Man Made Canals - Surfers Paradise

[jerry]

Canals in sunny Surfers Paradise, Queensland, Australia

worldwind://goto/world=Earth&lat=-28.03548&lon=153.42879&alt=10826&dir=0.3

More from 'Oz' later

Jerry

[Bernard Laguerre]

Jerry,

What are these canals made for ?

[withak]

I imagine that they are for transporting people and products from point A to point B, where points A and B are located on or near the canal.

[Bernard Laguerre]

Really ? That's funny ! I thought there were planes, for that.

[withak]

Originally posted by Bernard Laguerre@May 8 2005, 02:51 PM
Really ? That's funny ! I thought there were planes, for that.

Quoted post

It's hard to navigate a plane through a canal.

[Luke]

Originally posted by withak@May 8 2005, 08:41 PM
It's hard to navigate a plane through a canal.

Quoted post

Ha ha.. No we arent that primative in Australia that we need to transport food and goods along canals. We have cars and trucks for that. The canals are there to create nice waterfront living areas. Alot of the more expensive land is located around these canals.

[jerry]

Originally posted by Luke@May 10 2005, 12:44 AM
Ha ha.. No we arent that primative in Australia that we need to transport food and goods along canals. We have cars and trucks for that. The canals are there to create nice waterfront living areas. Alot of the more expensive land is located around these canals.

Quoted post

That is right guys.
This area is one of the most popular residential areas in Australia with water access to the Gold Coast with planning on the canals starting in early '70's - the location of the Aussie leg of the Indy circuit. With the climate and night life it beats all other venues 'hands down' - even Miami!!

Jerry

[djmorgan]

There is a much more practical reason for our canals and that is the surrounding areas needed to be 'filled' ie made higher to avoid potential flooding as the entire area is 'coastal' a cost effective way of doing this was to dig canals and use the spoil from the canals as fill for the residential land.

[Guest]

Is this where the Champcar race is held ?

[radhock]

Originally posted by djmorgan@May 11 2005, 04:21 PM
There is a much more practical reason for our canals and that is the surrounding areas needed to be 'filled' ie made higher to avoid potential flooding as the entire area is 'coastal' a cost effective way of doing this was to dig canals and use the spoil from the canals as fill for the residential land.

Quoted post

If only that was true... The early Surfers canals started in the 60s at latest, with the intention of prestige waterfront living with a driveway AND a boat mooring, vs one of the plebs with only a driveway. So. Driven solely by avarice and potentially higher real estate prices. Nothing to do with flooding.

If anything, the canals disrupt the natural stream flow to the coast and trap sediment that would otherwise go offshore. I wouldn't be surprised if they contribute to the beach erosion that is a problem along the Gold Coast, because of sediment not making it out to the coastal reworking zone.

Explanation for diatribe: I'm Perth now, but all family connections are between Tweed and Brisbane.