Uproar over festival plan for former Arundel Hills Country Club site

Plans are afoot for a three-day car festival at a former embattled Gold Coast golf course - But not everyone is happy. Read what organisers and the site’s lessee had to say

A city leader says council knows “nothing” about plans for a three-day car festival at a former embattled golf course and has not received any permit application for it.

The controversy began on Monday when organisers of car festival, Wintersun 2.0, announced on Facebook they had secured the former Arundel Hills Country Club site for the three-day event from June 16 to 18.

The festival was originally planned to go ahead at the Mudgeeraba Showgrounds, but this location was scrapped due to “consistent rain”.

“Wintersun 2.0 has found a permanent home at ATRIA on the Gold Coast,” festival organisers announced.

Wintersun 2.0 is a car festival featuring a show and shine, traders and food vendors. Picture: Facebook

Atria is the site formerly known as Arundel Hills Country Club.

Area councillor Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden said Gold Coast City Council’s events team was investigating the plans.

“I contacted City Events today when alerted to this and they know nothing about it and no permit has been applied or issued,” he said.

“No idea what Atria is – never heard the name before.

“Currently, I would take everything with a pinch of scepticism.”

The former Arundel Hills Country Club. Picture: Jesse Hamilton

The Bulletin contacted Wintersun 2.0 organisers and the new lessee of the site, Guardian Eco Group, for comment.

A spokesman for the group said the show would take place around the immediate precinct of the country club and not use the whole property.

“The event management team has advised me that we are getting ready for submission of the event to council,” he said.

News of the festival’s new venue attracted mixed opinions on social media.

“This venue isn’t zoned for this sort of purpose,” one Facebook user wrote.

“Is it soundproofed with all those houses next to it?” another asked.

Another woman described the new location as “fantastic news”.

“Wintersun 2.0 is a great event. Looking forward to the new location – always an awesome weekend,” she said.

The former Arundel Hills Country Club site.

The festival follows in the footsteps of the former Wintersun event, a classic car and nostalgia celebration which was the precursor to Cooly Rocks On.

Prospective developers Dale Carroll, Steven Kleytman and Andrew Barbayannis are in the process of buying the 67ha former country club site at Arundel Place.

Settlement is due to occur on March 16.

The once prestigious club and golf course collapsed in May last year with debts of up to $5.73m.

The site sat mostly vacant until November, when it was used as the backdrop for a Supercheap Auto TV ad called Country Club Chaos.