FAQs

The Snapper Rocks to Rainbow Bay Foreshore Precinct Master Plan will guide future infrastructure, services and facilities for the area, while aiming to protect and enhance the natural environment. The plan will consider the growing population of the area, and provide solutions that will enhance, protect and improve the precinct, to ensure it’s a destination that locals and visitors can enjoy for years to come.

Community feedback told us your priorities were protecting the environment and the character of the foreshore, improving parking and safety, and providing better and more accessible spaces for people to relax and enjoy the outlook. We heard you. The updated master plan includes:

1. Car Parking – more spaces and more accessible

You told us: You wanted to be able to keep parking close to the beach and surf.

We did: The updated plan adds more parking close to the beach, increasing the total from 191 to 247 spaces — that’s 56 more car parks than there are today.

• New parking will be provided within the new ring Road, Apex Park, Marine Parade and Tweed Terrace.
• Accessible parking and drop-off areas will stay close to the beach.
• Snapper Rocks Road past the ring road will prioritise the safety and well-being of people over cars.

2. Retain the heritage feel of the Surf Club

You told us: The surf club is an icon of Snapper Rocks and Rainbow Bay, and both the club and the building should be retained.

We agree: The Rainbow Bay Surf Lifesaving Club deserves a home in Rainbow Bay that’s fit-for-purpose and gives the club room to grow in the future. We also value the desire to keep the same look and feel as the current building, that’s why the draft plan proposes a new shared facility for the Rainbow Bay Surf Club and Snapper Rocks Surfriders, that will be designed in consultation with the clubs, their members and the community. This will

• Secure the future of the surf club with a modern, fit-for-purpose facility.
• Provide the Snapper Rocks Surfriders with a permanent home.
• Increase the floorspace of the building, allowing room for both clubs to grow.
• Give direct beach access to surf club operations, increasing safety.
• Keep the club operating during construction.
• Make sure the building reflects the classic Queenslander look of the original building, preserving its character.
• Deliver improved public toilets for the community.

3. Snapper Rocks Road – a safer, surf-friendly ring road

You told us: You value pedestrian safety, but also want to check the surf from your car and for people with limited accessibility to view the ocean from their car.

We did: The updated plan includes a one-way ring road that keeps car access while improving safety for everyone. It features:

• A pull-in area for surf checks, drop-offs and ocean viewing.
• Safer separation between kids, beach visitors and vehicles.
• A wider pathway for pedestrians.
• Continued emergency vehicle access.
• Improved traffic flow for surf checks.

4. More green space and better beach access – a coastal gathering area

You told us: You wanted more open space to relax and enjoy the area with better pedestrian access near the beach.

We listened: The updated plan creates a larger, greener foreshore by repositioning the surf club and transforming part of Snapper Rocks Road. This means:

• Public open space grows from 7,505m² to 8,088m² (or 10,201m² including the Oceanway).
• An increase of usable greenspace and shaded areas.
• Direct access between the surf club and the beach, improving safety for pedestrians and surf club activities like Nippers.
• Better coastal views between Rainbow Bay and Snapper Rocks.
• A flexible foreshore for events, spectators and everyday visitors.
• Prioritised people-first movement across the precinct.

If the plan is endorsed, we will work with the community to design the features that will make up this space.

Both the Rainbow Bay Surf Life Saving Club and Snapper Rocks Surfriders have been closely involved throughout the planning process. We’ve worked with their committees from the start to understand their needs and aspirations.

Both groups support this plan and agree it’s the best way forward for their clubs and the precinct as a whole. 

We’re not at the detailed design stage yet - this will be developed in consultation with the Surf Club, Surfriders, local Councillor and the community. We do know that the community values the heritage and look of the existing club. Any new building will reflect the classic Queenslander architecture of the original, while also providing modern, safe and functional facilities.

Without a master plan, we risk future works occurring in a piecemeal way - for example, upgrades to seawalls, pathways or amenities being delivered separately without a cohesive vision. This increases the risk of ad-hoc development, and loss of the foreshore’s unique character. Having a plan in place ensures improvements are coordinated, protective of the environment, and aligned with community values.

Yes. One of the key benefits of building a new facility is that it allows the existing Surf Club to continue operating while the new building is constructed, minimising disruption for members, Nippers and the community.

The draft master plan focuses on enhancing the foreshore’s natural environment through erosion protection, new tree planting, improved landscaping and better separation of vehicles and pedestrians. These measures will protect dunes, reduce environmental pressure and preserve the area’s natural beauty for future generations.

This is one of the Gold Coast’s busiest and most iconic precincts, attracting over two million visits each year. With population growth and increasing tourism, this number is anticipated to rise to upwards of 3 million in the next 10 years. Without a plan, infrastructure will reach the end of its usable life, and the natural environment could suffer. The master plan ensures the precinct remains safe, accessible and vibrant into the future.

Since late 2024 we’ve been speaking with local residents, businesses, surfers, and community groups. Over 2600 people have completed surveys and hundreds more shared their views at foreshore pop-up kiosks. This feedback directly influenced the revised plan.  

To let us know how you feed about the draft master plan, you can:

• Complete the feedback form. There is an optional open comment section included if you would like to include specific feedback. 
• Email us at gchaveyoursay@goldcoast.qld.gov.au 
• Attend one of our pop-ups on the corner of Snapper Rocks Rd and Marine Parade:
  1. Thursday 11 September –  7am -10am
  2. Wednesday 17 September –  7am -10am
  3. Saturday 20 September – 7am- 10am
  4. Friday 27 September –  2pm - 5pm

Pending the results of this consultation, we’re aiming to seek Council endorsement of the plan later this year. If endorsed, the master plan will guide staged improvements in the area over the coming years.