many social, environmental and development conflicts arose. By July 2006 (just ten months into the feasibility studies) the SOSA had collected over 20,000 signatures as part of their petition to the state government to stop development on the Spit (SOSA d). 21The SOSA mounted their campaign based upon these five factors. Will we, one day, develop place-attachment for a cruise ship terminal or casino on the Spit? Employing over 3.2 million people, coastal tourism generates a total of 183 billion in gross value added and representing over one third of the maritime economy of the European Union. 10The failure, by planners and urban designers, to take into account local everyday meanings and values can result in the alienation of residential subjects from each other and from their own place (Cartier and Lew, 2005). By June 2013 the development project was in doubt, primarily on account of fiscal arrangements. Golf courses require an enormous amount of water every day and this can result in water scarcity. There are also many cases of erosion, whereby tourists may trek the same path or ski the same slope so frequently that it erodes the natural landscape. Land may also be cleared to obtain materials used to build tourism sites, such as wood. However, unlike other Australian cities, the City of Gold Coast emerged and grew as a tourist destination that reached a peak in the 1960s and continue to grow rapidly. It can put enormous pressure on an area and lead to impacts such as: soil erosion, increased pollution, discharges into the sea, natural habitat loss, increased pressure on endangered species and heightened vulnerability to forest fires. It often puts a strain on water resources, and it can force local populations to compete for the use of critical resources. If youve been here before, youll have to agree with me when I say that it is really a piece of heaven on Earth. Coral reefs are especially fragile marine ecosystems. To provide effective opposition to the state government and its plans for the Southport Spit a consortium of community groups joined to form the Save Our Spit Alliance (SOSA). *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Our city is naturally unique. This norm has been established over time and is embedded in the value of, and the attachment people have to, the place. Instead the augment put forward by the government was that the decision not to proceed was based on the cost to taxpayers; an economic, rationale not an environmental, nor a cultural, and certainly not a social or community rationale. Also, 77% agree that because of the growing tourism, new infrastructure were made while 72% agree that tourism resulted to additional interesting things to do. Aside from the money spent by tourists on establishments, the city also earns from diverse businesses that are being put up due to healthy Gold Coast tourism. The process of constructing place meanings, values and attachments is the result of a multitude of influences and factors (Dovey, 1999; Creswell, 2004; Massey, 1994; Carter, Dyer and Sharma, 2007; Vanclay, Higgins and Blackshaw, 2008). Management of the AONB is designed to minimise the negative impacts of visitor pressure. Yet, things were about to change. There are also a number of physical impacts that arise from the development of the tourism industry. According to a study conducted by Tourism and Events Queensland, the Gold Coast has come a long way as a holiday destination. We work to protect our dunes and promote healthy native vegetation by: Learn more about how you can care for our coastal environment through Our beaches. Caring for our dunes is a collaborative effort between Council and beach users. Dining experiences were also very important to visitors, especially when they occur in the natural environment. Despite multiple community values attached to the Southport Spit, it has nonetheless been dogged with development proposals since the early 1960s. A high demand is placed upon these resources to meet the high expectations tourists often have (proper heating, hot water, etc.). The area from shoreline to just beyond the wave breaker zone (sandy littoral zone) is our frontline against powerful wave action. The negative impact the development would have on existing tourism operators on the Spit, namely the dive industry, surfing industry, fishing industry, charter boats and kayaking. Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, first published 1932, Progress Publishers, Moscow. The Griffith Institute for Tourism undertook some research to better understand what Australians want when they consider a holiday on the Gold Coast. "The main problem in understanding environmental impacts of tourism is that few scientific tools exist to determine the more subtle changes. Today the city welcomes more than 12 million visitors annually (ABS, 2015). Australian Bureau of Statistics (2015). These changes also have more and more influenced tourists by impacting the quality of vacation experiences. Griffin, G. (2002). Luxury in all its States: Foundations, Dynamic and Plurality, Social Movements, Here and There; from the Past and the Present, Island Worlds: Spaces, Temporalities, Resources, Marine Resources and Coastal Development: Vulnerability, Management and Adaptation to Global Change, Tourism and Fight against Poverty: Theoretical Approach and Case Studies, Insularity and Tourism: Territorial Project Matter, Globalization: different faces, different perspectives, The Caribbean coast of Central America: fragmentation or regional integration, Tourism, culture(s) and Territorial Attractiveness, The changing world of coastal, island and tropical tourism, Cruise Tourism: Territorialisation, Construction and Development Issues, Islands in crisis: Haiti, Jamaica, France's overseas, Marine Resources: Current Situations, Usages and Management, Tourism in Latin America: Development Challenges and Perspectives, Spaces and Protected Areas: Integrative Management and Participatory governance, Small Island Territories and Sustainable Development, Tourism in the Tropical and Subtropical Islands and Coastlines: Places Usages and Development Issues, Migrations, Mobilities and Caribbean Identical Constructions, Micro-Insularity and Marine Environments Degradation: Example of the Caribbean, Empreintes de l'esclavage dans la Carabe, criture hors-pair d'Andr et de Simone Schwarz-Bart, Risques, rsilience et prennit des destinations touristiques. As a transformational event, GC2018 presents a unique opportunity to demonstrate leadership in sustainability by delivering to international standards of best practice, leaving positive economic, environmental, social and community legacies that last beyond the Closing Ceremony. Gold Coast, Burchill Strategic Projects. Despite the fact that the project was eventually abandoned one year later at the favor of the new state election, ASF is still in the starting blocks to deliver mostly a casino under the official form of an integrated resort development. Implacing architecture into the practice of placemaking. Anchoring, scuba diving, yachting and cruising are some of the activities that can cause direct degradation of marine ecosystems such as coral reefs. 25The Southport Spit continues to ride a wave of development abuse. This included: Despite severe weather impacts in 2021-22, City coastal management projects continue to work towards: Download the Beach Health Report map(PDF,2MB). The city is renowned for its natural environment, with 57 kilometres of coastal strip with pristine beaches and unique hinterland landscapes featuring several national parks. As I have articulated throughout this post, there are a range of environmental impacts that result from tourism. By making a booking and paying a deposit, you agree to abide by and comply with our Terms and Conditions as they stand now and as they may be changed from time to time. George, J., chair (2009). The battle between old and new players and their place-making practices is ongoing. Following large storm events, beach crews clean up large debris such as logs and hazardous materials. Dekker, A., Goverde, H., Makowski, T. and Ptaszynska-Woloczkowicz, M. (1992). Did you find this article helpful? (2008). New players and new ideas are likely to result in proposals for the development of the Spit environs time and time again in the future. 5This article shows how the evolution and resolution of development conflicts on the citys protected coastal strip (the Spit) are symptomatic of the evolution of place values and how, this informs a shift towards better coastal protection. While we acknowledge that survey data is problematic (Hay, 2000; Law, 2006) nonetheless the data collected offers some important insights into the meanings and value the Spit had for many local users. Dunes buffer our coastline from the impacts of storms and erosion. The Council of the City of Gold Coast also revealed that 20% of the citys total earnings come from the tourism industry. The most important resort within the Gold Coast is Surfers Paradise, famous for its fabulous beaches and surfing. Whilst some are good, the majority unfortunately are bad. This damages the flora and fauna in the area and can cause serious damage to coral reefs. Anderson, B. Marina Destinations: Innovation & Lifestyle. One thing that did emerge from the 1998 Gold Coast Harbour Study was that the Gold Coast City Council agreed that no development (private or commercial) would occur on the remnant of public land at the northern end of the Southport Spit and that the open space character of the area would be retained and enhanced (Gold Coast City Council, 2003). Picturesque landscapes are often destroyed by tourism. By July 2006 (just ten months into the feasibility studies) the SOSA had collected over 20,000 signatures as part of their petition to the state government to stop development on the Spit (SOSA d). Despites this shift in national government approach to coastal management, conflicts still regularly make the headlines regarding the management and development of coastal areas in Australia. After the devastating fires of 2019 Binna Burra Lodge is back, giving Gold Coast eco-tourism a great reputation. Griffith University tourism lecturer Sarah Gardiner told ABC Radio Gold Coast many businesses were "living from grant to . We also have complementary plans and strategies to deliver a coordinated approach to coastal management. The Gold Coast is one of Australia's most iconic coastal cities. We have spectacular beaches, hinterland ranges, forests, and waterways. When it comes to increased regional profile, 77% agreed that Gold Coast tourism had helped in this aspect. In December 2005 the Queensland State Government created a Gold Coast Marine Development Project Board to act as the proponent for the Spit development. This paper goes some way to address this gap. In an effort to save the Spit from major development a second rally took place in November 2012 and studies indicated that the Spit environs have been identified as a key environmental asset worth more than $611 million for the city (Weston 2013). installing dune fencing and maintaining public access ways, running community dune planting and beach clean activities, using designated beach access ways and keeping off the dune vegetation, disposing of rubbish and green organics in the bins provided, reporting camping and vegetation vandalism as soon as possible. For instance, Dekker et al., (1992) recognise that conflict often arises due to the differing interests of the new, pro- development, growth-oriented players or stakeholders and the old players or local communities who value the urban environment in its current and historic context, and who seek to preserve these characteristics. However, if you want nothing but the best, you should seriously consider apartments at Chevron Renaissance. 2. Moore, C. (1990). Gordon Holden (2011) writes: While having a strong sense of place may be seen as a lower priority than safe drinking water or sewerage systems for the health of a city it is widely accepted that a holistic approach to city planning includes encouraging a recognisable sense of place. We are working to protect our environment, recognising the critical importance of healthy natural environments in shaping a strong and sustainable future. Place as an integrating concept in natural resource politics: Propositions for a social science research agenda. The area is situated on the east coast of Australia, in the State of Queensland, just south of the city of Brisbane. The result is a risky place that holds little meaning for local people and fails to capture and hold the interest of tourists. The top sex tourism countries in the world, 13 Social impacts of tourism + explanations + examples, 10 Economic impacts of tourism + explanations + examples, Why the environment is so important to tourism, Positive environmental impacts of tourism, Negative environmental impacts of tourism, Construction activities and infrastructure development, Deforestation and intensified or unsustainable use of land, Alteration of ecosystems by tourist activities, Environmental impacts of tourism: Conclusion, Environmental impacts of tourism reading list, The 3 types of travel andtourismorganisations, 150 types oftourism! The Gold Coast: context and value of place, 2. This is not surprising within the Australian national context as the federal government have historically left the responsibility of coastal zones to local government authorities to care for, manage and maintain. New players invariably bring with them new ideas, concepts, beliefs and place values. Other development proposals that did not get off the ground included an amusement oasis, a mini city comprising 8000 permanent residents and a golf course (Condon, 2006). Point proven I guess. Council accused of mass sell-off, News, Wednesday 09 October, pp7. It can put enormous pressure on an area and lead to impacts such as: soil erosion, increased pollution, discharges into the sea, natural habitat loss, increased pressure on endangered species and heightened vulnerability to forest fires. All decisions taken by the Government were to be, and in fact were, based upon the advice of the Board. Manage Settings and Stedman, R.C. What is now certain is that the constantly evolving urban landscape on the Gold Coast has come about through a pattern of conflict, change and adjustment to a new norm. This pattern is immersed within the history of Southport as discussed below and the Gold Coast as a whole (see for example Whelan, 2006). The Gold Coast in Australia is one of these coastal places, which developed through taking advantage of its environmental assets, such as direct access to the sea, a white sandy shoreline, an extensive and naturally protected broadwater and several large accessible rivers. The impact of tourism brings both positive and negative growth. Planning legislation in the City of Gold Coast has historically favoured development rather than environmental conservation and heritage preservation (Bosman et al., 2016). Stratford, E. (2009). The outcome of the community consultation process however produced instead a strong picture of peoples dissatisfactions (Whelan, 2006). Johannes Bjelke-Petersen: The Lord's Premier, St. Lucia, University of Queensland Press. Tourism is a . Longhurst, R. (1993). Currently, rainforest experiences in the Gold Coast hinterland are very limited, indicating a major development opportunity. ii. 14One place that epitomises the challenges regarding development conflicts and place value in the City of Gold Coast is the Southport Spit. It challenges destination Gold Coast to move from a past ad hoc approach . Cyclones, tsunamis and storm surges affect not just our coastal development and recreational amenity, but also the ecosystems of our coast. It is time to rethink what the Gold Coast offers and how it can maintain its position as a world class destination in a race of ever new compelling destinations around the world. While many other coastal cities relied on port facilities to develop commercial and naval activities, the City of Gold . Lynda Schneekloth and Robert Shibley (2000) suggest that [p]lace making is the way all of us as human beings transform the places in which we find ourselves into places in which we live. Those that did use the Spit regularly, as the surveys testify, perhaps took the Spit for granted or felt disempowered. Today, the Gold Coast is one of the most famous tourist cities in Australia and it accommodates more than ten million visitors annually.In the wider Australian context, 85% of the population lives within 50 km of the beach, evidencing popular lifestyle cultural preferences of many Australians. She said: it would be great if [the Spit] was less environmentally sensitive, if people had less emotional attachment to it that would make it a lot easier. (Courier Mail, 2006). However, transformation or rebranding does not come without asking some hard questions and exploring new territory. Our monthly newsletters are a great way to stay in touch with city news, events and business. This transformation, combined with an extraordinary increase in population (8,400 inhabitants in 1947; almost 70,000 in 1991 and over 555,000 in 2017, ABS, 2017) resulted in urban densification of the coastline, which became the hub for a range of services, tourist attractions and housing. The Concrete Corridor: Strategizing Impermanence in a Frontier City, Media International Australia / Cultural Policy, 112: 162-173. Sites such as Machu Pichu have been forced to introduce restrictions on tourist numbers to limit the damage caused. This holding pattern is perhaps the new norms. The Issue Paper and public consultation associated with it was essentially about the making of places; viable places that were valued by new and old players alike. 30If we analyze the history of the development of the Spit in relation to the conflicts cycle mentioned in the introduction, it appears that this site remains a major object of desire for any new players on the Gold Coast. Tourists on expedition frequently leave behind their rubbish, oxygen cylinders and even camping equipment. These restrictions were put in place to ensure the existing character and amenity of the Spit, as a place communities valued, was preserved and maintained. One of the major contributing factors in this decision-making process was the lack of national approach (TFG, 2002): the Gold Coast Spit clearly demonstrated the conflict embedded in development in coastal zones and, the local-centered approach without the consideration of any wider context in term of coastal management. Discover tips and programs that can help you live more sustainably. Potts, R., A. Dedekorkut, & C. Bosman (2013). Belsky (2003). That was a sad reality to see. Will this be the new norm, accepted and valued by local communities, the old players? We are working to protect our environment, recognising the critical importance of healthy natural environments in shaping a strong and sustainable future. A few months after a well-attended and enthusiastic protest, and in response to a continued barrage of criticism about the development proposal (see SOSA, a), the then Deputy Premier, Anna Bligh, herself a Gold Coaster by childhood experiences, summed up the situation. Condon, M. (2003). Artistic impression of the Cruise Ship Terminal, Credits: extracted from the Gold Coast Integrated Resort Master plan Report, p60. The beach is a large part of the Gold Coast way of life and is instrumental in shaping our city's culture and economy. (2008). minimize the negative impacts of tourism in the host community. Here at HRSP.com.au, we manage some of the finest, most luxurious but budget-friendly accommodation in Surfers Paradise best apartments, hotels and resorts. Cartier, C. and Lew, A. The Gold Coast in Australia is one of these coastal places, which developed through taking advantage of its environmental assets, such as direct access to the sea, a white sandy shoreline, an extensive and naturally protected broadwater and several large accessible rivers. 9Donning the social constructionist goggles allows us to observe the built and natural landscape as a social-spatial framework within which people, from different cultural, social and economic groups, interact and create a shared sense of place (Greider and Garkovich, 1994; Mangun et al., 2009). This was despite the existing framework that was established under the National Cooperative Approach to Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) and the Australias Oceans Policy. Positive environmental impacts can also be induced through the NEED for the environment. Forests often suffer negative impacts of tourism in the form of deforestation caused by fuel wood collection and land clearing. Tourists using the same trail over and over again trample the vegetation and soil, eventually causing damage that can lead to loss of biodiversity and other impacts. Carver and V. Ylli (2009). Tensions and differences in the cycle of conflict on the Southport Spit. The government perceived the Spit to be, and valued the site as, a space of economic opportunity. It reflected an optimistic period of policy development (Vince, 2008) that would culminate with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in 1999. This lifestyle and identity have been produced from and are synonymous with place features and characteristics of the Spit: undeveloped, natural beachside, free open and accessible public space. Habitats can be degraded by tourism leisure activities. During this time, the Gold Coast transformed from small resort town to become an international tourist city (Dedekorkut-Howes & Bosman, 2015). The Go Pro, for example, allows you to capture not just pictures but motions regardless of their speed, There are hundreds of different Surfers Paradise accommodation options to choose from in the form of hotels suites, apartments, and resorts. URL: http://journals.openedition.org/etudescaribeennes/10496; DOI: https://doi.org/10.4000/etudescaribeennes.10496, Griffith University, Associate Professor, k.dupre@griffith.edu.au, Griffith University, Associate Professor, c.bosman@griffith.edu.au, Creative Commons - Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International - CC BY-NC 4.0, https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/, Privacy Policy About Cookies Report a problem, OpenEdition Journals member Published with Lodel Administration only, You will be redirected to OpenEdition Search, Journal supported by the Institut des Sciences Humaines et Sociales (CNRS). Coastal Zone Management Handbook, CRC Press: 259. Stay at Towers of Chevron Renaissance from $150 pn! For example, Taylor (1967) assumes the conflict in South East Queensland arose from the Aborigines seeking to control European resources, to share in the superabundance of goods and stock that had suddenly descended upon them. Like all tourism destinations, visitor numbers to the Gold Coast change from one year to the next, although over a longer period of time the area has seen a steady increase in visitors and future projections are for visitor numbers to continue to grow. Posted by Sarina Castillo | The Waterways Authority were frequently involved in controversy over commercial development rights on public land in the city (Condon, 2006). Tourism can often not succeed without the environment due the fact that it relies on it (after all we cant go on a beach holiday without a beach or go skiing without a mountain, can we?). An analysis of the survey data indicated that 73 percent of the respondents had been visiting the Spit for three or more years, with 28 percent of respondents visiting the Spit for over 16 years. Bird often mistake floating plastic for fish and eat it. These old players include local communities and local organisations (SOSA and GECKO). Aujourdhui la ville de Gold Coast est lune des principales destinations touristiques australiennes et accueille plus de dix millions de visiteurs par an.En Australie, 85% de la population habite dans un rayon de 50km de la plage, avec les prfrences de style de vie qui y sont associes. There are many ways you can explore our environment check out Things to do on the Gold Coast for places to visit and enjoy. Implemented as part of Our Beaches Strategy, the dune restoration works program aims to: The program is delivered over 14 ocean beaches and 7 foreshore areas within The Broadwater. Given the population figures of the City and the number of dog owners, these beaches are highly valued by the users thereof. This corresponds to the activities of surfing, diving, fishing and dog walking; the four primary everyday activities that take place on the Spit. Key markets include China, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Europe, South East Asia, North America, and Gulf countries. In recent years the body of literature on the City of Gold Coast, Australia has grown substantially. Mayor Tate, backed by the newly elected Newman Liberal National Party State Government put out a call for expressions of interest to develop a range of tourist infrastructure including a casino, hotels and cruise ship terminal on the Spit (See SOSA, a). thesis, University of Queensland. Take a look at my posts on the social impacts of tourism and the economic impacts of tourism too! Yet by early 2014, the Newman State Government nominated the ASF China Consortium developer to build a cruise ship terminal in the vicinity of the Spit. , Chapter 6, URL: . Tourism has the potential to create beneficial effects on the environment by contributing to environmental protection and conservation. In one case a prominent Board member obtained 64 hectares on the western side of the Spit for tourism urbanisation (now the theme park Sea World). 16Development controversy on the Spit ended temporality in 1992 when a newly elected Labor State Government disbanded the Waterways Authority. It is important to note however, that the decision by the government not to proceed was taken at the height of a state government election campaign. Gold Coast Sun (2013). 6Like all cities in Australia, the City of Gold Coast was developed with the European colonisation of the country and the successive waves of migration. The Wider Caribbean Region, stretching from Florida to French Guiana, receives 63,000 port calls from ships each year, and they generate 82,000 tons of rubbish. (2008). This lifestyle and identity have been produced from and are synonymous with place features and characteristics of the Spit: undeveloped, natural beachside, free open and accessible public space. So, domestic tourism is the bread and butter of the industry. Our beautiful beaches are one of our most precious natural assets for both residents and visitors as well as a major natural economic asset. Making Sense of Place: Exploring concepts and expressions of place through different senses and lenses, Canberra, National Museum of Australia. These restrictions were put in place to ensure the existing character and amenity of the Spit, as a place communities valued, was preserved and maintained. For example, wildlife viewing can bring about stress for the animals and alter their natural behaviour when tourists come too close.

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