Inside the political hot seat which is Surfers Paradise

Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach are in desperate need of some fresh political leadership. The departure of Gary Baildon and Paul Taylor from City Hall opens the door for some big political plays, writes Paul Weston.

SURFERS Paradise and Broadbeach are in desperate need of some fresh political leadership.

The word around City Hall is a welcome mat will be put out by councillors to a fresh face and independent with loads of energy in the merged Glitter Strip division.

Surfers Paradise beach — Renata Souza and Jacqueline Baldini are tourists from Brazil. The city’s tourist hot spot needs revitalised political representation. Picture: Lawrence Pinder.

This view is not just that of councillors currently sitting in the Evandale chambers. State MPs share it, too.

Former mayor Gary Baildon is retiring in Surfers Paradise and veteran Broadbeach councillor Paul Taylor announced late this week that due to health reasons, he will not be contesting the March 28 poll.

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Much of the focus for the election will be on the mayoral race and whether Tom Tate secures a third term, and on the divisions where – due to retirements or boundary changes – the city will welcome four new councillors.

But the new Division 10, taking in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, promises the biggest behind-the-scenes political plays.

New Year’s Eve 2019 Gold Coast style at Surfers Paradise. Picture: Mike Batterham,

Surfers Paradise is close to Mayor Tom Tate’s heart. Before he entered council, his hotel business was based there and he built up his public image on being a tourism identity and chamber of commerce leader.

In 2016 former councillor Susie Douglas, a strong critic of Cr Tate, ran for the division. For much of the campaign the view was that real estate identity Lucy Cole, who had development views similar to the Mayor, would win.

Tourism identity Mike Winlaw is running for council. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Brooke Patterson was the other candidate working up a profile, but her meetings with the mayoral office suggested she was an independent thinker.

Closer to the final weeks, polling showed Ms Douglas and Ms Cole were sharing the vote.

But at the last minute Mr Baildon, the former mayor who had a bigger profile, surfaced from retirement.

He won, Councillor Taylor was re-elected and in the past term they have been entrenched in the so-called “leadership group” at Evandale, which secures a majority vote for the Mayor on controversial issues.

Surfers Paradise tourism and marketing identities Mike Winlaw and Karen Phillips are the serious frontrunners in what will be a Melbourne Cup field. Mr Winlaw is renowned as an independent thinker and Ms Phillips says she will be the people’s candidate.

So voters need to ask their candidate some serious questions in the lead-up to the poll. Do you support the Mayor? Are you in favour of a cruise ship terminal on The Spit? Do you want another casino in the tourism heart? Should unlimited high-rise continue on housing blocks in Broadbeach?

Gold Coast business personality Karen Phillips is also running for council. Picture: Regi Varghese.

Because if they vote for a candidate supporting the Mayor’s pro-development platform, they can’t whinge later on social media when the new councillor backs Cr Tate’s policies in the chamber.

The horse will have well and truly bolted.