Remember when: The “pirates” of Noosa raided the GC for ideas as nude bathers were arrested

A TEAM of friendly pirates swooped on the Gold Coast to plunder ideas from the pick of the city’s tourism and residential development.

Flashback: Pirates of Noosa raid GC

Gold Coast Bulletin, Friday April 15, 1977

A TEAM of friendly pirates swooped on the Gold Coast to plunder ideas from the pick of the city’s tourism and residential development.

But the pirates, in fact Sunshine Coast councillors were quick to announce “we don’t consider ourselves tourism rivals for the Gold Coast. We are all collaborators in the tourism industry.”

Seven councillors and five senior staff from the Noosa Shire Council toured the coast, inspecting park areas, tourist facilities, high-rise buildings, canal development and the then-new mall in Cavill Ave.

Gold Coast History: Gold Coast Bulletin 1977, April 15. Front page.

Their visit coincided with criticism by a conservationist that the natural attractions of Noosa would help it to steal the tourist trade from the Gold Coast “concrete coast” image.

But the Noosa councillors were full of praise for the opposition concrete coast.

The shire chairman, Cr McDonald said: “I haven’t visited the Gold Coast for some time and I am amazed at its development,” he said

“I admire your parks and gardens and compliment the council on their work in that respect.”

Meanwhile, police arrested five men found nude sunbathing in thick bushland at Fingal Head, Tweed Heads Court was told.

All five were charged with indecent exposure.

Police had gone to the area following complaints that people were sunbathing nude, the court was told.

Prosecutor Sergeant D Milne said police had been concerned because perverts were believed to be frequenting the area, hiding in the bushes and spying on nude sunbathers.

Four of the men were from the Gold Coast.