Gold Coast’s own song: Shock vote by colleagues on Bob La Castra pop tune for city
A super majority of councillors have dumped a plan by Mayor Tom Tate to back a pop tune by colleagues Bob La Castra and Alton Twine as the city song. LISTEN TO THE SONG HERE
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A SUPER majority of councillors have dumped a plan by Mayor Tom Tate to back a pop tune by colleagues Bob La Castra and Alton Twine as the city song.
Towards the end of the last full council meeting on Tuesday, Councillor Tate offered to put up $2000 of his family’s money to help fund a video for the music track known as The Gift.
But he ultimately left the room after potential conflicts of interests were discussed, and later a majority of councillors voted that he should not be involved in discussing the item.
An officer recommendation was for the council to enter a three-year licence agreement so the song could be used on occasions to promote the city and to reimburse Cr La Castra about $2300.
But after talking to fellow councillors, Councillor Mark Hammel put up a motion that only called on council to thank Cr La Castra and Mr Twine, the transport chief, for their work in creating the music.
Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster, supporting Cr Hammel’s motion, admitted he loved the song but was concerned about the process.
“I think it is too fraught,” he said, explaining that other artists could be upset because council had not created a competitive tender for an official city song.
Cr Hammel said the lack of the competitive process meant it was “a little bit cloudy”.
Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, who was chairing the meeting in the absence of the Mayor, said she could remember how excited Cr Tate and Cr La Castra were when introducing her to the song.
On the change in the recommendation and its impact on Cr La Castra, she said: “My heart goes out to him today. I think he will be quite flabbergasted.”
She said Cr La Castra was not concerned about money or time invested in recording the track.
“He did it for the love of the city,” she said.
Cr Gates was the only councillor to vote against Cr Hammel’s motion. Cr Tate and Cr La Castra did not vote
THE council is expected to take out three years of legal rights to use a song, The Gift, written by Councillor Bob La Castra to promote the Gold Coast.
Councillors in September at a full council meeting were given a surprise preview of the pop tune which Cr La Castra recorded with leading council director Alton Twine.
After visiting other countries including China which boasted their own song, Mayor Tom Tate told councillors of his plan for the Glitter Strip to have its own signature tune.
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A council officer’s report to the full council meeting on Tuesday will recommend securing the rights of the song and reimbursing Cr La Castra for his work.
Councillors will be asked to support chief executive officer Dale Dickson to negotiate and enter into a licence agreement which ensures council gains royalty and fee free access for the next three years and can play the song where “suitable”.
Before becoming the long-term Ashmore representative, Cr La Castra had created songs for several television shows and was a regular on Neighbours and Wombat.
“Director Alton Twine has played in bands since his late teens, playing guitar in a number of bands including Rock Wallaby and the Sultans of Swag before joining the more popular 90s folk-rock ensemble Hot Toddy as a bassist,” the report said.
↑↑↑ LISTEN TO THE GIFT BY PLAYING VIDEO AT TOP OF PAGE ↑↑↑
Cr La Castra had hired a music studio and a professional keyboardist to record the song, and a video was produced.
Both Cr La Castra and Mr Twine had “gifted” the song to the city and not requested royalty payments so that the “recorded city song can now be used free of charge”.
“The costs eligible for reimbursement are the costs for recording studio hire and the keyboardist’s time totalling approximately $2300. The reimbursement would be subject to invoice acquittals,” the report said.
“While this report has addressed the use and deployment of The Gift — The Gold Coast Song — it is recommended that it be kept separate from being named the official song of the Gold Coast.”
Council in selecting an official city song must consider market testing, an open process providing an opportunity for local artists, and if the creative work aligned with the city’s brand personality and values, officers said.
12-MONTH FUNDING EXTENSION FOR TOURISM BODY
THE Gold Coast’s top tourism body is to receive only a 12-month extension in funding from council rather than a five-year agreement, as the city battles with uncertainty created by coronavirus.
The Bulletin can reveal councillors behind closed doors ticked off on an officer’s report recommendation only to provide a one-year extension in the funding agreement to Destination Gold Coast (DGC).
DGC entered a five-year agreement in July 2016, beginning with $13.5 million a year and increasing to $15.5 million in 2020-21.
The funding agreement specifically requires the parties to enter into a five-year agreement “at least 12 months prior to this contract expiring — that is, no later than 30 June 2020”.
“The impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the tourism economy has been profound, with the loss of all international visitors, and more recently interstate visitors,” a council report says.
“One of the most challenging aspects of the pandemic is the uncertainty about when vaccines and other management practices will be sufficiently developed to re-open borders for travellers.”
DGC is operating on about $500,000 a month. The money is spent on day-to-day operations, brand development, including three short videos, and work on the drive Queensland market.
“There is a general expectation that domestic travel will return around Christmas — DGC has confirmed it is planning for this scenario,” the report says.
The plan is for an aggressive ramping up of the domestic market but coronavirus “makes it difficult for the parties to define with confidence what the next agreement should focus on”.
Adding to the uncertainty was the resignation of CEO Annaliese Battista in August, the report added.
Ms Battista appeared twice before council asking for an extra $7 million to promote the city but was rejected.
“It is therefore recommended that a more prudent 12-month extension of the current agreement be executed to allow time for a future plan to be developed for the tourism industry,” the council officer’s report says.
DGC chair Paul Donovan explained council and the tourism body had agreed the 12 month funding agreement was the best way to go forward given the uncertainty.
“They’ve been very helpful in allowing us to have the stability that we have, the certainty for the next 12 months during coronavirus, then put forward requirements for the next five year agreement,” he said.
Mr Donovan said: “It wasn’t a rebuff or a blow. It’s difficult not knowing when the border is going to open. We are very happy with the position the council bureaucrats and council have taken.”
Councillors ticked off on a recommendation that council CEO Dale Dickson or a senior officer would negotiate a deed of extension for 12 months through to June 2022.
Tourism insiders predict the funding arrangement makes it difficult for DGC to undertake long-term planning.
“You can’t have any planning,” a tourism source said. “You can’t put in place a strategy. You are basically babysitting the business.”
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