Southport Spit

The Southport Spit (also referred to as The Spit) lies opposite Southport to the north of Main Beach, Gold Coast. It is a permanent sand spit that separates the Southport Broadwater from the Pacific Ocean.

Today the Southport Spit is home to Sea World, Sea World Nara Resort, the Sheraton Mirage Resort and Spa, as well as Palazzo Versace. Adjacent to The Spit is the Gold Coast Sand Pumping Jetty, a popular destination for fishermen and part of the Gold Coast Seaway's Sand Bypassing System.

The Gold Coast Oceanway and the Federation Walk provide opportunities for pedestrians and cyclists to explore the Spit's environments.

Formation

As a product of longshore drift, its growth and establishment as a landform saw demand for private leasehold title of land, along with applications for dredging rights of mineral sands. The Spit was later stabilised in 1986 by the construction of the Gold Coast Seaway, thus preventing rivermount it from becoming a baymouth bar connecting to South Stradbroke Island. The Gold Coast Seaway was the first entrance in the world to include the construction and operation of a permanent sand bypassing system at the same time that the entrance was trained. The new entrance and sand bypassing system opened in 1986 and pumps about 500,000 cubic meters of sand from the spit to South Stradbroke Island each year.

Proposed development

There is a proposed marine development of the Southport Spit which includes the provision of recreational facilities for the...
Read More