Qld’s political decision-makers stopping Gold Coast’s growth

The Gold Coast is a city with all the potential in the world but is missing the mark on so many levels – and the beach bars debate typifies the roadblocks, writes Peter Gleeson.

JAMAICA, Costa Rica, Miami, Puerto Rico, Phuket, Bali, Singapore, Italy, Barbados, the Cook Islands, Greece, Brazil, the British Virgin Islands, Israel, Mauritius, Malibu, Cannes, Cape Town … all seaside destinations in the business of competing for the international travel dollar.

Unlike the Gold Coast, they all have beach bars that are exquisite, tasteful, on point, complementing the golden sand and surf.

They have proven that done properly, beach bars can add so much to a day – or night – on the sand.

Opening of Cali Beach Club. Official opening by the Artesian Group’s Matt Keegan and Mayor Tom Tate unveiling the plaque then spraying champagne with the Cali Beach Girls. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

The mystique and beauty of a Gold Coast sunset, while taking in a few beers or wines would be a “must’’ on anybody’s calendar.

In fact, take Shalvata in Tel Aviv as an example of the sophistication and cool chic a nice beach bar can provide.

Dubbed Manhattan by the Med, it is CNN’s 15th best beach bar in the world, where locals and visitors party from April to October.

Cocktails, cool sounds and low-slung sofas have made this a nightspot of choice for the beautiful people of Israel.

A beach bar closer to home is the Rock Bar at Ayana resort, Bali, ranked the top beach bar in a CNN poll a few years ago.

Martinis, tapas and live music are popular on weekends. It is a magnet for tourists all over the world.

A large crowd of tourists, Indonesian and foreigners, enjoy the sunset at a beach bar on Kuta beach in Seminyak, Bali.

What these countries and cities also have in common are governments that understand the value of tourism to their economies.

Unlike the Palaszczuk Government, these are governments that give every possible inducement and encouragement to their international holiday destinations.

Rather than shut borders and impose draconian lockdowns at the drop of a hat, these countries and tourist spots are moving on with life.

The commercialisation of their beaches was not even a debate. It was a natural segue to ensure people enjoyed their time at the beach.

Not so in Queensland. Like so many good ideas, the party poopers known as the Greens are muscling in on any move by the Gold Coast City Council to open up the beaches to bars.

The council wanted to trial beach bars next year, to coincide with the return of international tourists. The way this government is going they’ll be lucky to have overseas tourists back by the 2032 Olympics.

Now the Left faction of the Labor Party are worried that setting up a few bars on the beach may anger their good friends, The Greens.

Of course, the Greens are a big part of Labor’s electoral dominance. Greens’ preferences often get the Labor Party over the line in a tight contest.

Keeping them happy is super important. My sense is that the Left faction of the Labor Party is as extreme as the Greens anyway.

They are ideological zealots and the sooner the Labor Party hive them off to become the Socialist Party, the better for everybody.

In other countries with beach bars, Greens are what they eat. They are acutely aware the visitor experience is at the heart of their tourism industry.

Queensland’s political decision-makers don’t have the foresight or courage to allow the serving of alcohol on our beaches. It’s that risk averse, ideologically warped view that will consign the Gold Coast to a city that promised so much, but is delivering so little. It’s almost as if the government is running “dead’’ on the Glitter Strip, a horse racing term meaning they are not even trying.

Surfers Paradise, put bluntly, is a disgrace. With parts of the Paradise Centre under reconstruction, it literally wouldn’t be out of place in a Beirut travel brochure. It lacks life, vibrancy and has become a caricature of itself – a seedy, unimpressive, tired carbuncle on the city landscape.

So at a time when the council is trying to come up with something new and innovative like beach bars, we’ve got a government desperate to keep the city stuck in a 1980s time warp.

And if you’re from Brisbane and you want to escape the city rat race and head to the Gold Coast for some sun and fun, expect a two-hour car commute. The M1 is officially a basket case.

The trip is now at least 90 minutes at any time of the day, and if you cop an “incident’’, add another hour.

The Palaszczuk Government solution is a thing called the Coomera Connector. I’ve studied the route a hundred times and I’m still none the wiser on where it will go, and how it will ease congestion.

Nevertheless, it’s due to be finished by 2026. That’s five more years of this traffic rubbish.

Except for the odd seat over the years, the Gold Coast votes for the Liberal Party – and it shows. Tequila sunrise, anybody?

Just don’t expect it anytime soon on a Gold Coast beach.

Originally published as Qld’s political decision-makers stopping Gold Coast’s growth