Residents ramp up protest to stop The Spit and Main Beach being trashed by concert goers
Angry residents want a cap on concert crowds and events at The Spit, higher leasing fees for promoters and a complete review on the eve of Saturday’s next big concert.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Angry residents want a cap on concert crowds and events at The Spit, higher leasing fees for promoters and a complete review on the eve of Saturday’s next big concert.
Spit stakeholders say secret closed door “emergency” talks have been held after the residents complained about traffic gridlock and hundreds of hire bikes being abandoned after 31,500 fans attended the Fred Again concert at Doug Jennings Park earlier this month.
The Bulletin has obtained a letter from the Main Beach Association (MBA) to the Gold Waterways Authority (GCWA), on the eve of Saturday’s Souled Gold Coast event, which set out a series of demands.
MBA leader Sue Donovan said residents wanted assurances after fans due to lack of toilets forced venues to close their doors at the most recent gig.
“The lack of toilet facilities en route to Doug Jennings Park resulted in disgusting scenes.
Patrons who were forced to walk great distances had no choice but to relieve themselves
in public,” she wrote.
“The Southport Yacht club were forced to close their doors to prevent hordes of
young women from using their toilets. Meanwhile some kind-hearted Main Beach residents allowed desperate young women to use their toilets. The Kiosk area became a de facto public toilet.”
The MBA has raised serious safety concerns about access, referring to the Sea World helicopter disaster and roads being blocked.
“Although GCWA has an Audit and Risk committee, its functions seem to be so vague as to be meaningless in terms of preparation for an emergency,” Ms Donovan said.
“Seaworld Drive is a narrow, dead end road, that cannot be easily evacuated. North of Sea World it becomes a single lane road.
“The difficulties first responders and emergency vehicles experienced when needing to access the site of the January 2023 helicopter collision and the huge delays for patrons needing to exit Sea World gave a clear warning of the folly of holding major events at The Spit.
“Although the new pontoon and jetty make it possible to evacuate a small number of
victims by water, there is no capacity to move large numbers should a major emergency
occur.
In its letter, MBA told GCWA bosses:
* Rent is capped at $7382 per day for lease of Doug Jennings Park plus some administration costs meaning an events costs can total as little as $52,000.
* Promoters could be pocketing up to $5 million.
* The Spit should not be a major event precinct, that there are serious public health and safety concerns including access during events.
* There is no economic benefit to the Coast, and businesses at the Seaway have to shut down.
* The short term numbers for event guests must be capped at 10,000.
* Doug Jennings Park is inaccessible for up to a month for event preparations yet Waterways policy is to have it open to the public.
* No more than 10 events a year should be allowed with fees similar to the bigger stadiums like Carrara and CBUS.
Ms Donovan said Main Beach and The Spit became a “virtual parking lot” during the most of the recent event.
“Between Smith Street and Seaworld Drive there was no evidence of any traffic management – or of marshalling of the crowds queuing outside Australia Fair in the hope of catching a bus,” she said.
“And if event patrons were fortunate enough to secure a place on a bus, they simply joined the huge traffic jam. Although a traffic management plan must have been signed off by City of Gold Coast and/or QPS, it was grossly inadequate.”
A GCWA spokesperson said The Spit Master Plan recognised Doug Jennings Park versatility to accommodate a wide range of activities, including large events.
“We assess applications for events proposed to be held at Doug Jennings Park on their individual merits, in-line with our Operational Policy for Trust Land,” the spokesperson said.
All applications must include traffic management plans, event management plans, and emergency evacuation plans.
The council reviewed and approved traffic management plans, the spokesperson added.
The GCWA expects Saturday’s event would host up to 15,000 people, being less than half that of Fred Again. Three other events with more than 10,000 attendees are planned in 2024.
“We will continue to work with the City of Gold Coast and event promoters to attract and deliver fantastic events for the Gold Coast.
“Doug Jennings Park is an important venue for outdoor events and forms part of a range of locations available for events here on the Gold Coast,” the spokesperson said.
Originally published as Residents ramp up protest to stop The Spit and Main Beach being trashed by concert goers
‘No apology’ for controversial development approvals
A defiant Meaghan Scanlon says she’s unapologetic for her controversial interventions into the Gold Coast housing market. FIND OUT WHY
Authorities quizzed on stiff penalties for crude vandals
Authorities have been pressed on what consequences await the vandals behind the shocking defacement of trees along Burleigh’s Oceanview track, which drew a larger-than-usual crowd on Sunday morning.