Revealed: Fees being waived for new Gold Coast beach bar after it gets the green light

The council is to waive much of the its usual fees for the new beach bar operator at Broadbeach, as the state government signs off on the trial. Have your say.

THE council is to waive much of the its usual fees for the new beach bar operator at Broadbeach as state government gives the green light to the trial.

The Bulletin can reveal the government has responded to a letter from council and will allow a beach edge bar on the Kurrawa Terrace to operate from December 1 to January 31 next year.

Gold Coast beach bar – the Kurrawa site used for a media centre at the Commonwealth Games. Pic from Moreton Hire.

A council spokesperson told the Bulletin: “The state government has provided support for the temporary use of the reserve for the trial.”

A group representing several Coast resident associations, Community Alliance, has asked whether ratepayers would be funding the sewerage waste infrastructure to the site, given none were in place, and what would occur with the electricity and water consumption charges.

“The successful applicant will provide toilets and associated services,” the council spokesperson told the Bulletin.

“The site has access to water and electricity and the city will waive all standard City of Gold Coast fees associated with the use of the Kurrawa Terrace space during the trial period.”

Beach bar Gold Coast – the Kurrawa site and council map showing potential use of the beach.

The council has also confirmed the trial would not involve a contract with the operator.

“There is no contract with the preferred Beach Club operator, they will be issued a permit. The City will waive all standard City of Gold Coast fees associated with the use of the Kurrawa Terrace space during the trial period,” the council spokesperson said.

Gold Coast beach bar location at Kurrawa. The media centre during the Commonwealth Games. Image: Moreton Hire.

Built for the Commonwealth Games, the Kurrawa Terrace on council’s website is described as a “premium asset designed to attract corporate events” where the fee for a 100 person event is $167 for the application and $370 for the rate for that number of guests.

The site provides a 625sq m hardstand area, 200 amp power supply with numerous power access points, programmable LED feature lighting and water supply.

“A refundable bond may also apply to your event. Bonds vary based on the size and nature of the event, the extent of infrastructure and the types of vehicles required (to enter the site),” the council says.

The council spokesperson said the system put in place to find a suitable applicant was not a procurement process. An offer to invitation was for 14 days.

Gold Coast beach bar – the Kurrawa site, detailed on a council map.

The spokesperson said the three days for the vendor panel to determine a suitable operator was enough time.

“Whilst not a procurement process there is probity advisor engaged and an evaluation plan,” the spokesperson said.

The plan for the beach bar outlined by Mayor Tom Tate in a mayoral minute at full council earlier this month gained super majority support from councillors.

Cr Hermann Vorster backed using the Kurrawa Terrace after council made a “sizeable investment” on creating it, and colleague Cameron Caldwell saw the new tourism product as “game changer” for the city.

Mayor Tate said council would “kill it off” if the beach bar trial did not work.

Gold Coast beach bar – a map showing location of the Kurrawa site.

Several groups including Save Our Spit are opposed to the use the public land and concerned about safety with drunken revellers.

Site maps show how the event encroaches on the sand.

Mr Hicks told the Bulletin: “Community Alliance is strongly opposed to the use of public parks and beaches for the operation of beach clubs and bars. The Gold Coast community is already well-served by its many Surf lifesaving clubs in this regard.”

Asked how council intended to evaluate the success of the beach club trial, if there would be surveying of residents and visitors, a council spokesperson replied: “The City is developing a plan to collect community feedback.”