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With the world's first ever surf management plan to be implemented on the Gold Coast next year, surfers are being urged to give their input in the management of the region's increasingly popular surf breaks.

With an estimated 2,000 new surfers taking to the Gold Coast surf each year, fines for 'surf rage', zoning local breaks according to difficulty and creating new surf spots with artificial reefs are under consideration as part of a world-first plan.

The plan is being driven by the Gold Coast Surf Council (GCSC) and is backed by the Gold Coast City Council. Governing bodies and institutions such as the Association of Surfing Professionals, National Surfing Reserves, Surfrider Foundation, and Surfing Queensland are already taking part in the Advisory Committee.

GCSC co-Chair Brad Farmer told the Gold Coast Bulletin that surfers "are becoming desperately concerned about managing increasing numbers in the water particularly at the southern points from Currumbin to Greenmount

“We think there is room for zonings ... according to levels of proficiency and according to the conditions of the surf.

“There has also been talk that the city can’t (handle) the large volumes of people who go surfing so we have to create more surfing breaks, like artificial reefs.”

Farmer said capping the numbers on surf breaks was not a popular notion among surfers and would likely not be considered, but “a line has to be drawn in the sand”.

He added “we are seeing too many people loving the Coast to death. They all have an entitlement ... but at some point it has to be managed.”

The GCSC's motto 'Your Surf Your Say' expresses a common goal, to identify surf amenity problems, and to educate government authorities on how to protect restore and enhance the quality of waves and beaches on the Gold Coast while ensuring a safe surfing environment for future generations.

A GSCS statement also explains "the problems around surfing in the Gold Coast are clear. 

"Overcrowding, loss of iconic surf breaks, jet skis and boats, kitesurfers, etiquette, cruise ship terminals, artificial reefs, sand pumping, and surf schools."

The Gold Coast Surf Management Plan is expected to take effect in 2015. Surfers and general public are invited to submit ideas and solutions.

To contribute or for more information go to www.surfcouncil.org 

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