SandTunes Music Festival proposal causing concern for Gold Coast chamber of commerce

Plans for a two-day rock concert on a popular Gold Coast beach have been slammed by critics, with concerns the event isn’t family friendly and would harm local businesses.

PLANS for a two-day rock concert on Coolangatta Beach is anything but music to the ears of the local chamber of commerce.

The SandTunes Music Festival, planned for November 30 and December 1, is back on after the original event planned for last year was postponed.

Following concerns presented by the Greater Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce and Division 14 Councillor Gail O’Neill, plans for SandTunes last year were revised — it was brought back to one day and the crowd size estimates were reduced from 35,000 to 25,000.

However, newsletters distributed to local business have indicated that the festival would now be back to two days on the beach at Coolangatta.

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SandTunes promoters: Cross Promotions' Billy Cross, TEG Dainty president and CEO Paul Dainty and SandTunes production manager Colin Skals.

Chamber president Hilary Jacobs said there had been a number of meetings between representatives of promoter TEG Dainty, which had provided an outline of SandTunes, but there were still many questions which needed to be answered.

“We have had many businesses expressing their concerns about the event and the impact it would have at a very bust time of the year,” Ms Jacobs said.

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“A newsletter issued by the promoter has said it would ‘deliver significant economic benefit’ to the southern Gold Coast but there seems to be a lack of detail as to how this would happen.

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A music festival approved by the Gold Coast City Council at be held on Coolangatta Beach in December next year could see as many as 35,000 people pack the beach.

“Concerns raise by local businesses have included the length of time the event would impact on Coolangatta Beach, transport issues, the size of the crowd, the opportunity for businesses to engage patrons and accommodation.”

Ms Jacobs said the festival would take up a large area of Coolangatta Beach, stretching from the area in front of the Coolangatta Surf Life saving Club down to north of Greenmount Surf Life Saving Club.

“We have been told that organisers would need to start setting up from November 14 and then have until December 9 to dismantle the stages, of which there will be three — one at each end of the precinct and a smaller one in the middle,” she said.

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Marine Parade would be blocked off.

“It appears that they would want to block off Marine Parade and allow an express bus lane to cater for an estimated 120 buses bringing in patrons.

“Apparently, there would be park and ride stations at Tugun and Chinderah, and buses bringing people from the heavy rail station at Varsity Lakes directly to Coolangatta,” she said.

“We believe there will be no pass outs, which would exclude local businesses from capitalising on the crowd, although that may change.”

Given the time of the year, Ms Jacobs has serious reservations about accommodation which was usually pre-booked for that time of the year.

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Greenmount Beach. Picture: Istock

“I don’t know where they think people can stay locally as that is right at the start of the holiday period and people have already arranged accommodation,” she said.

“I am also concerned that this is a younger demographic — this isn’t a family-friendly event and that’s what we have been working hard to promote the southern Gold Coast as.

“We are all in favour of major events — Cooly Rocks On is a prime example of just how successful family-friendly events can be. I don’t think SandTunes fits that criteria.”

Division 14 Councillor Gail O’Neill voted against the festival when it came before council and said she found it “difficult to find any positives” about the event.

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“It comes at a time of year when we are entering our peak holiday period and to have 35,000 people ever day taking up one of our most appealing beaches on the southern Gold Coast doesn’t make sense,” Cr O’Neill said.

Cr O’Neill said she was in favour of concerts being held in the area but at time when they would bring people to stay at quieter times of the year.

“I could see some merit if it was at a slower time of the year but it’s also at the start of the NSW Schoolies, so we will be getting a young crowd which I don’t think will bring a lot of benefits to local businesses,” she said.

“I agree with the concerns being raised. The promoters and organisers still have a long way to go with a host of approvals,” Cr O’Neill said.

“In my opinion, they will have to get an ‘A’ on everything before the event goes ahead.”

The Sun contacted TEG Dainty for a response.