Campaigners speak out against Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade redevelopment
The team behind the fight to save the iconic Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade are speaking out about why they’re against a contentious tower plan. FIND OUT MORE
Gold Coast
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An accountant, musician, artist, surfer and indigenous activist are among those in a Gold Coast community trying to save an iconic Burleigh building from being bulldozed.
Nikki Archer, Lesley Stewart and Wayne Purcell lodged an appeal in the Planning and Environment Court after the Gold Coast City Council approved a 14-story, 36-unit complex on the Goodwin Terrace site.
Sydney developer Weiya Holdings said it would keep the old building’s facade.
However, residents say the proposal is “inappropriate”, “unsympathetic” and “bulky”.
The case was due to start this week but was adjourned until June 6.
A GoFundMe page was set up to help raise money. It has gathered $6407 of a $85,000 target.
Ms Archer is behind the We Are Burleigh group. Some of its supporters include Clinton Brewer, Richard Harvey, Alissa Crafter, Bud Manthey and Jessica Argenti, better known as indie pop artist Lavelin.
We Are Burleigh is holding an event at a number of venues this weekend and have started a GoFundMe, reaching $6367 of a $85,000 target.
Spokesperson Nikki Archer said residents were concerned the project was granted a 50 per cent height increase above planning guidelines for Burleigh.
“We are asking the judge to go through all of the conditions they should have got through to get the uplift like social, economic and environmental factors,” she said.
We Are Burleigh is taking over Burleigh village with their multi-venue fundraising event Morning of the Earth on Sunday, May 29.
The film Morning of the Earth will be played for the first time to celebrate Burleigh’s history, and there will be a range of activities focusing on local surf and art culture.
For more information on the event click here.
FACES OF THE CAMPAIGN
Nikki Archer
Nikki Archer, who spent three years advocating for the site said she wanted to prevent Burleigh from becoming “Queensland’s own Bondi”.
“I remember driving through Burleigh and Talley and seeing their crystal, sparkling waters,” she said of her first visit to Burleigh 20 years ago. “It still brings me to tears thinking about how beautiful this place is, and how lucky people are to live here.”
Lesley Stewart
Lesley Stewart’s family has lived in Burleigh for more than 100 years.
Ms Stewart said only preserving the facade of the Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade was missing the point of the building.
“The point is to have that area for community use,” Ms Stewart said.
“I think there is a lot of value in these old sites.
“I did not feel that what Nikki’s group were asking was not a big deal and with respect to the bottom three floors.”
Traditional land owner Clinton Brewer
Clinton Brewer, a Kombumerri-Ngarang Wal man, said it was important to protect and preserve the Gold Coast’s “shared and old cultural heritage”, be it buildings or forests.
He supports the fight to protect heritage and will speaking at We Are Burleigh’s event on Sunday.
“I feel like as people in our ecosystems, in our habit, our area, where everywhere we live I think aesthetic and beauty, especially of old building designs, holds a very special place to us.
“An old tree for me is similar to seeing a beautifully, well looked after building.”
“An old building like that represents an 80 or 90-year-old tradition, and it brings us back to a time when things were a little bit slower, and it reminds us who we are as a culture and people.”
Richard Harvey
Richard Harvey has lived in Burleigh since the late 1960s and wants to stop the beach city from turning into an “investment area”.
Mr Harvey, a former top surfer turned board shaper, artist and photographer, said the old Burleigh Theatre Arcade was the focal point for people to come and meet.
“As we start to lose our community values, then the character of the city changes and by supporting things that have a heritage to them, we keep links to what is really important about the Gold Coast,” Mr Harvey said.
“I remember sitting there in hammered chairs watching movies in there and friends had apartments in that building and people lived there.”
He has supported the campaign by donating photographs to We Are Burleigh events, and will be auctioning off limited-edition signed prints.
Alissa Crafter
Artlis Studios owner Alissa Crafter has donated her art to We Are Burleigh’s open night events.
“I’m an artist myself and I teach kids art, and I try to impart on them the importance of creativity throughout our history,” Ms Crafter said.
“I would love to be part of preserving that history, and I believe some of the developments that are happening, would potentially destroy some of the creative history that we connect with in that area.”
Musician Bud Manthey
Burleigh’s born and bred musician Bud Manthey busks outside the old theatre and performs at various We Are Burleigh events.
He grew up in Burleigh in the early 1960s, his father ran Fisho’s, a fish and chips shop in Burleigh, and at one point he lived in the Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade.
“My old Bedroom from the ’60s would later become the world surfing quarters,” Mr Manthey said.
“To large extent its losing its village feel, and it’s the last remaining attachment to old Burleigh.”
Lavelin – Jessica Argenti
Gold Coast’s indie pop artist Jessica Argenti, known as Lavelin, will perform at We Are Burleigh’s event on Sunday.
“Buzzing with inspiration and innovation, Burleigh is a part of the Coast where people gather to feel the warmth of the sun and the human spirit,” she said.
“I love Burleigh for the beauty it breathes into our community, encouraging us to slow down, create and enjoy a natural life filled with music, our beautiful ocean and our wholesome community”.
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