Council boosts security around Palm Beach reef plaque after protests

“I hope the vandals come tonight” - that’s the thinking which has Gold Coast City Council boosting security around a controversial new plaque.

GOLD Coast City Council posted security and installed CCTV to protect a plaque marking the awkward opening of the $18 million Palm Beach artificial reef.

At least one protester said he hoped the plaque would be vandalised while speaking to media at the much-maligned event on Saturday. A security guard patrolled the site yesterday.

A newly installed CCTV camera hangs over the plaque on Nineteenth Ave at Palm Beach. Picture: Jerad Williams

“For once, I hope the vandals come tonight and rub that name out,” the protester said, referring to Mayor Tom Tate.

The official opening had been scheduled for Monday, but Cr Tate shuffled the date at the last minute due to “security concerns”.

Veteran divisional councillor Daphne McDonald said she was given little notice and missed the event.

Protesters still showed up to rally against the “overdevelopment” of Palm Beach and the extension of the light rail.

Cr Tate was accompanied by a bodyguard on Saturday.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate would not elaborate on the “security concerns” which saw the official opening of the $18m Palm Beach Artificial Reef hastily rescheduled. Picture: Jerad Williams

At a press conference at council chambers yesterday, Cr Tate declined to say how much was being spent on security at the Nineteenth Ave plaque, or how long measures would be in place.

“They said on the day ‘we’re going to come back and vandalise it’. Don’t say it if you don’t mean it,” Cr Tate said.

He said there had been “security concerns” linked to protesters, but would not say whether he had received threats or believed his safety had been at risk.

“Yes, there’s a safety issue, but we don’t comment on specific threats on any individual because that inflames it.”

One side of the plaque at Palm Beach reads: “Dedicated by his worship the Mayor of the City of Gold Coast Cr Tom Tate”. Picture: Jerad Williams

The Mayor doubled down when asked about Cr McDonald taking to social media to complain.

“It’s disappointing that a councillor would play a political shot regarding this issue,” Cr Tate said, adding his “door’s always open”.

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Continuing, he said “(the) local councillor’s been objecting on this project”.

“Now the project’s finished it’s a big hoo-ha that she’s not there. So, go figure.”

Cr McDonald did not respond to a request to comment.

Divisional councillor Daphne McDonald took to Facebook after she was given an hour’s notice and missed the opening. Photo: Jerad Williams

Cr Tate said there was “no submission from Palm Beach area” about overdevelopment during a town planning public consultation period.

“The mantra from there was we intended to go upwards and not spread out, so that we keep 50 per cent of our city to be open space and green.

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“I govern for the majority of people on the Gold Coast and when we go out and we do consultation the overwhelming result comes in and that’s what I take my direction from, the people.”

Cr Tate said protesting, “whether it’s climate change or the like”, was a “fad” and anyone not aware of consultation periods “must live under a rock”.