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. 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. Kruger and S.E. Our monthly newsletters are a great way to stay in touch with city news, events and business. However it was not until 1997 that the Labor Government set up the Gold Coast Harbours Authority to take a more local approach to the management of the Broadwater and Spit environs. Using observed market expenditure to estimate the value of recreational surfing to the Gold Coast, Australia, Proceedings from the Queensland Coastal Conference. Dovey, K. (1999) Framing Places: Mediating Power in the Built Form, London, Routledge. Seventy-eight percent of visitors to the Gold Coast come from elsewhere in Australia. Tourism can create great pressure on local resources like energy, food, and other raw materials that may already be in short supply. Much of our coastline is highly urbanised. In many destinations they have organised operations for tasks such as cleaning the beach in order to keep the destination aesthetically pleasant and thus keep the tourists happy. ), opposed by the steady resistance of the old players (save our Spit!). We suggest that in this statement the Deputy Premier was casting local place attachment as an obstacle in the development process. As with most serious development conflicts, this remains unresolved, although it has taken on a very different form, moving from physical altercations into the political realm. 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. Bosman, C. and J. Strickland (2015). One study estimated that a single transatlantic return flight emits almost half the CO2 emissions produced by all other sources (lighting, heating, car use, etc.) Best recognises that the Yugambeh people, the traditional owners of much of South East Queensland, continue to fight a battle both social and environmental, to ensure that their cultural heritage is respected and not exploited (Best, 1994). The current dune works program systematically controls introduced plants and encourages native coastal species to cover the dunes. Holidaying on the Gold Coast, In C. Bosman, A. Dedekorkut-Howes and A. Leach (eds. Not surprisingly most respondents indicated that they spent over three hours at the Spit at any one time. Anderson, B. The casuarina forest. In this post, I will explain why the environmental impacts of tourism are an important consideration and what the commonly noted positive and negative environmental impacts of tourism are. Hay, I. The first step is supporting the Gold Coast tourism industry to develop risk management and continuity plans that will it through turbulent times ahead, whether caused by unexpected events like future pandemics or ongoing threats like climate change. 19To 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). Potts, R., A. Dedekorkut, & C. Bosman (2013). The Gold Coast: Australias playground?. (2011). The casuarina forest, Griffith Review 2 (Dreams of Land): 37-49. Set amongst the picturesque World Heritage Listed Lamington National Park, this hinterland retreat is perched in the hinterland 800 metres above sea level, making this dreamy location the ideal place to escape (and admire the views). Yung, L., W.A. (1994). These new players, not surprisingly, reinforce the cycle of development conflict on the Gold Coast. Marx, K. (1959). This declaration triggered State legislation that called for an Environmental Impact Study (EIS) which meant the Government had direct control over the way the EIS was developed, the criteria by which it was to be assessed and it enabled other legislation to be bypassed if necessary. Our city is naturally unique. Currently, rainforest experiences in the Gold Coast hinterland are very limited, indicating a major development opportunity. Dedekorkut-Howes, A. and C. Bosman (2015). It also causes distress to wildlife and can cause animals to alter their natural activity patterns. The Gold Coast Transformed, From Wilderness to Urban Ecosystem, CSIRO. Uncontrolled conventional tourism poses potential threats to many natural areas around the world. Economic and Philosophic Manuscripts of 1844, first published 1932, Progress Publishers, Moscow. The Council of the City of Gold Coast also revealed that 20% of the citys total earnings come from the tourism industry. Importantly, by declaring the project as a Significant Development the local planning Authority, The Gold Coast City Council, and significantly local communities (old players), were positioned as observers with no authority to input into the project other than decreed and regulated by the State Government (new player). Besides, with a population that could also triple in size over the holiday season in selected precincts, the city has historically been challenged by finding a balance between financial interests, community cohesion, and identity. Discover tips and programs that can help you live more sustainably. This was partly because, as Urry (1995) argues, planners, urban designers and developers (new players) often perceive place meaning in accordance with preconceived notions and predetermined outcomes. Learn more about our environment. The changing face of local government on the Gold Coast, In C. Bosman, A. Dedekorkut-Howes and A. Leach (eds. Donning 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, 2009). It takes our beach tractors about 10 days to sieve all sand, depending on tides. It reflected an optimistic period of policy development (Vince, 2008) that would culminate with the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act in 1999. Artistic impression of the Cruise Ship Terminal, Credits: extracted from the Gold Coast Integrated Resort Master plan Report, p60. Yet the Spit is also a well-known and targeted place of conflict with pro- and anti- development stakeholders vying for opposing outcomes for the place, and often running parallel debates to the national agenda. 16% of Queensland respondents rated tourism as affecting their personal quality of life 'positively (2)' or 'very positively (3)'. Wise, P. and S. Breen (2004). Forests often suffer negative impacts of tourism in the form of deforestation caused by fuel wood collection and land clearing. This was partly because, as Urry (1995) argues, planners, urban designers and developers (new players) often perceive place meaning in accordance with preconceived notions and predetermined outcomes. The area is situated on the east coast of Australia, in the State of Queensland, just south of the city of Brisbane. While many other coastal cities relied on port facilities to develop commercial and naval activities, the City of Gold . Gold Coast Sun (2013). 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. Discover tips and programs that can help you live more sustainably. This does not mean that one is more important, nor necessarily excludes, nor has to be dominant over the other. The Waterways Authority were frequently involved in controversy over commercial development rights on public land in the city (Condon, 2006). Dredge, D. (2011). Notwithstanding, the Gold Coast City Councils planning regulations, nor the lengths to which previous National Party Government officials had defended the Spit against development, nor the fact that the Government had specifically set up the Gold Coast Harbours Authority as a local approach to the management of the Broadwater and Spit environs, on 15 September 2005 the Queensland Labor Government announced its intention of developing an international cruise ship terminal and related services on this valued and valuable piece of public open space. Environmental aspects are little studied, with 1,500 publications in total. This is a picture taken of the insides of a dead bird. This corresponds to the activities of surfing, diving, fishing and dog walking; the four primary everyday activities that take place on the Spit. 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). Besides, with a population that could also triple in size over the holiday season in selected precincts, the city has historically been challenged by finding a balance between financial interests, community cohesion, and identity. There is, however, no overriding jurisdiction covering planning law enforcement in maritime areas and, this situation has led to many social and environmental conflicts. Importantly, the survey data indicated that the Spit environs were perceived as a safe and valuable community asset. The area at the end of Dune Street had a lot of informal paths used as shortcuts to the beach. Griffith University tourism lecturer Sarah Gardiner told ABC Radio Gold Coast many businesses were "living from grant to . Gordon Holden (2011) writes: One challenge for planners is to find the balance between fostering new development for a rapidly growing population and preserving the heritage and character of the existing urban realm. Local place meanings and values (of old players) are often subjugated and marginalised or erased. In recent years the body of literature on the City of Gold Coast, Australia has grown substantially. 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. 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. When it comes to increased regional profile, 77% agreed that Gold Coast tourism had helped in this aspect. Call us now at 07 5539 8553. Whilst some are good, the majority unfortunately are bad. With the reputation of the city as a symbol of excess, extravagance, tackiness, and placelessness (Weaver and Lawton, 2004) along with the pro-development attitude of the state government and the abundance of entrepreneurial initiatives (Dedekorkut-Howes and Bosman, 2015), it raises many questions about city governance (Dredge and Bosman, 2011; Wise, 2006), and its planning strategies and instruments (Dredge and Jamal, 2013; Griffin, 2006). In particular, potential visitors from other Australian cities seek the opportunity for activities where they can connect with each other (especially family and couples who are the primary markets for the Gold Coast). 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. 13The first major conflict in the now City of Gold Coast followed the arrival of European settlement in the region leading up to the mid-1820s. maintaining dunes with enough vegetation to enhance the buffer against erosion. (2005). The impacts intensify during extreme weather events. social and environmental dimensions to evolve new patterns of managing and growing tourism in a more systematic and dynamic way in this new century. 14One place that epitomises the challenges regarding development conflicts and place value in the City of Gold Coast is the Southport Spit. Griffin, G. (2002). The City of Gold Coast is a case in point and no more so than currently (2017) with proposals to build a cruise terminal or/and a casino, and high rise residential towers on its protected coastal strip (the Spit).This paper demonstrates how the evolution and resolution of development conflicts on the Spit (Gold Coast) are symptomatic of the evolution of place values and the national coastal management and how, this informs a shift towards coastal protection. To this end, it is interesting to note the emergence of arguments in the spit conflict, which are now giving more weight to coastal conservation which only tentatively existed existed ten years ago. One thing that did emerge from the data was that all respondents who indicated that they were unaware of the development proposals also indicated that they were against development on the Spit, but not necessarily opposed to the upgrade of facilities. Review of the Implementation of Oceans Policy, Hobart, TFG International. Longhurst, R. (1993). Taylor, J. Although one could argue that these circumstances might reflect as well the maturity of the national Australian Oceans Policy and a good diffusion among the public (hence increased awareness), Vince et al., (2015) have demonstrated that the policy did not lived up its promise as the major instrument driving oceans management in Australia, and that sector based management remains the main modus operandi. 11One challenge for planners is to find the balance between fostering new development for a rapidly growing population and preserving the heritage and character of the existing urban realm. This pattern is immersed within the history of Southport as discussed below and the Gold Coast as a whole (see for example Whelan, 2006). Currently, rainforest experiences in the Gold Coast hinterland are very limited, indicating a major development opportunity. Positive impacts of tourism "Interesting people from different cultures, more jobs are great for the area." Gold Coast resident, 2019 i.e. Since the 1950s the histories of the City of Gold Coast have shown little responsibility for the past and scant obligation to future generations. Greater extraction and transport of these resources exacerbates the physical impacts associated with their exploitation. Animals are often displaced when their homes are destroyed or when they are disturbed by noise. To heighten this inbred decision making process, the State Government called for expressions of interest from developers at the same time as it commissioned an EIS for the site (Bligh, 2005). Although there are not as many (far from it!) Other tourism related developments on the Spit were also approved during this time and were subsequently built, renovated and extended: an exclusive shopping precinct, a commercial fishing wharf (now also accommodates super yacht berths), an exclusive resort complex and an international hotel and apartment complex (Figure 4). Lazarow, N. and R. Tomlinson (2009). Vu cette attraction pour le littoral, on pourrait prsumer que lAustralie soit lavant-garde des dveloppements touristiques et de la protection de son littoral. Learn more about how we care for our coastline. , 1840-1860, B.A. The Southport Spit continues to ride a wave of development abuse. Our beautiful beaches are one of our most precious natural assets for both residents and visitors as well as a major natural economic asset. ), Off the Plan: The Urbanisation of the Gold Coast, CSIRO: 3144. It is ironic really, that tourism often destroys the very things that it relies on! Hundloe, T., B. McDougall and C. Page (2015). The image of the City of Gold Coast also poses questions regarding the value of place. Just take a look at the image below. Burchill, G. (2005). Not too long ago the island of Borocay in the Philippines was closed to tourists to allow time for it to recover from the negative environmental impacts that had resulted from large-scale tourism in recent years. Our coast provides significant economic, social and environmental benefits, making coastal management a serious and important issue for us all. For seven decades now, local communities have fought to keep The Spit for low rise, low impact, marine based and tourist activities. For instance, Dekker. 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. Solid waste and littering can degrade the physical appearance of the water and shoreline and cause the death of marine animals. The following are some of the tourism impacts which are most cited in the literature [3, 4, 9, 17, 20, 22]. URL:
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