Surfers Paradise town square proposed for Forum Arcade site

A former council candidate has put forward a radical idea for a town square in Surfers Paradise. WHAT DO YOU THINK? VOTE IN OUR POLL

A former council candidate has floated a radical idea for a town square in Surfers Paradise.

Wayne Purcell, who scored 23.8 per cent of votes when he ran against Deputy Mayor Donna Gates for Division 3 in 2020, said council had a golden opportunity to create such a square by purchasing the run-down Forum Arcade on Orchid Ave.

The site is for sale through agents CBRE for $60m.

But while the site was expensive, Mr Purcell said it presented a “rare opportunity” to create a civic space in the heart of the Gold Coast.

“To buy The Forum Arcade would be a big outlay for council but I don’t think council can rely on The Esplanade and HOTA as the only decent public spaces for Surfers,” Mr Purcell said.

“Council have outlined in their Local Government Infrastructure Plan a civic centre of sorts earmarked for Cypress Gardens Car Park in 2034. But, I’m not sure that’s the best location for a town square.”

The Forum site in central Surfers Paradise is on the market.

Mr Purcell said while the purchase cost would be high, council was expected to earn more from the sale of the even larger Bruce Bishop car park site, also on the market.

“The loss of publicly-owned land, particularly one gifted to the City, is not something I generally would agree with. However, could we get a win here by using the proceeds from Bruce Bishop to buy The Forum Arcade and turn it into a green civic space,” Mr Purcell said.

“At around 5200 square metres, the land is around the same size as ANZAC Square in Brisbane. The land is ideally-located between Surfers Paradise Blvd and Orchid Ave.

“As a square, it would provide a welcome break among the high-rises of Chevron Renaissance, Circle on Cavill and the Hilton.”

Wayne Purcell. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr Purcell said Surfers Paradise was the “face” of the Gold Coast, so needed significant public investment.

“People have likened town squares to cities’ living rooms. Places to watch the world go by, to meet, to chat,” Mr Purcell said.

“We don’t have them on the Gold Coast. As we continue to see the high-rises built in places like Surfers, public spaces among them take on even greater importance.”

A Gold Coast Bulletin artist’s impression of how a town square might look at the Forum site in Surfers Paradise.

The suggestion received a positive response when suggested by Mr Purcell on social media, with some calling it a “great idea”.

“Brilliant idea,” Paul Pasin wrote. “This is definitely something that would be great for Surfers Paradise ... an absolutely perfectly positioned public space.”

Grant Hoskins said Surfers Paradise “desperately needs relief from the unrelenting built environment”.

“What is required is the acquisition of more open space,” he said.

Mr Purcell’s suggestion comes amid growing demand for better open spaces in Surfers Paradise.

A $40m revamp of the Paradise Centre received positive reviews when it opened in last month, while council is expected to release a new master plan by the end of the year.

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Originally published as Surfers Paradise town square proposed for Forum Arcade site