Surfers Paradise development: Gold Coast Bulletin readers share their plans to save city’s party precinct

We asked, you delivered - Bulletin readers have weighed in on just how they would revamp the “rock bottom” Surfers Paradise party precinct. HEAR WHAT YOU HAD TO SAY

MORE greenery, fountains, and a fresh face for a dinky shopping centre - Gold Coast Bulletin readers have weighed in on a plan to revamp Surfers Paradise.

First-time Division 10 councillor Darren Taylor has announced he’s prepared to fight for the suburb’s future, revealing locals are devastated to see it a shadow of its past glory days.

We asked what you would do to revitalise the Glitter Strip - and you didn’t disappoint.

Many favoured a return to the old attractions and decor of yesteryear.

Facebook user Fiona Christensen wrote: “Big green walls, more trees, more gardens, more boutique cafes and shops.

“Less tourist oriented trashy shops.”

Others pushed a more “family friendly” approach to the party precinct.

“It needs to be lightened up, it’s so dark and cold,” wrote Jenny Black.

“There’s nothing family friendly about Surfers at all anymore.

“Bring back the carnival atmosphere at night with buskers, bring back the water fountain in the mall that used to spurt water at different times.

“Bring back colour, music, balloon men.”

Perhaps, as suggested by Melbourne reader Angel Rose, now is the best time to be looking at spruicing up the area.

“If you’re a local businessman I would be investing my money in rebuilding Surfers Paradise right now,” she wrote.

“Because you’re about to experience the biggest travel boom you have had in DECADES.

“With international borders closed Surfers Paradise will be flooded regardless.

“Clean up your act before some other businessmen from other states do!”

EARLIER:

CRUMBLING footpaths, empty blocks filled with debris, no-go areas guarded by wire fencing and beggars on the street … it’s not a description of London after the Blitz, it’s Surfers Paradise in 2020.

But just like England’s wartime leader Winston Churchill, new Division 10 councillor Darren Taylor is prepared to fight on the beaches and fight in the streets for the future of the heart of our city.

Cr Taylor, who also represents Broadbeach and Main Beach, says heartache is at the centre of fierce public criticism of Surfers, with locals devastated to see the iconic suburb they loved now a shadow of its past glory days.

And he says the secret to Surfers’ success is restoring pride in Paradise.

“We’ve reached rock bottom, we’re admitting there is a problem … now the only way is up,” says Darren, who fought a fierce political battle to take out the super-seat in March, defeating tough opposition from former councillor Eddy Sarroff, tourism identity Mike Winlaw and radio broadcaster Adrian Johnston.

“For 25 years we’ve really done nothing for Surfers, and you can see that. It’s not a matter of pointing the finger at who is at fault, it’s just that until we’re honest about how bad it is, we can’t fix the problems.

Hardly a soul in sight at the corner of Cavill Ave and Surfers Paradise Boulevard at about 8pm. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

“I’ve spent the first few months as the area councillor talking to the people in Surfers rather than the media - speaking to locals, visitors, businesses, and finding out what they want and what they need.

“It’s not pretty, but it’s not too late either.”

Cr Taylor says his plans go beyond a masterplan for the suburb, encompassing a larger economic development plan and a vision for the future of Surfers.

He says his solution includes short, medium and long-term projects, including hiring a ‘centre manager’ for the suburb.

WHAT’S REPLACING MELBA’S NIGHTCLUB

“It’s great to have plans and documents to create a plan, but what we really need is a long-term vision. What do we want Surfers to be? And I think we all agree we want it to be somewhere that locals want to go.

“We’ve spent too long focusing on visitors, but what about the people who live here?

“One of the first things I did as councillor was conduct a satisfaction survey about Surfers.

“It included the question, ‘Is Surfers Paradise a preferred destination if you have visitors?’

“The answer was pretty damning. Only 20 per cent said yes. So that means that not only are locals not going there, but they’re not even showing it to visitors.

“It’s great that other areas of the Coast are growing in popularity, but the fact that Surfers is not even making the cut shows how far it has slipped in our regard.

“Unfortunately, for locals, Surfers has become a dirty word.”

Surfers Paradise has become somewhere most locals avoid. Picture: Jerad Williams.

And in fact, “dirty” is the operative word regarding the suburb’s reputation.

Cr Taylor says one of his highest priority tasks is to clean up the streets of Surfers.

“Let me be clear about what ‘clean’ means,” he says.

“It means addressing safety issues, policing matters, ensuring that the heart of the city has a high level of cleanliness.

“It’s my job to work very closely with police and other community groups to make sure we do this, and that we do it right.

“This issue is non-negotiable.

COMMENT: WHY NOW IS THE TIME FOR MAJOR REVAMP OF SURFERS

“I’m prepared for the challenges. It’s not about just moving on people who are homeless but making sure they have somewhere else to go.

“It’s about making sure that when we offer much needed community assistance, whether free dinners or health services, that we’re careful about where we’re doing that. We need to have no-go zones.

“We can be absolutely caring and look after all our residents, including the homeless, but that doesn’t mean that we can’t keep the main precinct clean.

“And the homeless are just a small part. The real issue is those who use these streets to commit crimes and use drugs. They don’t deserve the title of ‘homeless’, they’re simply undesirables and they are not welcome.”

Councillor Darren Taylor is determined to see Surfers Paradise reborn.

Cr Taylor says as well as cleanliness, consistency is key in rebranding Surfers.

He says he has already been speaking to someone to take on the role of a sort of “centre manager” for the suburb, who would co-ordinate the presentation of the area’s businesses as well as address their problems.

“When we consider what are the aspirations of Surfers, when we think of a vision or a picture or a goal, we need our businesses on board — but that has been very difficult in the past.

“That’s the idea of having a centre manager, we need someone who is in charge and on the streets to sell Surfers. They are the person who is looking after the lighting, inspecting the footpath, knocking on shopfront doors to ensure their facilities are up to scratch.

“The slow decline of Surfers really started when we let all the T-shirt shops move in. Once we started selling to the tourists, not the locals, that’s when we lost our focus.

“We’ve become cheap. When you go to Melbourne you get a feel of culture, when you go to Europe you get a feel for its history, when you go to Surfers you feel like you’re in a bad souvenir shop.

“We need to bring back some class. That doesn’t mean five-star luxury shops — we need to keep our sense of fun, but it doesn’t have to be tacky.

GREEDY LANDLORDS SENDING SURFERS PARADISE BELLY-UP

“Look at Pacific Fair and the Star Casino. Both of those were getting tired and really losing the locals, but with a rebrand that was consistent, classy and fun, they’re now the hottest destinations for residents and visitors.

“We can do this, it just takes an investment of time and money, but it will pay dividends for Surfers and the whole city.”

Cr Taylor says his plans to reboot Surfers Paradise include short, medium and long-term projects.

He says the most immediate plans involved low-level activations and plenty of colour, especially green.

“Over the next two-three months we’ll be resurfacing Cavill Mall and planting more greenery throughout the suburb. We’re giving it a face lift as it feels a bit stark.

“We’re doing simple but effective things like making sure all the trees are consistent and getting new and better seating and street furniture, wherever we can we’re adding more colour to speak to the vibrancy and character of what Surfers and the Gold Coast is.

“We’re also planning some low-level activations. Not events or planned programming but just making sure on the streets of Surfers there is always something happening. Of course, Covid makes this harder but we’re ready to rise to the challenge.”

Among the ideas being considered is turning the Esplanade into a pedestrian-only area. Photo: Jono Searle.

In the longer term, Cr Taylor says he is considering more radical plans, including possibly turning the Esplanade into a pedestrian-only area.

He says he’s also focused on reactivating the riverfront, as well as the neighbouring suburb of Chevron Island.

“We really need to look at the big picture and think about what we need and what we don’t need. Do we need cars that separate the mall and businesses and pedestrian areas from the beach? Or could we do without it and have parklands flowing to the sand?

“I’m not ruling anything in or out but just putting it out there.

“I also want to see us make the most of our riverfront, it should be an area like South Bank, not a dead zone.

“I want to connect Chevron and HOTA to Surfers, it should be a whole cultural and entertainment precinct. Chevron is a hidden gem that we’ve forgotten, it’s time to give it a polish.”

NEW NIGHT-LIFE VENUES OPENING AT SURFERS PARADISE

One thing that will remain in Cr Taylor’s new suburb by the sea is the club district — although even that is set for a reimagining.

He says the elements that once defined Surfers can continue to be a part of its story, but it’s important for locals and businesses alike to start talking positively about their Paradise.

“Schoolies and nightclubs were part of our past, they’ll be part of our present once Covid is over and I have no doubt they’ll still be in our future,” he says.

“Surfers has always been a place for fun and a place to party.

“But we need to do that better. We need to clean up what is there and make sure that we have more than just a strip of clubs. I’d like to see the type of entertainment venues in Surfers change, already we’re seeing investors interested in coming in - I think there’s going to be some very positive news in that space.

“Instead of the old clubs we’ll be seeing outdoor bar/restaurants that are somewhere to have a meal but then become a place to kick on.

“Surfers got stuck in the dark ages, but now it’s time to evolve.

“People loved the Surfers of old, and we can rewrite that love story.

“I’ve spent a lot of time talking to this suburb’s residents and businesses and they feel their voice has been lost, I want to bring them back into the conversation

“It’s not just council or businesses or locals, it’s all of us together - we need to have a positive, united vision of Surfers.

“It’s time to talk up our town.”

In other words, when it comes to Surfers, it’s time to make love not war.