The Government needs to think NightQuarter future after petition lodged

The State Government is being urged to rethink its strategy regarding the NightQuarter music venue after a petition shows just how much support it has.

NightQuarter owners Michelle Christoe and Ian Van Der Woude. Picture Mike Batterham.

THE Palaszczuk Government is being asked to have rethink about locating NightQuarter to the health and knowledge precinct at Parklands.

This follows Bonney MP Sam Connor overnight tabling in State Parliament a Save NightQuarter petition started by Coast resident Robert McKenna which was signed 18,906 people.

“Since opening in 2015 it (NightQuarter) has given thousands of locals a festival every weekend with food, drinks, markets, entertainment and one of the largest live music spaces on the Gold Coast,” Mr O’Connor told Parliament.

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Bonney MP Sam O'Connor at State Parliament with a petition supporting NightQuarter.

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“That meant it could handle artists who otherwise would have likely skipped coming to the Gold Coast. I was a regular there and I have great memories of seeing Flight Facilities, Amy Shark, Baker Boy, The Cat Empire and, most recently, the final evening with UB40.”

Mr O’Connor first put up the solution of NightQuarter relocating to near the old Commonwealth Games athletes’ village after being forced earlier this month to leave Helensvale site due to high rents.

The State-owned Queensland Investment Corporation part owns NightQuarter’s original base next to Westfield Helensvale and, on the back of strong community support, the Government has been under pressure to help find a new location.

“The owners Michelle (Christoe and Ian (Van Der Woude) agree and they recently put a proposal to the government. Unfortunately, last week it was rejected by Economic Development Queensland,” Mr O’Connor told Parliament.

“I call on the minister to review this decision. Let us look at some of the facts. We have a state owned precinct of 9½ hectares available for commercial use.

“NightQuarter are keen and they say that the space could work. They would only be looking at taking up to half a hectare at most and there is already a suitable section that was used as a car park during the Commonwealth Games.

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NightQuarter on its final night.

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“JLL, the managers of the Smith Collective residential area in the precinct are very supportive of having NightQuarter move in next door. Up to 50 per cent is permitted for non-health and knowledge related use and out of the 15 lots up for rent only three have been used.”

Mr O’Connor said the land use setting out the rules for the area allowed for food premises to be located at ground level and for indoor entertainment.

“This is a chance to have a live entertainment venue within walking distance of light rail, buses, Griffith University and Australia’s largest build-to-rent community,” he said.

“The precinct used to be called Parklands and it was an entertainment area. Big Day Out was held there. With its loss surely there should be a component of that within it, even if it is just in the short term while it is being fully developed.”

Mr O’Connor said he supported the precinct’s aims to support employment in innovation and health.

“But until it is realised NightQuarter should be allowed to make use of such a small amount of space. It would even bring in some rent. If a larger and more permanent tenant appears then they should be allowed to use that space,” he said.

Mr O’Connor said the government had an opportunity to support a “local icon”.

“If not, every time my residents drive past that empty site they will be reminded that the state government either does not care or is too arrogant to do the right thing and try everything possible to keep a community icon alive,” he said.