List of new nightlife venues opening in Surfers Paradise
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A GOLD Coast MP has called on landlords to “bite the bullet” and ease rent demands to help struggling retailers and venues on the Glitter Strip.
Surfers Paradise business owners have vented this week, calling for the tourism hub to have a serious clean-up or revamp.
“Pedestrianising’’ Cavill Avenue, filling up empty and “derelict” shops, taxing landlords if shops are empty and giving Surfers a spring clean are among operator suggestions for action.
Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek said yesterday he did not “want to talk (Surfers) down”, but more needed to be on offer for businesses fighting to survive.
“Landlords have to bite the bullet in terms of rent expectations during the worst economic conditions for (almost) a century, since the Depression,” he said.
“That’s the only way you will get people to want to open a business in some of the more rundown tenancies.
Gold Coast businesses, residents speak up on how to ‘clean up’ Surfers Paradise
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“They will invest if they have some hope they won’t be gouged by landlords.”
The debate about the image and appeal of Surfers Paradise with locals has reignited after Bulletin columnist Ann Wason-Moore wrote about it being “outdated” and having “lost its edge”.
Mr Langbroek said Surfers was “still a place people want to come”.
“Young people want to come here. It’s got a great sense of positivity. It’s a great place to be and it’s the heart of the Gold Coast,” he said.
“Locals obstinately over time will say they moved to the Coast because they came to a holiday once in Surfers and then pride themselves on never coming to Surfers again.”
Some have said Surfers Paradise would benefit from an Insta-worthy iconic feature, but Mr Langbroek disagreed.
“We’ve already got one, the Surfers Paradise sign (on the foreshore),” he said.
“Since the merging of the alliances – Southern Gold Coast, Broadbeach Alliance and Surfers Paradise Alliance – we no longer have a ‘visit Surfers Paradise’ tag. It’s gone.
“I used to use it all the time and tag the account. Everywhere else has it. Why not Surfers or Broadbeach?”
Surfers Paradise: Now is the time for major revamp
WORD ON THE STREET
DOES Surfers Paradise need a revamp or cleaning up?
The Bulletin hit the streets to find out what residents, tourists and backpackers really think.
Here’s what they have to say.
Andrew Figallo, 41, from Pimpama
Do you think Surfers Paradise needs a revamp?
“No. It’s pretty clean I think. (But) they could clean Cavill Avenue up, it could look a bit more up to date. I think keeping the borders closed is a good thing. Coronavirus is getting very bad in Victoria. I think the Premier is doing her job.”
LIST: Dozens of venues opening and expanding on the Gold Coast
Jay Murray, 57, Sunshine Coast
Do you think Surfers Paradise needs a revamp? Yes
“I grew up in Brisbane and came down here all the time. I used to be a Neptunes lifesaver way back. I love the Gold Coast. So much has changed. Right now (it’s) not so good but it’s a difficult time. It looks dated, definitely. It’s a bit scruffy.”
Diego Nunez, 27, Chile
Do you think Surfers Paradise needs a revamp? No.
“I came a month ago from Cairns on a road trip. The city was very empty (especially) Monday to Thursdays. It gets busier on the weekend. I think the only problem is the coronavirus. Chile is a mess. Here is very good.”
Jacqui Daniels, Ashmore
Do you think Surfers Paradise needs a revamp? Yes.
“We were just saying I probably wouldn’t come here at the moment. I think it needs more. The restaurant scene isn’t great. I only live 10 minutes away. It would be really nice to see something new — something to bring people out. I find even my kids who are in their early 20s, they don’t even come here anymore. It’s lost a bit of it’s edge, even for tourists. It’s a shame because years ago it wasn’t like that.”
Kelly Skehan, 50, Bonogin
Do you think Surfers Paradise needs a revamp? Yes.
“I live over at Bonogin so we don’t come here. We usually go down the southern end. But it’s picked up a bit. They’ve got a couple of things like The Island which has been done up. We went there last November and it was good and had a good vibe. But when you’re a local you have your local areas — not so much with tourists. Parking isn’t one of the easiest things here either.”
Larissa Fazolari, 21, Brazil. Lived in Surfers Paradise since January
Do you think Surfers Paradise needs a revamp? Yes.
“It’s dirty, especially on Sunday morning after Saturday. (Surfers) is a hotspot on the Gold Coast and I think everyone wants to come here.”
Nikki Eden, 35, Southport
Do you think Surfers Paradise needs a revamp? Yes.
“A fair few places have shut down due to COVID and I know some places have had a revamp, but Surfers always needs a clean up. I used to live in here (Surfers Paradise) and in the mornings the streets were full of rubbish. It’s a party place, so I get it.
“When you talk to people who aren’t from here, 50 per cent say ‘it’s really dirty’ but the other half think it’s really clean.
“There are some places in the arcade (Cavill Mall) which look a bit old now but I know they’ve redone it. It’s always busy but it’s no Broadbeach.”
ONLINE THOUGHTS
More than 150 comments were left on the Bulletin’s Facebook page by readers giving their suggestions on what they would like to see improved in the Glitter Strip.
Here is a selection of what they had to say.
Matthew (no surname): It was clear when they did the last revamp on the cheap that it would not be a nice place to be – it looks like a prison exercise yard. Get some ideas from the folks that are doing great things in the town like Burleigh Pavilion, the Paddock bakery and definitely the guys behind the new development at Nobby’s beach. Clean up (i.e. knock down) the old beach front end of the Paradise Centre and open up the area with some plantings that green up the space and make it a place that you’d want to sit for a bit rather than the concrete thoroughfare that it is.
John W: Maximise the beachside location. People dining in Cavill Mall or any other non-ocean facing venue might as well be dining in their home town shopping strip. Coolangatta, Mooloolaba and Redcliffe all treat visitors to seaside vistas. Apart from the Soul, McDonald’s and the surf club, we waste our spectacular location on an occasional market.
Flora Scott: (It) needs colour, cleaning or painting of shopfronts. Lots of greenery. It’s a drab empty suburb with so many cheap and empty stores, needing to be occupied.
Kim Toyer: We used to go to Surfers, before covid, every 6 weeks or so. Eat out, have ice cream, do some shopping ... We went when the borders opened briefly and it was a mess. So dirty, shops closed down, so many homeless people. Even seen one peeing himself in the middle of the street.
Tracey Gilmore: Get rid of the concrete and add some greenery. It’s just too artificial.
Nathan Murray: The issues that plague Surfers Paradise date back much longer than (before) the Light Rail. I spent a lot of time there in my teens (10-12 years ago) and I was complaining then about many of the same things still being complained about now.
Mel Gallop-Kruger: It’s just so bleak. Used to enjoy an arvo trip into Surfers with the kids. But that was years ago. Nothing to see now.
Elle Lewis: I will always love Surfers. It is what it is. However a bit of colour and greenery would be great and some open air low key events. Hopefully it will not be turned into another Broadbeach with zero character.
Mandy Jo: It’s the worst part of the Coast. Nothing entices me there. It was good in the early 90s for clubs and Grundy’s.
Lucy Francesca: Concrete jungle, cold and grubby.
Richard Holliday: It’s about time we stopped the focus on Masterplans that usually deliver, new furniture, lights a few cheap plants and a change in the colour of the pavements and undertake a strategic review of Surfers Paradise’s role in our city. We need more than a makeover to address the decline in our number one tourism destination. We should negotiate an early exit of the lease for the eastern end of the Paradise Centre as the focal point in Surfers Paradise’s rejuvenation and role in our city’s future. We also need to redouble our efforts to re-establish a vibrant night time economy that operates in harmony with the other activities in the precinct, with safety as the number one priority.
Angela O’Keith: Lived there 20 years ago ... it looks exactly the same. 100% needs a revamp.
Ellen Walls: We used to have wonderful family holidays there but there is no way I would ever go near the place now. Last time I was there, approx five years ago, it was tired looking, dirty, and very tacky looking. Very sad really as I had some lovely memories from 40 years ago.
Erin D Morrison: I took the kids for a holiday a few weeks ago, wasn’t too bad. Everything we wanted to do and eat at was open. The worst thing was the construction they were doing on Cavill but just cos (sic) the fences and machines ruined the vibe a little. But yeah it’s Surfers, it’s always been a little grimy.
Mark Mathie: First word that comes into mind at the present is circus. I’ve had a business in Surfers for 16 years and it’s never been so junkie ridden, rundown and depressing as it is right now.
WHAT’S COMING TO SURFERS PARADISE
The Cavill Hotel
Who: The Hallmark Group.
What: Superclub.
Where: Melbas on the Park on Cavill Avenue.
When: Unknown.
Empire Nightclub RNB & Cocktail Lounge
Who: Bikini Barder Babes founder Matty Turner, 23.
What: Rhythm and blues (RnB) venue.
Where: Front section of former Shooters club on Orchid Avenue.
When: Unknown.
Arcade Nightclub
Who: Music promoter Mark James.
What: Alternative nightclub.
Where: Top of the Mark on Orchid Avenue.
When: Unknown.
LIST: Dozens of venues opening and expanding on the Gold Coast
Calie Beach Club
What: Day and nightclub with a rooftop bar and pool.
Who: Unknown.
Where: Location undisclosed.
When: Unknown.
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