Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach hub shake up ‘sad’, says Chamber boss

Head of the central Gold Coast business lobby and veteran Surfers Paradise traders are branding council plans to disband distinct precinct tourism alliances a “sad day”.

THE central Gold Coast business lobby boss is dubbing plans to disband Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach tourism alliances a “sad day” for the city.

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall has joined veteran Surfers Paradise traders opposing a push to disband Surfers Paradise Alliance and Broadbeach Alliance.

HANDS OFF SURFERS PARADISE ALLIANCE

Connecting Southern Gold Coast would also be disbanded when an overwhelming majority of councillors are expected to tomorrow support creating new entity Major Events Gold Coast (MEGC).

“It is disappointing from a Chamber perspective because the three regions are starkly different and the local feel to manage the local events is what is needed.

“We have seen the benefits of that with Blues on Broadbeach and the VIVA Elvis Presley festival that are locally run. What we didn’t see during the Commonwealth Games was those local alliances brought in and if they had been Festival 2018 (for the Games) might have been more successful.

Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce President Martin Hall. Picture: Richard Gosling

“We as a chamber are very supportive of having the different alliances along the length of the Coast so it would be a very sad day.”

The Bulletin this morning revealed councillors tomorrow would likely vote to end the city’s various promotion alliances and replace them with a mega tourism body.

From July 2020 the Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach alliances along with Southern Gold Coast would be wound up with the MEGC starting permanent operation.

Surfers Paradise Alliance which council is looking likely to disband organises events like the Viva Surfers Paradise Elvis Presley festival. Photo of winner Brodie Finlay. Photo by Richard Gosling

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate today responded to claims that a change to the structure of the city’s precinct alliances would mean poor outcomes.

“That’s incorrect. There are obvious benefits in bringing the alliances together to form an events company,’’ he said.

“The financial savings from that can be poured back into more events as well as creating a better aligned annual calendar.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Jerad Williams

“It makes no sense when we have four alliances, some offering significant events on the same night as each other. You are splitting the market and causing confusion with visitors and locals.

“Having a single events company ensures efficiencies and through proper management, we can ensure the equal spread of significant events right throughout the city.’’

But veteran traders in Surfers Paradise - including some with decades of experience in the visitor hub - have told the Bulletin no one from council has asked them for their view.

Surfers Paradise Beach Cafe and Latitude 28 Restaurant and Bar owner Arthur De Snoo said he was surprised by the revelation most councillors would vote to scrap SPA for a larger, Gold Coast-wide body.

Veteran Surfers Paradise operator Arthur De Snoo: “No one has contacted me or anyone whatsoever. You don’t make business decisions before you are well informed so I don’t expect councillors to make decisions until they are properly informed.” Picture: Hannah Gill

“No one has contacted me or anyone whatsoever. You don’t make business decisions before you are well informed so I don’t expect councillors to make decisions until they are properly informed.

“They are playing with people’s livelihoods by doing this,” Mr De Snoo said.

SPA, funded by a trader levy collected by council, is responsible for a raft of events activating Surfers Paradise including Seafire fireworks, Surfers Paradise LIVE music festival, the VIVA Elvis Presley celebration and eclectic Surfers Paradise beachfront markets.