The Nerang River is a perennial river in South East Queensland, Australia. Its catchment lies within the Gold Coast local government area and covers an area of . In the river's lower catchment, multi-branched canal developments and a number of artificial tidal and freshwater lake systems have influenced and altered large aras of the floodplain. These canal developments provide a range of opportunities for many residents including boating and recreational fishing. The canals and lakes provide habitat to a range of aquatic, terrestrial and marine flora and fauna. The canal systems provide for drainage of stormwater and contribute to flood mitigation, but can periodically be subject to contamination via stormwater drainage. The main driving force for this movement is the northward drift of sand along the coast.

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Etymology

thumb|Canal at [[Bundall, Queensland|Bundall]]

thumb|Gold coast skyline view from Nerang River, Chevron Island.

thumb|Tidal limit of Nerang River at Weedons Crossing

The river was initially named the River Barrow by government surveyor Robert Dixon when he charted the Gold Coast in 1840, after Sir John Barrow, Secretary of the Admiralty. The surveyor general Thomas Mitchell later changed many places to Aboriginal names, and this included giving the Nerang River its present name. Neerang or neerung are Yugambeh words meaning "little shark" or "shovel-nosed shark".

Recreation

Surfers Riverwalk

thumb|The Nerang River (right of image) and canals|alt=

thumb|upright|Part of the lower Nerang River

The City of Gold Coast council's "Surfers Riverwalk" coastal pathway links Sundale Bridge, Macintosh Island, Budd's Beach, Surfers Central Riverwalk, Cascade Gardens, the Gold Coast Convention & Exhibition Centre, Casino Island and Pacific Fair shopping centre.

Boat ramps

Boat ramps that are open to the public are located at Waterways Drive at Main Beach, Budds Beach, Evandale, on the Isle of Capri, TE Peters Drive at Broadbeach Waters (Convention Centre), Carrara Road, Carrara, and at the Nerang River Parklands.

Nerang Riverkeepers Group

Established in 2000, under the Beaches to Bushland Volunteer restoration program, the group works to restore local endemic species along the Nerang River. A major ongoing project is control of the invasive cats claw creeper, registered as a Weed of National Significance. Cat’s claw creeper was introduced to Australia. It is native to Central and South America and the West Indies. It was first reported as naturalised in the 1950s. The seeds spread by wind or water. A woody vine, it invades warm native forests killing native trees and undergrowth. If cut down it can regrow from persistent underground tubers.

See also

References

  • The History of the Gold Coast at reflections.com.au