Gold Coast rejects Mermaid Waters petition against Barrier Reef Drive footpath

A petition seeking to overturn a proposed footpath on Barrier Reef Drive at Mermaid Waters has been refused, with the City of Gold Coast keeping the project on its long-term works list.

At the Transport and Infrastructure Committee meeting on 28 April, councillors did not support the petition calling for reconsideration of the footpath between Halborne Drive and Rio Vista Boulevard. The unconfirmed public minutes say the project remains in the city's 10-year capital investment program, subject to future budget consideration.

For nearby residents, the outcome means the footpath proposal has not been dropped, but nor has a construction date been locked in through this decision. Timing will depend on future budget decisions.

The same meeting also rejected a separate petition about Splice Street, Mermaid Waters, where residents had asked council to stop putting in a footpath. Councillors noted in that case that the footpath is already complete.

Elsewhere in the meeting, the committee backed parking restriction signage for the Mermaid Beach to Burleigh Heads Traffic Area ahead of Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 passenger services. Officers were directed to write to affected residents at least four weeks before signage is installed, outlining the changes and permit requirements.

The committee also noted Lime Network Pty Ltd as the successful tenderer for the new shared e-bike contract, with operations to commence on 1 July 2026, and endorsed permanent pedestrianisation of the Surfers Paradise Esplanade, subject to due diligence, approvals and capital works consideration.

Next steps on the Barrier Reef Drive matter are limited to notifying the lead petitioner of the decision. Any further progress on the footpath itself would come through future budget processes, rather than through the petition response.