MP Rob Molhoek hits back at Southport, Gold Coast attacks

It’s copped a bad rap for a while now, but Southport’s Member of Parliament dishes out the facts on the 10 billion dollars that’s been invested in Southport in just five years.

A mural on Brighton Parade, Southport, by artist Sophia Mary Mac @sophiamarymac commissioned by the Commonwealth Games Committee. Photograph by Callie Marshall

IF a picture paints a thousand words, “dead’’ and “unattractive’’ are not among all the words communicated by this new Brighton Parade mural.

That’s what Southport MP Rob Molhoek had to say yesterday as he fired back at claims made by a former mayor’s wife that the central suburb is “dead and unattractive”.

Mr Molhoek said the suburb widely considered by many to be the Central Business District was exactly that – and was continuing to progress as a vital component of the entire Gold Coast.

The street art of Southport by nationally acclaimed artist John Kaye, who recently partnered with Adidas for a line of street active wear. Picture Glenn Hampson

“I love the Southport of today as much as I ever did,” he said.

“The Southport of today is making a huge comeback and every week day almost 40,000 Gold Coaster turn up to work in my electorate.

“More than 70 per cent are employed full time and earn on average $7000 more a year than others citywide.”

The proudly Southport born and bred parliamentarian produced the figures in response to a Bulletin report yesterday that spoke of empty, boarded up shopfronts, loitering kids, crime and a resistance to change in Southport.

Southport residents are hitting back at claims southport is dead and unattractive this sign on Nerang St. says it all. Picture Glenn Hampson

Former mayor Denis O’Connell told of how in his early years, his parents could go for walks at night and never lock the back door – something that could not happen now.

His wife Lorraine O’Connell said Southport was dead and unattractive, and she did not enjoy her shopping trips anymore.

But Mr Molhoek, who was able to defend his suburb in that report, had another bite yesterday and highlighted the billions of dollars of investment.

WHY SOUTHPORT IS ‘BORING’

“In the last five years more than $10 billion has been invested,” he said.

“The new light rail, thousands of new apartments, home renovations, new hospitals and associated health services, the aquatic centre, Broadwater Parklands, the Games Village, hockey centre, TAFE, Meriton Sundale, road upgrades ($490m), Griffith University, the new boat ramp at Loder’s Creek, the Southport Courts and legal precinct, the Frizelle Group, Lynton’s, the Australia Fair redevelopment, HETC and Browns Colleges, Chinatown and more.

Southport is a major stop for the light rail, which while it was a massive investment for the suburb, cause financial strain for a lot of businesses during construction. Picture Glenn Hampson

“The vision for Southport is to be ‘CBD Gold Coast’, a centre for business, education, health and support services.

“We are an urban centre of renewal – not a tourism precinct, but a cool, casual, affordable place for retirees, families, couples and students to live away from the Glitter Strip.”

Over the past year the Bulletin has reported on a range of Southport’s developmental and commercial wins which have included:

* The former Gold Coast Hospital site which has been earmarked for a $550 million development labelled the “Queen Street Village”;

* The Brickworks on Ferry Road which sold for $137 million in November last year;

* The boutique Woodroffe Hotel, one street across from Scarborough St, in which all 103 rooms were booked up for the Commonwealth Games well before the structure was completed.

Southport’s blend of culture and city gives it a unique identity. Picture Glenn Hampson

While Mr Molhoek said he planned on Southport being a strong, functioning CBD, several hospitality businesses have been investing in food, beverage and leisure development.

They include three leading health food cafes, Cardamom Pod, Blendlove and Raw Espresso, with a combined social media presence of over 100,000 individuals.

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The owners of Cardamom Pod as well as Paper Cup Coffee, Wagyu Ya, Frigg Cafe, JFX, Not Tonight (currently undergoing expansion and refurbishment) and Mr PP’s Rooftop have all either expanded their Southport locations or added a Southport location due to commercial success.

Mr PP's Rooftop Bar on Nerang Street has been bringing a different crowd to Southport. Picture Mike Batterham

Nerang Street upgrades are due to start this year to address safety, aesthetics and amenities on the street that leads to the popular Broadwater Parklands.

Southport resident Ariana Margetts, who runs an online community page, said that like Mr Molhoek, she was sick of Southport “bashing”.

“This marks my eighth year on the Gold Coast, with the majority of it spent living on the southern Gold Coast,” she said.

“I never thought I would end up in Southport, but I’m so glad I did.

“It allowed me to enter the housing market at 22 years old and the community that is present in Southport changed my whole life for the better.

Ms Margetts said events like the packed Mayor's Christmas Carols at the Broadwater Parklands are often overlooked when people think of Southport. Picture: Jerad Williams

“There are always so many negative one liners thrown around about Southport — and I truly believe that these comments are from people who don’t live here, don’t work here, aren’t actively trying to improve the town, don’t benefit from the local gems and the community vibe that’s been strongly and steadily coming to light in the past year or so.

“That’s us, we see that stuff. We live it.”