Remember when footpaths were wide enough for two? Not anymore!

Residents have been left frustrated by a new development that has transformed a familiar walking path on Hedges Ave.

Locals say the recently erected brick fence has left little space for pedestrians, sparking questions about accessibility.

Video footage shared over the weekend was captioned ‘how is this legal?’.

The site, located on Hedges Ave in Mermaid Beach, has become a flashpoint after a luxury development expanded right to the property boundary. Councillor Nick Marshall revealed that a ‘large number of people…have contacted me regarding their concerns for accessibility’.

Despite community concern, Mr Marshall confirmed the builder and owners had acted within their rights, noting that the boundary line for the property is just 80cm off the road.

‘The previous property which was there had four parallel driveways and people just got accustomed to using it as a path,’ he added.

‘I feel desperately sorry for the community now we have a western path which is not suitable for wheelchairs or prams but also I feel sorry for the owners who are entitled to build a fence on their boundaries and haven’t done anything wrong by doing that.’

Acting Mayor Mark Hammel said council had inspected the site and found no wrongdoing, confirming the fence was built to the property boundary.

‘What this has really shown though is that we have a problem that is growing on a weekly basis on Hedges (Ave) and that is it’s getting loved to death,’ he said, describing the narrow roadway as the city’s most popular cycling and walking route.

A City of Gold Coast spokesperson confirmed the development had all necessary approvals and does not encroach on a public footpath.

Before the wall was constructed in July this year, the previous property layout had allowed more space for pedestrians, as seen in images from 2020.

Mr Marshall said the broader Hedges Ave issue related to plans to extend the controversial Oceanway project along the water side of the houses, noting the limited road reserve as a reason for the development.

‘I hear people’s views and those who live on the beachfront don’t want people walking in front of their houses but right now, for the safety of everyone as our population grows, we cannot make this road any wider,’ he said.

Mr Hammel added that upgrades to Hedges Ave would follow any approval of the Oceanway project, emphasising that both projects need to be completed.

Have you ever navigated a footpath that suddenly felt too narrow for safety—how would you balance property rights with community access?