Cavill Mall to become the Gold Coast's answer to King George Square after council backs public plaza plan

THE Gold Coast is set to receive its own version of King George Square in the heart of Surfers Paradise.

The way it was ... A file photo of the Cavill Mall. Picture: Brendan Radke

THE Gold Coast is set to receive its own version of King George Square in the heart of Surfers Paradise, with plans to demolish a dated beachfront development and transform it into a bustling open-air plaza.

Negotiations are underway to return an under-utilised area of the Centro Surfers Paradise Shopping Centre to the council and redevelop it to create a public events precinct.

The land, which is owed by the council and leased to the shopping centre, is at the centre of high-level talks between city leaders and the centre's owner, Federation Centres, to revitalise the area.

Area councillor Lex Bell has been involved in the early discussions and said there was support to revitalise the area, which is home to cafes.

"The centre's new owners want to do something special with it and the council would be happy to have it return to the public for use," he said

"Creating a new open space on the eastern side of Cavill Mall would be great for everyone."

It is the first step towards reviving grand plans for an events area on the Surfers Paradise foreshore that were shelved more than five years ago because of the economic downturn.

Talks are set to resume early next year to discuss a time frame for the work as well as the size and scale the plaza will take.

Surfers Paradise Alliance boss Mike Winlaw said the area was in desperate need of revitalisation.

"This essential refurbishment is an opportunity to take the whole area forward and bring this section of the foreshore into line with all the other development we have had in recent years,'' he said.

"We have already had significant redevelopment around Cavill Mall such as Soul, Hilton and the soon Jewel.

"With the Iluka shell now gone the time is right to develop this area."

Grundy's waterslides circa 1987 Picture: File

The area earmarked for redevelopment was once the site of Grundy's Amusement Centre's famous slides during the 1980s as well as its Puttarama miniature golf course.

The slides were removed in the early 1990s and replaced by retail outlets while the golf course's decaying remains can still be seen on the roof.

The area was hit hard by the economic downturn as well as the light rail and significant road works on the foreshore.

The council spent more than $25 million giving the foreshore a facelift and a further $7 million upgrading Cavill Mall.

The Surfers Paradise Surf Life Saving Club could also be upgraded or undergo redevelopment to make way for a larger facility if its members have their way.

Club president Craig Chapman said the plaza would create a "grand entrance" to the Glitter Strip.

"It will also give us an opportunity to design the club effectively to get more storage and carparks for our emergency vehicles,'' he said.

"It is early days but there is a chance we could secure the land as freehold, which would give the club a great deal of security.

"It is an exciting time."