Darren Taylor says he has ‘unfinished business’ to fix up Surfers Paradise

Why businessman-turned-councillor Darren Taylor has already made a decision on whether to politics is for him or not five months out from the election. Find out his shock decision

Darren Taylor is to stand in the Surfers Paradise-Broadbeach council division so he can cement his plans to revitalise the tourism heart.

Mulitple senior city councillors are either leaving or retiring, causing concern about the depth of talent in the ranks when the new council is elected in March next year.

Colleagues had speculated Cr Taylor might retire to focus on family business interests but his decision to run means, if re-elected, he will be a senior councillor and likely committee chair.

Cr Taylor admitted to “unfinished business” after first spending money on a master plan for Surfers Paradise and gaining support for a first stage $40m fredevelopment of Cavill Mall.

“The reason why I focused on Surfers (in this term), is because it hasn’t had the love of other areas. I don’t know why, because it’s our iconic part of the city,” he said.

A delighted Darren Taylor after winning his first poll. Picture Glenn Hampson.

“We all talk about Surfers Paradise. The investment needs to be spent in Surfers and we need to protect the assets.

“If we get the investment and get the public realm improvement, that’s going to bring Gold Coasters back. I’ve always said how can we sell an area unless our own people love it.”

Surveying during the last poll found 50 per cent of residents, when asked, would visit Surfers Paradise or take a friend.

Cr Taylor likened council to a business and suggested it should follow Pacific Fair, improving its asset, securing high level tenants and winning back locals and tourists.

“Before the renovations Pacific Fair was run down, had very limited high level tenancy. It wasn’t the place to go. They invested in their area, the public realm,” he said.

Surfers Paradise is to get a revamp. Here are shots of swimmers showering next to bins and kegs behind the Surfers SLSC in Hanlan Street. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Cr Taylor said he had five key areas in his division – all as important as the other and needing specific care.

Those precincts in Division 10 include:

* Surfers Paradise, where the mall would be upgraded, the nightclub economy supported but contained and proposals like a live music Town Hall investigated and supported;

* Broadbeach, where funding had been secured for its mall upgrade along with improvements to Victoria and Kurrawa parks;

* Main Beach, where lobbying would continue of State Government on the City Plan to meet resident expectations to control super towers being built on tiny housing blocks;

* Chevron Island, which was a “jewel” but needed a master plan to improve transport links to HOTA and parking for retail businesses;

* The Spit, where stakeholders like the Fishermen’s Co-op need protection and the Government cautioned about selling off Crown land to the first bidder for new resorts;

* Sorrento and Broadbeach Waters, in the suburbs, where residents needed better transport access through green bridges, bikeways and walkways.

Councillor Darren Taylor at City Hall. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Cr Taylor said he had concerns about central Surfers Paradise “nightlife” spreading to outer suburbs including canal estates.

“Orchid Avenue will always be that nightlife, nightclub area. A lot of people in our city have grown up with that,” he said.

“But we need to ensure we are limiting where those areas are in Surfers Paradise. My major concern is it spreads out through Surfers Paradise.

“Surfers Paradise is a big area, it covers Chevron Island, Isle of Capri, we need to ensure what that nightlife areas is in Surfers Paradise in the long run.”

Follow @PaulWestonGC