Kurrawa beach bar trial: Shock twist in future of Gold Coast attraction

The beach bar trial was a major success on the Gold Coast last year and expected to return this summer. But now there's been a surprise development which has put its future in doubt. VOTE IN OUR POLL

THE future of the beach bar trial at Kurrawa is in doubt after the state government declared it no long supported it.

Resources Minister Scott Stewart has written to the Gold Coast City Council and outlined the State’s position, which was decided after lobbying from the Surfrider Foundation.

His letter comes just two months after a majority of city councillors gave the green light for the beach bar trial to continue for the next three years after the city along with the State Government combined to spend more than $1m on the event space for the Commonwealth Games.

The council says it has spent no ratepayer money on the beach bar trial other than officer’s time.

Mr Stewart told Surfrider Foundation: “Resources wrote to the Gold Coast City Council on 9 June 2022 advising that it would not be providing Owners Consent for the development application to extend the beach bar trial.

“Many years of consistent public advocacy from the Surfrider Foundation has allowed for the local community on the Gold Coast to clearly articulate its preference for beaches to remain as public assets.

“Clear signals from the local community about these issues greatly assist Resources in making decisions about the use of State Government land in the area.”

Government consent was not required for the previous trial which ran last summer.

However, Mayor Tom Tate remains “very optimistic’’ that the extended operation, which follows a shorter trial and needs a tick from the Government, will get the green light.

In pictures: Kurrawa Beach Club opening

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“I was delighted to see the State’s Reshaping Queensland’s Visitor Economy brochure specifically highlighted our recent beach bar trial as one of the products to be explored by government,’’ he said.

“I’m confident that once our officers have completed the Land Management Plan, a three-year trial will get approval at the state level.’’

Mr Tate said an investor building infrastructure would rightly want a three-year period.

“For now, we will complete the Land Management Plan and submit that, in time for a tender to go out with the full support of the state government,” he said.

The Surfrider Foundation had written to the Department asking if any “owner’s consent” was required to the lodgement of a development application for material change of use for a “beach club use”.

“It is our view that the proposal is in conflict with the Queensland Government’s Coastal Management Plan,” the group wrote.

A section of the Plan on Public Access and Enjoyment of the Coast seeks to avoid “creating exclusive private use of beaches”.

In a response from the Department in late June, an officer wrote that “owners consent” was required for the development application be properly made under the Planning Act.

The Surfrider Foundation later told the Minister: “The Kurrawa Beach Club is an exclusive use and for profit enterprise on the beach at Broadbeach. We understand council’s lodgement of a development application for assessment by council will require State owner’s consent.

“The Surfrider Foundation Australia is a registered not for profit organisation dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of Australia’s oceans, waves and beaches, for all people.

“We facilitate this mission through conservation, activism, research and education. The Gold Coast Branch of Surfrider Foundation has been actively involved in local coastal management issues for over 25 years.

“We believe that beaches should be accessible to everyone, and that public access must be retained and increased wherever such opportunities exist.

“Being able to access public places is something we take very seriously, and highlight the need to guarantee such access for future generations.”

The group outlined “significant concerns for the proposal” which involves an exclusive use area lease, at the cost of public access and use of the beach.

The proposal conflicted with the Queensland Government’s Coastal Management Plan which seeks to avoid “creating exclusive private use of beaches’”.

“Beaches are public assets, for the benefit of all Queenslanders, not just those that can afford it. In other countries, where beaches are privatised for the wealthy, it comes at a price of inequality.

“We do not want to go down the path of countries like Italy, where private beach clubs are the norm, and public access is restricted,” the Surfrider Foundation wrote.

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Originally published as Kurrawa beach bar trial: Shock twist in future of Gold Coast attraction