Introduction to Gold Coast, Australia

A lively, sun-drenched and welcoming city on Australia’s south-east coast, the Gold Coast is a tourist hotspot that offers bucketloads of sun, sea and sand while also standing in close proximity to many of the Queensland’s major sites of natural beauty.


The Gold Coast City's climate is sub-tropical with 287 days of sunshine annually and enjoys near perfect year round sunshine, housed along over 70 kilometres of pristine beaches and a thriving resort scene. With over 260km of navigable waterways (nine times more than Venice); a Regional Botanic Gardens and numerous parks; scores of major shopping centres and small boutiques as well as plenty of sightseeing opportunities, the Gold Coast offers a host options for every kind of holidaymaker.


There is also a fine collection of restaurants and cafes scattered around the Gold Coast, offering cuisine from around the world at a range of establishments to suit every taste and budget. Evening entertainment can be found at the city’s array of bars, clubs and theatres, as well as Conrad Jupiters Casino and several nearby theme parks. A large selection of wildlife, tropical rainforest's and awe-inspiring hinterland surround the Gold Coast City, with abundant wildlife and numerous bushwalks. Boasting a thriving and diverse city centre surrounded by miles of picturesque hinterland and glorious coastline, the Gold Coast provides a host of activities for every interest and all types of holidaymaker. 




Main Facts 


Geographical Location of the Gold Coast 


Gold Coast City is situated in the southeast corner of Queensland, to the south of Brisbane, the state capital. It is separated from Logan City, a suburban area of Brisbane by the Albert River. There the Gold Coast City stretches from Yatala and Russell Island to the border with New South Wales approximately 56km south, and extends west to the foothills of the Great Dividing Range in World Heritage listed Lamington National Park. To the west, the city is bordered by a part of the Great Dividing Range commonly referred to as the Gold Coast hinterland. A 206 km² section of the mountain range is protected by Lamington National Park and has been listed as a World Heritage area in recognition of its outstanding geological features and the high number of rare and threatened rainforest species.


Land/Sea Boundaries of the Gold Coast 


Gold Coast is situated in the southern part of Queensland, along a coastline framing the Pacific Ocean. It stretches form the southern end of Logan City to the southern part of Coolangatta, in New South Wales for about 60 km. The most important river in this region is the Nerang River, which is a very important source of trade as well as relaxation for the people of Gold Coast. The diversity of the geography of Gold Coast is exhibited by the Great Dividing Range, which is also known as the Gold Coast hinterland. The Lamington National Park, one of the World Heritage sites, envelopes roughly 206 square km² of the mountain.


Languages of the Gold Coast 


The spoken language is predominantly English and around 90% of Australians speak English. However, the Gold Coast is a multicultural area, so many other languages are also present to some degree; primarily Chinese, Greek, Italian and Vietnamese. 


Currency of the Gold Coast 


The currency in Gold Coast is the Australian Dollar. It is the only accepted currency in the city. 




History of Gold Coast, Australia



Captain James Cook became the first European to note the region when he sailed along the coast on May 16, 1770 in the HM Bark Endeavour. Many escaped convicts from the nearby Moreton Bay penal settlement hid in the surrounding area, the region remaining largely uninhabited by Europeans until 1823 when explorer John Oxley landed at Mermaid Beach, which was named after his boat, a cutter named Mermaid. The populace of the area was boosted as the hinterland's red cedar supply attracted large numbers of people to the area in the mid 1800s.


The western suburb of Nerang was surveyed and established as a base for the industry. Later in 1875, Southport was surveyed and established and quickly grew a reputation as a secluded holiday destination for the upper class Brisbane residents. In 1925, tourism to the area grew rapidly when Jim Cavill established the Surfers Paradise Hotel, which transformed to Circle on Cavill neighbouring with Towers of Chevron Renaissance shopping mall and resort apartment complex. The population grew steadily to support the tourism industry and by the 1940s, real estate speculators and journalists were referring to the area as the "Gold Coast." The true origin of the name is still debatable. The name "Gold Coast" was officially proclaimed in 1958 when the South Coast Town Council was renamed "Gold Coast Town Council".


During the 1970s, real-estate developers gained a dominant role in local politics, and high-rises began to dominate the area now known as Surfers Paradise and later in 1981 the airport was established. In 1994 the Gold Coast City Council and the Shire of Albert amalgamated to create new city boundaries under the administration of the City of Gold Coast Council. In recent years, the Gold Coast has continued to develop as one of the nation’s best tourist destinations and build upon its reputations as a holiday hotspot surrounded by a host of first-rate attractions, cultural landmarks and area of stunning natural beauty.

Costs in Gold Coast, Australia 


The Gold Coast has the same public holidays as the UK, with several local additions. Most public holidays become long weekends, and should a fixed-date holiday such as New Year’s Day fall on a weekend, the following Monday will usually be a holiday. Annual special events include:

Introduction Port of Eden

The Port of Eden is the southern most declared port in NSW and services the south coast of NSW, including the towns of Bega, Merimbula, Bombala and Cooma. The Port is home to one of the largest fishing fleets in NSW and also has significant capacity to service the needs of a variety of importers and exporters.


Woodchip export is currently the major trade for the port. In the financial year ended 30 June 2009, 908,382 mass tones were exported by South East Fibre Exports Pty Ltd to customers in Japan and Taiwan. This trade is supplemented by exports of softwood logs and general cargo from the Multi-Purpose Wharf. 


NSW Maritime is the manager of the Port of Eden and provides a Harbour Master, pilotage services, hydrographic surveys, management of wharves, port security functions and ongoing investment in infrastructure. 


To facilitate trade NSW Maritime has developed an 8 hectare cargo storage facility which was opened in 2006 and located adjacent to the Multi Purpose Wharf.
  

ALL PAKISTAN COASTS INTRODUCTION

Pakistan shares a 1,200 kilometres long coast line with the Arabian Sea - a mid sea which joins the the strategic oil line of Persian Gulf with the Indian Ocean. On it lie the Karachi Port which has been serving this part of the erstwhile Indian subcontinent and later Pakistan on its creation in 1947. However, owing to the growing needs of the country, there was a need to develop other smaller coastal ports into major cargo handling ports. Beside Karachi, Pasni, Jiwani, Gadani, Ormara and Gwadar are other ports which are being developed into world class ship handling centres. Of these Gwadar is the latest development, which is almost completed and recently in December 2008, it has started handling shipping operations with the arrival of three urea laded ships.Introduction




Karachi Port:




 Karachi Port is the hub of Pakistan's entire economic activities as 98 per cent of the entire foreign trade is conducted through this port. Read more about the history of Karachi Port (Wikipedia). As such Karachi Port is being modernized at a total cost of Rs. 5 billion including World Bank loan of US $ 91.4 million. The Government has increased emphasis on an early completion of the entire scheme. As a result the following projects have already become functional:-


OP-V:- OP-V has been constructed at a cost of Rs. 510 million with an annual handling capacity of 6 to 8 million tons liquid cargo. The project has been in operation since April, 1994.



Circular Road:- To solve the problem of traffic congestion around Port area and central city areas of Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, the Government has given go ahead signal for construction of a Circular Road comprising Southern By-pass, Jinnah Bridge (Phase-II) and Northern By-pass at an estimated cost of Rs. 1353 million. The first phase of the project has been completed in December, 1997.



Reconstruction/Rehabilitation of Berths No.5-10:- To enable Karachi Port to handle increasing volume of cargo, the Government has directed to reconstruct/rehabilitate the Berths No. 5-10 at an estimated cost of US $ 60 million within the next 2 years.



Container Terminals.- In order to modernize cargo handling at Karachi Port, the Government has directed KPT to set up another Container Terminal at West Wharf (Berths NO.22-24) through private sector at an estimated cost of US $ 75 million. 


Port Muhammad Bin Qasim




With the coming up of the Steel Mills near Karachi and to meet the increasing demand of coal, it was decided to construct a sea port some 35 kilometres west of Karachi. It was constructed in the late 1970s and named after the Muslim general Muhammad bin Qasim who captured the area around 712 A.D. The port was developed close to the Pakistan Steel Mills complex near the Indus River delta. Port Qasim is Pakistan's second busiest port, handling about 35% of the nation's cargo (17 million tons per annum). It is located in an old channel of the Indus River at a distance of 35 kilometres east of Karachi city centre. The total area of the port comprises 1,000 acres (4 km²) with an adjacent 11,000 acre (45 km²) industrial estate. The approach to the port is along a 45-kilometre long Navigation Channel which provides safe navigation for vessels up to 75,000 DWT. The geographic position of the Port places it in close proximity to major shipping routes. One of it's major advantages is the proximity to national transport facilities - 15 kilometres from the Pakistan National Highway, 14 kilometres from the National Railway network through six railway tracks located immediately behind the berths and 22 kilometres from Jinnah International Airport.


Gwadar Deep Sea Port:




 Gwadar was once a fishing village on the Arabian Sea coast in Balochistan province and some 72 kilometres from the Iranian border. It is situated about 400km from the Strait of Hormuz, a major conduit for global oil supplies. More than 13 million bbl/d of oil pass through the Strait. It is strategically located between three increasingly important regions: the oil-rich Middle East, heavily populated South Asia and the economically emerging and resource-laden region of Central Asia. The present town of Gwadar, Pakistan, lies on the Arabian Sea coast about 30 miles (48 km) to the east of Gwadar Bay. Gwadar's location and history have given it a unique blend of cultures. The Arabic influence upon Gwadar is strong as a consequence of the Omani era and the close proximity of other Arab-majority regions. The legacy of the Omani slave trade is observed in the population by the presence of residents which can trace their descent from the African slaves who were trafficked through the town (en route to destinations in the Muslim Far East. The area also has a remarkable religious diversity, being home to not only Sunni Muslims, but also to groups of Christians, Hindus, Parsis, and various minorities. 


Pakistan identified Gwadar as a port site in 1964. However, it was only in 2001 that significant steps were taken with the help of Chinese assistance in the construction and development of the deep-sea port. The total cost of the project is estimated at US$1.16 billion, of which China has contributed about $198 million for the first phase for construction of three multi-purpose ship berths. China has also invested another $200 million toward building a highway connecting Gwadar port with Karachi. 




Ormara


Ormara is a small port located on the Makran coastline along the Arabian Sea in Balochistan province of Pakistan. It is located 450 kilometres west of Karachi, and east of coastal village Pasni. Jinnah naval base of Pakistan Navy is also located at Ormara. Ormara also has a small airport for landing of short run aircraft like the Fokker. Ormara is an old coastal town. Its historical routes are linked with Alexander the Great, who stayed here with his army for a few days on his way back from Indus region after conquering the lands of Sindh, Panjab and the NWFP regions of modern day Pakistan which he joined to his expanding Hellenic empire, in 325-27 BC. One of his generals "Ormoz" died here and the present day Ormara was named after him. For a few centuries, Ormara remained a battle field between the Baloch Sardar (local feudal) and foreign aggressors. Before independence, it was part of the state of Las Bela and afterward it became part of Makran Division. Being an isolated town, it remained undeveloped, however with the naval presence around, life has taken a positive change for the locals with many local industries and the resultant increase in jobs available for the locals. It has a population of about forty thousand people and still offers a traditional look at how the ancients lived. Most residents make their livelihood from fishing; a few of them also work in Middle Eastern countries. Ormara has witnessed considerable growth in recent years especially with the foundation of the Makran coastal highway, which integrated the area more with the mainstream Pakistani economy and major urban centres allowing for easier transport of goods, commerce and people.


Pasni


Pasni is a medium-sized town and a fishing port in along the Makran coastline Balochistan, Pakistan. It is located about 300 km from Karachi. The town houses a modern fish harbour and Port of Pasni, with fishing being the main occupation of the town dwellers. Frozen catch is also sent to Turbat and Karachi for sale in the larger markets. A joint-user airfield is shared by Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Pakistan Navy and civil aviation. PAF as well as PN-Aviation operational facilities are housed nearby. Daily commercial flights link the town with Karachi. In 2008, the government approved the construction of Shadi Kaur storage dam near Pasni, which is expected to alleviate some of the power deficiency of the region. Administratively, Pasni is the headquarters of the Pasni sub-division of Gwadar district that includes Pasni and Ormara Tehsils (tehsil - county) as well as Astola Island which lies 40km ESE of Pasni, in the Arabian Sea. The city of Pasni is itself administratively subdivided into two Union Councils.


Jiwani




Jiwani - a small fishing harbour, holds strategic importance in the region, located immediately adjacent to the shipping lanes to and from the Persian Gulf. This is the main reason that the town hosts a small naval base and an airport with a 5,500-foot runway. Jiwani is located at the eastern end of Gwadar Bay, which is shared between Iran and Pakistan. The area around the bay includes an important mangrove forest extending across the international border, and is an important habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, especially the endangered Olive Ridley and Green Turtles. Being free from pollution, Jiwani is reminiscent of a South Sea island, with vast stretches of sandy beaches giving onto the clean, clear green waters of the Arabian Sea. For the same reason, Jiwani is rich in biodiversity. Recently, WWF-Pakistan established the Jiwani Conservation and Information Centre (JCIC). The aim is to contribute towards the conservation of biodiversity in the area, through information dissemination. 


With the extension of the Makran Coastal Highway from Gwadar, Jiwani is a place to be seen especially by those who are interested in observing history more closely. Jiwani has a small airport located 10 km away from the city centre. It is not a major airport of Pakistan but has weekly flights connecting it with Gwadar, Pasni and Karachi.


Jiwani has been used World War II as allied base and remains of same base are available. Visiting the barracks area of the base used during World War 2 reveals many handwritten small stories and name of Allied Pilots. There is another story linked to Jiwani and that is Queen Victoria planned to visit the area to watch sunset and a hut which is now known as "Victoria Hut" was built for this purpose. Whether Queen Victoria visited or not but the Victoria hut is still being maintained by Pakistan Coast Guards.

longest coast of pakistan

pakistan longest coastal area are balochitan
Longest Coastline Of Pakistan is Balochistan coastline which is 771 kms long while the total length of the coastal areas of Pakistan is about 1100 km. The coastal areas of Pakistan are in the province of Sindh and Balochistan. These coastal areas are on the shore of Arabian sea and it connects Pakistan with other countries of the world through a sea route. Gawadar and Karachi are two prominent ports on thesecoastal areas of Pakisan. The city of Gawadar is developing very sharply because of the seaport. Gwadar is a district along the sea in south of the Makran. The coastline of Gwadar District is about 600 Kilometers long. Gawadar port can become a trade hub for all the neighbouring land locked central Asian countries of Pakistan

climate of gawadar

Gwadar is at 0–300 meters above sea level, is dry arid hot. The oceanic influence keeps the temperature lower than that in the interior in summer and higher in winter. The mean temperature in the hottest month (June) remains between 31°C and 32°. The mean temperature in the coolest month (January) varies from 18°C to 19°C. The uniformity of temperature is a unique characteristic of the coastal region in Balochistan. Occasionally, winds moving down the Balochistan plateau bring brief cold spells, otherwise the winter is pleasant. In Gwadar, winter is shorter than summer. Although Gwadar is not a monsoon region it still receives light monsoon showers coming from Karachi. But in winter, Western Disturbance can cause heavy Showers. Annual rainfall is only 100mm (3 inches). In June 2010, Gwadar city was battered by Cyclone Phet with record-breaking rains of 372mm and winds up to 75 mph.

antroduction gwadar

Gwadar  is a developing port city in Balochistan, Pakistan, which is situated on the southwestern coast of Pakistan on the Arabian Sea with a population of approximately 50,000.
Gwadar is strategically located between three increasingly important regions: the oil-rich Middle East, heavily populated South Asia and the economically emerging and resource-laden region of Central Asia. Gwadar is the location of the Gwadar Port, a warm-water, deep sea port.

The Gwadar Port was built on a turnkey basis by China. It was inaugurated in the spring of 2007 by then Pakistani President General Pervez Musharraf. Gwadar Port is now being expanded into a deep sea port and naval base with Chinese technical and financial assistance. Gwadar Port became operational in 2008 with the first ship to dock bringing 52,000 tonnes of wheat from Canada. Pakistan's Minister of Ports and Shipping, Sardar Nabil Ahmed Khan Gabol, officially inaugurated the port on 21 December 2008.[2China has acknowledged that Gwadar’s strategic value is no less than that of the Karakoram Highway, which helped cement the China-Pakistan relationship. Beijing is also interested in turning it into an energy-transport hub by building an oil pipeline from Gwadar into China's Xinjiang region. The planned pipeline will carry crude oil sourced from Arab and African states. Such transport by pipeline will cut freight costs and also help insulate the Chinese imports from interdiction by hostile naval forces in case of any major war.

Commercially, it is hoped that the Gwadar Port would generate billions of dollars in revenues and create at least two million jobs.[3] In 2007, the government of Pakistan handed over port operations to PSA Singapore for 25 years, and gave it the status of a Tax Free Port for the following 40 years. The main investors in the project are the Pakistani Government and the People's Republic of China, making China's plan to be engaged in many places along oil and gas roads evident