Gold Coast Council Election 2020: Division 10 candidate Seema Chauhan’s plan to showcase city

A Gold Coast election candidate has revealed her plan to use international film industries to boost the city’s profile.

THE international film industry must be used to “showcase” the Gold Coast, a new council candidate says.

Seema Chauhan, who has worked with Bollywood production houses, wants the Glitter Strip to diversify the way it promotes itself as a tourism destination.
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The Broadbeach migration agent, who is contesting Division 10 at next month’s election says the coronavirus crisis has opened the door to the city trying different ways of spruiking itself to the world.

And that means ramping up incentives to bring film productions to the Coast.

“We’ve got beautiful pristine beaches, beautiful hinterland we can showcase through influencers from different parts of the world,” she said.

Pictured at Broadbeach Division 10 candidate Seema Chauhan wants to see the Gold Coast use international film industries to boost its profile. Pic Mike Batterham

“As times are changing we need to change as well. Film actors, basic social influencers, or looking for production houses (are some ways).

“Involving production houses at initial levels of production so when they come to shoot they showcase the Gold Coast as the Gold Coast.

“And that can work to market the Gold Coast as a tourism destination.

“When celebrities travel there’s a huge following, and people look at that location to travel to next time.”
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Division 10 covers Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Main Beach and parts of Bundall.

Ms Chauhan first visited the Gold Coast on holiday as an international student from India in 1998 and “fell in love”.

She moved here permanently in 1999 to study at Griffith and work in a Tedder Ave cafe, and has since worked with Bollywood production houses and in hospitality at Surfers Paradise’s Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort.
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Pictured at Broadbeach Division 10 candidate Seema Chauhan wants to see the Gold Coast use international film industries to boost its profile. Pic Mike Batterham

After having her twin girls in 2004 she studied migration law and now works as a migration agent in Broadbeach.

During the 2018 Commonwealth Games she worked as a Multicultural Community Ambassador, and said she made the decision to run for office after “various community work”.

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“People encouraged me that I should put my hand up,” she said, adding crime and empty storefronts were the main issues facing the division.

“It’s neighbourhood by neighbourhood, it’s not one solution for the entire division.

“There are issues about safety and security in Broadbeach, the issue of homelessness I see quite often and issues of security.

Division 10 election candidates during a breakfast at Skypoint on the Gold Coast. From L-R: MC Dean Gould and candidates Mike Winlaw, Darren Taylor, Seema Chauhan, Stephen Cornelius and Eddy Sarroff. Photo: Brianna Morris-Grant

“In Surfers there’s a lot of empty shops, a lot of it looks very rundown. It’s not a good face of the Gold Coast for the international tourists.

“It needs an update. I am aware Brisbane City Council has given small businesses incentives to fill empty shops, and Gold Coast can do something similar.

“Work in conjunction with the landlords as well to make sure the shopfronts are not looking like completely empty shops.”
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She is now running a self-funded campaign with some donations from the community, and said she believe money was the only factor in a successful bid.

“It does cost about $30,000 to run a successful campaign, but I’m not spending anywhere near that much,” she said.

“It’s a financial constraint but I am trying to reach as many people as I can.

“If it was all about money then all the people who had the money would be successful, so I’ve got to do within my budget the best I can.”

Mike Winlaw on the Gold Coast is one of the high-profile candidates. Picture: Tertius Pickard

Ms Chauhan joins high-profile candidates Surfers Paradise Alliance CEO Mike Winlaw, former councillor of 17 years Eddy Sarroff and current Division 10 councillor Paul Taylor’s son Darren Taylor in the race.

Former radio DJ Adrian Johnston and Gold Coast Open Water Swimming Club member Stephen Cornelius have also thrown their hat in the ring.

The Gold Coast City Council election will be held on March 28.