America’s Cup and events needed for Gold Coast's Main Beach revival as Australia's Instagram capital

A road-based train connecting light rail to The Spit, securing the America’s Cup and revamping property prices. It’s all part of the bold plan to rebadge a Gold Coast suburb as the nation’s Instagram capital.

MAIN Beach leaders want to attract international regattas such as the America’s Cup as part of a bold bid to revive the iconic suburb.

Their ambitious proposal would also include small trains travelling to The Spit and rebadging the dining precinct as the nation’s Instagram capital.

BEST RESTAURANTS IN MAIN BEACH

Tedder was hit hard by the GFC and is fighting to return to its glory days.

Tedder Ave, once the epicentre of dining and celebrity spotting, has been doing it tough since the global financial crisis a decade ago.

Business owners say Main Beach has failed to keep pace with booming suburbs such as Robina, Broadbeach, Coomera, Southport and Surfers Paradise and desperately needs love from the Gold Coast City Council.

Neil Fisher of Domani's and Georgie Brown are backing a push to take Main Beach back to its glory days Picture: Jerad Williams

The Main Beach Progress Association’s strategic plan includes:

* Reviving Main Beach businesses and property prices.

* Recasting the area as a stand-alone, quietly luxurious high-end destination.

* Creating Instagram opportunities for national and international recognition.

* Beginning a low-cost land train hop-on/hop-off service from the Tedder Ave light rail station to Doug Jennings Park at the northern tip of The Spit.

Association secretary Georgie Brown said the strategy had been developed with Broadbeach-based town planning firm Better Cities.

BACKWARDS BAR TO REVITALISE MAIN BEACH

Georgie Brown.

“With this plan we hope to showcase the opportunities for an overarching view, opportunities such as the proposed Spit masterplan and events such as the Gold Coast 600, the Gold Coast Marathon and of course the introduction of a small cruise ship terminal and superyachts,” she said.

“All of these have the potential to revitalise the community and make Main Beach a place of international renown.

Tedder Ave was a popular dining location in the 199s. It’s pictured here in 1997.

“We have identified options for a better local and tourist transport system with a small land train for The Spit which would also service future events such as the Louis Vuitton international sailing regatta.

“Even decent festive season decorations would be a start. It would make people want to come to the place.”

February 2003: Mick Jagger at Tedder Ave having lunch while staying on the Gold Coast during that year's Rolling Stones tour.

The group wants to raise $10,000 to fund a full blueprint for the suburb, to be presented to the Gold Coast City Council and State Government.

Long-time businessman and Domani’s owner Neil Fisher, who recently celebrated his 30th anniversary as a restaurateur on Tedder Ave, said the area had long been forgotten by city leaders while other major tourist precincts have enjoyed council-funded marketing organisations.

Tedder Ave in the Year 2000.

“We just don’t have the voice we used to and because of this we are always chasing our tails,” he said.

“They have Surfers Alliance and Broadbeach Alliance but we haven’t got anything like that. It was thrown in the too-hard basket a few years ago.”

Tedder Ave in its heydey

Mr Fisher, who also owns the Seaway Tower cafe at the tip of The Spit, said a small passenger train to the Seaway would fill a void left by inadequate public transport.

“Traffic is a big issue here and we have young people who want to work but have to get their parents to drive them up there because the buses do not go far,” he said. “This just adds more cars to the roads.”

Neil Fisher with Georgie Brown Picture: Jerad Williams

NOMINATE HERE FOR GOLD COAST WOMEN OF THE YEAR

Main Beach was a holiday hot spot in the 1990s and early 2000s, luring celebrities such as Rolling Stones frontman Mick Jagger to its popular eateries.

But the suburb is a shadow of its former self, having experienced a number of shop closures.

Tedder Ave was long a popular location for coffee and dining.

GET FULL DIGITAL ACCESS FOR 50C A DAY

Area councillor Gary Baildon said he was open to new ideas, but had not yet received any submission from the association.

“We do events in Main Beach from time to time and we actually are planning something which will happen in the new year,” he said.

“Any events will rely on the support and participation of the area’s business people.”

THE ACTION PLAN

* To create a unique tourist destination

* To create a stand-alone, quietly luxurious high-end destination on the Gold Coast.

* To revive and maintain a competitive edge among the recent revivals of Southport, Broadbeach, Pacific Fair and Robina Town Centre.

* To create Instagram opportunities for national and international recognition.

* To attract opportunities for high-spending super yachts, boutique cruise ships, major international and national water-based events such as the America’s Cup.

* To maintain a safe, pleasant and attractive place to visit and live.