Gold Coast Election 2020: Burleigh candidate Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew calls for World Surfing Reserve legislation

A Gold Coast election candidate has called for “world first” protection for one of the city’s most iconic stretches of beach.

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A GOLD Coast election candidate is calling for the city’s World Surfing Reserve to be made a permanent fixture after the October election.

Former world champion surfer turned Burleigh Labor candidate Wayne “Rabbit” Bartholomew said the move would be a “natural progression” for the area.

The World Surfing Reserve, officially declared in late 2015, stretches from Burleigh through to the border at Snapper Rocks.

“This has been a 30 or 40 year fight to get protection for the point breaks,” Mr Bartholomew said.

Wayne Bartholomew is the next Labor Candidate for seat of Burleigh at the next Queensland State election. Scott Powick Newscorp

“The natural extension of (the World Surfing Reserve) is legislation for protection. I believe it’s at the point of going to a consultation period.

“The World Surfing Reserve has protection from administration to administration.

“A new City Council or new government could come along and say, ‘we don’t really believe in this anymore’, therefore it’s not fully protected.

“(Legislating it) would be a world first, it would put the Gold Coast as a world leader for beach protection.”

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Mr Bartholomew announced his plan at his first fundraising event in Burleigh early this month.

The reveal was met with cheers from supporters and members of the surfing community present.

The 16km stretch of coastline now protected includes the Burleigh Headland, Currumbin Alley and the Superbank at Coolangatta.

Mr Bartholomew was one of those who helped push for the project alongside now-chairman Andrew McKinnon.

Cheers at the announcement of the World Surfing Reserve in 2015. Pic by David Clark

Earlier this year the State Government signed a “historic partnership” with the reserve to provide more security for the Burleigh to Snapper Rocks beachfront.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said during the February announcement: “I’m hearing from many people they want a bit more security for the reserve.

“Now my government are actively looking at legislating the surfing reserve in Queensland. We want to protect this area for future generations.

“We will be looking at all those details at the (Global Wave Conference) and we will hear about the world’s best practice on how to go forward.

“The community owns this as well.”

The Queensland election will be held on October 31.

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