Beach concert verdict: Do residents want concerts on the sand at Coolangatta?
Residents at Coolangatta have given a clear verdict after being canvassed for their views of the SandTunes festival.
Gold Coast
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THE majority of residents at Coolangatta do not want the SandTunes festival staged on the beach, according to a new survey.
Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey said the number of telephone calls and emails to her office from residents about the event prompted her to do a mail out to the 4225 postcode which includes Coolangatta.
“Our community deserves to be consulted and that was not happening, instead they were being drip fed information after decisions had been made,” Ms Stuckey told the Bulletin.
“I sent a postcard earlier this month with two questions which were as follows — do you think events like this are appropriate for our beaches? Should we be included in future decisions about events planned for our iconic beaches?
“We’ve received 800 replies and ninety per cent are against Coolangatta Beach being used for an event of this size and a slightly higher number believe locals should be consulted about future events.
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“Byron Bay wouldn’t have it on their beach — Splendour is in a paddock — Big Day Out was in showgrounds. We have stadiums paid for by taxpayers sitting idle. If this was going to be a destination event like Glastonbury then hold it in the country.”
The release of the survey occurs as Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones on the Coast today meets with promoters to discuss the two-day music festival from November 30.
The Bulletin in a report earlier this week detailed how lifesavers were concerned about how they could stop some of the 35,000 revellers from entering the surf during the concerts.
Gaven Labor MP Meaghan Scanlon on her Facebook page has put a call out to northern Coast residents to determine their support for the festival being staged at Metricon Stadium at Carrara.
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“Do you want to see more live music on the GC,” Ms Scanlon posted.
“I’m pretty annoyed that the LNP keep jeopardising our ability to lure great events by talking things down. For many years my mates have been crossing the border to Falls Festival and Splendour in the Grass.
“I still have great memories of going to Big Day Out when I was 16 on the Gold Coast. If Jann Stuckey doesn’t want SandTunes in her electorate, then let’s bring it to Metricon Stadium in the Gaven electorate.”
Community leader Philip Follent in a response posted: “Stadiums and paddocks are awesome places for music festivals ... ten times better than the beach.”
Other residents agreed, remarking that Metricon Stadium was a superior venue with much better public transport access for fans.
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