Swellnet Dispatch Survey: What is your beach worth? What about your surf break?

In: Swellnet Dispatch Press Release Thu 5th Jul '12

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What is your beach worth?
What about your surf break?

A team of researchers from Bond and Griffith Universities are trying to answer this question, but they need your help. They've developed an online survey to let you have your say in the management of the coast. Governments of all levels need information like this to help them make decisions about coastal planning, development applications and day-to-day management of these resources.

"We really don't have a lot of information about the economic importance of beaches and surfing in Australia. In a lot of cases, we don't even know how many people go to the beach, let alone how they get there, what activities they undertake, why they choose particular beaches, or what they would like to see improved. Surfers are particularly hard to survey, as they don't stand still and they spend most of their time in the water. This can mean that their views aren't reflected well in community surveys," said Senior Researcher Dave Anning from Bond University.

Case study areas include some of the most iconic surfing locations in Australia: Noosa , Angourie, Bells Beach and Margaret River, and also the famous beaches and breaks of the Gold Coast, but the research team would welcome responses from anywhere in Australia or overseas.

For more information about the project, visit this site. 
To take the survey (it doesn't take long!), click here.
There is also a discussion topic located in the Swellnet forum, where you can get involved in the discussion and ask questions of Dave Anning.

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