Grand plans to build a $30m water fountain 300m off Surfers Paradise beach have been shut down by councillors

THIS is what could have greeted tourists when they looked out to the ocean from Surfers Paradise — do you think it should have been built?

Artist impression of “Geyser”, created several years ago before the Soul building was completed.

RESURRECTED plans to build a $30 million water spout off Surfers Paradise Beach have been shot down by the Gold Coast City Council.

The offshore tourist attraction, proposed by teacher William Ross is known as the Surfers Paradise Icon “Geyser” and would have been built 300m off the Glitter Strip’s iconic beach.

It would function like a clock, creating a jet of water for 60 seconds at increasing heights every 15 minutes.

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Under plans which went before the council yesterday, the spout would reach its top height on the hour and at night would become a piece of public art, with lasers interacting with the water.

However, members of the council’s economic development committee baulked at the $30 million price tag and voted to turn it down.

Mudgeeraba councillor Glenn Tozer was the lone committee member to support the project and pushed for his colleagues to reconsider.

A report on the proposed attraction noted that city leaders should reject the “Geyser” because it would be subjected to “extreme environmental conditions” which would lead to high costs.

It will go before the full council on Friday when councillors meet for the last time this year.