Beach Use & Carrying Capacity on the Gold Coast
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Lemckert, Charles
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Cartwright, Nick
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Abstract
Over the years many studies have been completed on the carrying capacity of specific recreational activities. These studies generally focus on the factors and interactions that are limiting the growth of an area and what barriers need to be removed to allow for this growth. This study looks specifically at the perception of carrying capacity of Gold Coast beaches and the way in which they are used by tourists and locals.
For the purpose of this study the definition of Beach Carrying Capacity is the perceived number of people that can fit comfortably on a beach, including the surf zone, before adversely affecting an individual person’s beach recreation experience and/or the surrounding environment. Beach usage encompasses all activities participated along any adjacent infrastructure including parks and oceanway, sandy beach and surf zone areas including swimming, surfing, walking, sunbaking and picnicking.
During the research period a short questionnaire was produced and applied to a range of people along various Gold Coast beaches and within Griffith University. The questionnaire looked at what people used the beach for and how they perceived the crowding on the beaches. Results showed that the carrying capacity on Gold Coast beaches, by the survey respondents’ perceptions, has already been reached on some of the Gold Coast’s most popular beaches.
The study then looked at and compared the results from the Portugal study (da Silva, 2002) to those obtained on the Gold Coast. Results showed that the survey data collected from the two locations does not differ greatly. Perceptions of beach carrying capacity and the general activities people used the beach for were uniform in both study locations.
This study highlights the importance of beach monitoring as it allows us to determine what people are using the beach for and how they would like them to be used. The information obtained about how people are using the beaches will provide valuable data to coastal councils and coastal management authorities to help future beach planning and management.
Recommendations are made to enhance and continue future beach monitoring research with the use of current beach camera technology such as CoastalCOMS.
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Thesis (Masters)
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Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
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School of Engineering
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The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise.
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Subject
surf zone
beach recreation
beach monitoring
CoastalCOMS