Surfers final plea as councillors vote to approve Coolangatta beach concert

A Gold Coast events supremo has vowed a controversial new beachfront festival will deliver the economic goods for the tourism sector. FIND OUT HOW

Events supremo Billy Cross has vowed the Gold Coast’s new beachfront festival will deliver the economic goods for the tourism sector.

Councillors earlier this week voted 7-5 in favour of giving the green light to the event, which is expected to be held at Queen Elizabeth Park and Coolangatta Beach on May 4 next year and is predicted to inject more than $5m into the economy.

The planned seven-hour concert, to be held on the final day of the World Surf League series at Snapper Rocks – both in the park and on the beach – would be second only to Cooly Rocks On in terms of large events for the area.

Billy Cross. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mr Cross, who will team up with events giant TEG Live, headed by Paul Dainty, could not confirm the headline act but said the festival would be a big economic driver for the area.

“We are an events city and we are glad that it got the go-ahead,” he said.

“We have a promoter like TEG who will work with the conditions council gave them and it will be massive for the Gold Coast.

Paul Dainty at Coolangatta

“This will be the only show of this festival in Australia and we expect 70 per cent of people attending will be coming from outside the Gold Coast at a time of year which isn’t normally as busy.”

Area councillor Gail O’Neill opposed the festival, arguing licensed venue operators, surf lifesavers and residents were opposed to a concert on the beach.

She said she was a big supporter of the World Surf League (WSL) but could not understand their push for a concert event.

“I’m very disappointed the World Surf League is backing this event,” she said.

The WSL urged Mayor Tom Tate and councillors to support a beach concert at Coolangatta because it will be a significant boost the southern Coast’s economy.

But the Southern Chamber of Commerce warned the event would not benefit traders, who also opposed an earlier festival in 2019.

‘It will bring traffic to a standstill’: Gold Coast votes on beach festival

The beach concert at Coolangatta during a pro world surfing event will go ahead despite councillors being split.

The vote was 7-5 in favour of the concert application after a lengthy debate at a full council meeting on Monday.

Those councillors in favour were Mayor Tom Tate, Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, Mark Hammel, Peter Young, Bob La Castra, Darren Taylor and Brooke Patterson.

Councillors voting against included area councillor Gail O’Neill, her southern colleagues Daphne McDonald and Pauline Young along with William Owen-Jones.

Cr Gates told councillors the concert would be staged at no cost to the ratepayer and was smaller than Cooly Rocks On which attracted 46,000 fans.

“Coolie can cater for 30,000 people,” she said.

Cr La Castra rejected safety concerns saying the event would be fenced off.

“I can’t see how this is the wrong location. It’s probably the widest beach we have,” he said.

Cr O’Neill said licensed venue operators, surf lifesavers and residents were opposed to a concert on the beach.

She said she was a big supporter of the World Surf League (WSL) but could not understand their push for a concert event.

“I’m very disappointed the World Surf League is backing this event,” she said.

Earlier, the WSL urged Mayor Tom Tate and councillors to support a beach concert at Coolangatta because it will be a significant boost the southern Coast’s economy.

But the Southern Chamber of Commerce warned the event would not benefit traders.

The unnamed festival is earmarked to be held at Queen Elizabeth Park and Coolangatta Beach on May 4.

A council report predicts it will inject more than $5m into the economy.

The vote at an earlier economy, lifestyle and tourism committee was three-three with chair Bob La Castra using his casting vote to support the event.

Cr O’Neill, aware of the opposition to the SandTunes event in 2019 and after talking to traders, pushed at committee and full council for colleagues to stop the concert.

Partygoers enjoying a music festival.

The WSL said discussions had been held with event organisers TEG and, while specifics were still to be determined, the Surf League backed the proposal.

“TEG is a professional event organiser with a strong track record in staging events,” WSL wrote, in an email to the Mayor and councillors.

“We will collaborate on various aspects including patron logistics, cross-promotional marketing initiatives, joint VIP/ticket offers, shared talent opportunities and international broadcast opportunities.

“We expect the proposed event will drive significant economic benefit to Coolangatta across the event period.

“We believe the combination of the WSL event and the proposed event will add substantially to this major event week in Coolangatta and the Gold Coast.”

Southern Chamber of Commerce vice president Zac Revere said the chamber was committed to building better business conditions but it had reservations about the event.

“Our concern with this concert is that, on its face, it does not appear to provide any substantial benefits to our local traders, and could even go as far as potentially disrupting their operations,” Mr Revere said.

Cr Gail O'Neill — opposed to concert. Picture: Jerad Williams.

“The lack of clear communication and details from the event organisers is concerning. While we’ve seen numerous events in the area that positively impact our business community, it’s unclear whether this event’s organisers have made similar efforts”.

Mr Revere said the event differed to Cooly Rocks On, Blues on Broadbeach and

Groundwater Country Music Festival which create substantial opportunities for local enterprises.

“The proposed event’s structure – including a total lock-in approach with no pass outs and exclusive operation of food and alcohol services by the promoter – does not appear to extend similar advantages,” he said.

Chamber spokesperson Zac Revere — concerned about traders. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Surf lifesaving sources believe beach safety will not be the biggest planning priority with council lifeguards patrolling the event.

“You have to have a traffic management plan. Imagine it around Kirra Point. It will bring traffic to a standstill,” the source said.

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