Gold Coast Council Backs Snapper Rocks Night Surfing Trial
The Gold Coast City Council has backed a $100,000 plan to trial temporary floodlighting for night surfing at Snapper Rocks during the 2027 World Surf League championship tour event.
The proposed May speciality event would restrict night surfing to elite competitors rather than the general public. Council members advanced the concept to evaluate whether artificial lighting can help alleviate severe congestion at busy regional surf breaks, according to ABC News.
Municipal records show that the number of annual surf-craft riders on the Gold Coast surged from 1.1 million in 2015 to 3.2 million by 2025. The proposal is currently at a very early stage, which is really just a concept.
Marine experts and local councillors raised immediate safety warnings regarding the artificial lighting plan. Griffith University shark expert Vincent Raoult said the initiative risks attracting bull sharks, which are known to be around the Tweed River outflow next to Snapper Rocks and are active at night, particularly between 4pm and 10pm.
He said lights shining into the water bring up bait fish, and with the bait fish, sharks. Bond University associate professor of environmental science Daryl McPhee warned that artificial lighting could attract fish, squid and seabirds that are prey for tiger sharks, and told ABC News: One bite to an elite surfer really does risk surfing on the Gold Coast.
Councillor Gail O’Neill said precautions would be taken to make sure night surfing was safe, noting that with surfing and surf life-saving events, people are on jet skis making sure sharks aren’t in the area.
Surfing figures hold mixed views on expanding night operations. Andrew “Andy Mac” McKinnon, a local surfing identity who presides over the nonprofit committee dedicated to protecting the coastline, said night surfing at Snapper Rocks would be a great spectacle
for special events such as the WSL or the Olympics, calling the point break the ideal bay to light up
and one of the greatest surfing amphitheatres.
McKinnon is an accomplished surfer whose notable career features sessions alongside Coolangatta peers who transitioned into international icons, such as inaugural WSL world champion Peter “PT” Townend and fellow WSL titleholder Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew. The 73-year-old is no stranger to night surfing as a participant and organiser, having surfed under Hollywood-style floodlights at Hawaii’s famous Mākaha beach in 1971 and New Zealand’s Manu bay left handers in 1988.
Gordon said that, as a one-off spectacle
, night surfing seems a reasonable proposal, but questioned whether lights are needed: People night surf. That’s OK. But do you need lights to do it?
World Surf League president Andrew Stark outlined the organisation’s backing in a letter to the council, reported by ABC News, saying the initiative demonstrates innovation and reinforces the region’s status as a world-class surfing destination.
Formal authorization for the night-surfing test is still pending, as the WSL has not yet secured the necessary council permit to conduct the event at Snapper Rocks.
Disclaimer: The insights provided in this article are for informational and entertainment purposes only and do not constitute medical advice or sports betting recommendations.
