Mayoral candidate Danielle Dunsmore on why the Coast needs to be ‘f-ing amazing’

A Gold Coast Mayoral candidate says Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach are ‘ugly’ and believes they need a facelift. Read what she said

“Surfers Paradise looks like a detention centre,” mayoral candidate Danielle Dunsmore remarks, as the first mayoral breakfast debate kicks off at the Currumbin RSL.

This causes a dollop of avocado to spill off my spoon, crushing the poached egg on my plate.

Ms Dunsmore is usually upbeat. She dresses with as much colour as a Currumbin Sanctuary lorikeet. She tends to be chirpy.

But Southern Chamber of Commerce interim president Zac Revere is asking her a serious question – a good one, on what is her “vision” for driving the city forward.

The other candidates present – Lavinia Rampino, Virginia Freebody and Eddy Sarroff – are seated to her right. Mayor Tom Tate is absent, attending the Experience Gold Coast boardroom meeting.

“I reckon we’re losing our grip on being a premium holiday destination. I would say look at Surfers, look at Broadbeach – they’re ugly,” Ms Dunsmore says.

Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce interim president Zac Revere asking mayoral candidate Danielle Dunsmore a question during a candidate debate at the Currumbin RSL in the 2024 election.

“In all seriousness, would you come here for a holiday. I work with Brisbane people. They go to the Sunny Coast. Broadbeach – like on the beach – cracked footpaths.”

Her back to basics campaign is not just about sewerage and transport, she adds, before explaining her “vision”.

“It’s making us look friggin’ amazing. We have to be f-ing amazing, that’s what I plan to get us to be,” she says.

Finally, we have a mayoral candidate who swears as much as Mayor Tate.

Ms Dunsmore is right about Surfers. Your columnist after a family outing recently at HOTA found the restaurants closed at 9pm at Chevron Island. We ventured into tourism heart.

The meal was “friggin’ amazing” until a bloke urinated in the gutter in front of us.

The tourism mecca, much like an office call centre during peak employee hour could, to use Ms Dunsmore’s parlance, benefit from a “few more sh***ers”.

Surfers Paradise shockers — tourists showering next to bins and kegs behind the Surfers SLSC in Hanlan Street. Picture Glenn Hampson.

“We seem to be having plenty of money to splash around. I’ve heard rumours of $50 million spent on a cruiseship terminal, we plan on buying on an airport,” she says.

“We bought Tipplers. How about we don’t buy the Louis Vuitton handbag, we get our underwear in order.”

Mr Revere paused, before he pressed the candidates about their “budget” for the City.

“No, I haven’t done my budgeting because I don’t work in council and I haven’t had access to detailed documents,” Ms Dunsmore replied.

Ms Rampino told him she had “looked at the financials”.

“I haven’t done a budget. I can see where there are some savings and where you can redirect some funds,” she added.

Mayoral candidate Danielle Dunsmore at the Currumbin RSL for a candidate breakfast in the 2024 Gold Coast City Council election.

But some of us were still thinking about our underwear, even some belt tightening.

Surfers Paradise-based councillor Darren Taylor understands about tight budgeting.

He created a $139 million revitalisation plan for Surfers, but last year councillors would only back a $40 million spend on giving Cavill Mall a facelift.

The poached eggs at the breakfast were perfect. Outside the tide is flowing to the creek’s mouth, much more inviting for a paddle rather than driving back to cracked concrete.

Not long now to March 16 poll. The Deep South is f-amazing, and this room and the RSL has always been great for entertainment.

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