This paper describes the fulfillment of a design brief for a tidal exchange system for lakes within a golf course on the Queensland Gold Coast to maintain aesthetic appeal while retaining approximately constant water levels. Secondary objectives of minimal maintenance, yet ability of the system to support water based recreation were also defined.
To achieve the above, a simulation of potential lake layouts and their tidal hydraulics was achieved using ‘ESTRY', a hydrodynamic modelling program developed by Winders, Barlow and Morrison. Output from the model defined the necessary design criteria. This allowed significant cost savings in civil works to be achieved during construction and minimal ongoing maintenance costs in the developed golf course complex.
Confirmation of fulfillment of the design criteria has been provided by the satisfactory agreement between predicted model results and actual characteristics of the lakes and the results of a water quality monitoring program.
