The Gold Coast’s reputation as a world leader in coastal management is going from strength to strength as a result of recent national accolades and ongoing overseas interest in how the city manages and protects its beaches.
The achievements of the long-standing partnership between the Griffith Centre for Coastal Management(GCCM) and City of Gold Coast continue to attract both the attention of other cities looking at best practice, and recognition from the coastal science profession.
Following a double win at the 2015 Australian Coastal Awards, Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate visited the GCCM today to recognise the success of the partnership and highlightedhis commitment toinvestinga further $4.4 million to the Centre.
“These latest awards and positive attention that the city is getting is a huge endorsement of our investment and joint efforts in developing best practice, caring for our coastline and strengthening our coastal defences through our Ocean Beaches Strategy,” Cr Tatesaid.
“The real winners are Gold Coasters, who can be confident that we’re doing our best to protect and care for our beaches, and the 12 million visitors to our city who are able to enjoy our beaches because of the tireless efforts made by the City, our partners at Griffith and many people across our community, all year round.”
GCCM Director Professor Rodger Tomlinson said he was looking forward to showing the Mayor the Centre’s latest initiatives.
“Cr Tate has been a great supporter of our educational programs, so we particularly want to show him our advanced computer modelling work, which shows how coastal currents, wave action and sediment movement can impact the shoreline,” he said.
“The Centre provides important research and educational activities that are benefitting coastal communities, particularly on the Gold Coast.”
The GCCM has been in partnership with City of Gold Coast since 1999 and last year signed another five-year agreement to extend the arrangement.
Over recent months, the partners have received a best practice coastal research and development award from the Business/Higher Education Round Table, as well as the two Australian Coastal Awards, for the Centre’s high level of community engagement in coastal activities on the Gold Coast, and its contribution to coastal management science.