Think tank: VO Group managing director Kelsie Smith

KELSIE Smith, founder and managing director of booming media company VO Group, believes better transport is needed to boost business and lifestyle on the Coast.

Kelsie Smith. Photo: Richard Gosling

KELSIE Smith began his career in business management through a traineeship in his home town of Toowoomba. After moving to the Gold Coast and working with 3 Mobile, he decided to put his skills to work for himself, forming VO Group — which helps businesses with branding, graphic design, marketing, social media, web development, apps and more. VO has grown from its home base in Southport, launching offices in Melbourne and Auckland. Mr Smith is also a co-founder of Australian Acupuncture Clinics, which has clinics in Benowa and Brisbane.

What do you love about the Gold Coast?

KELSIE Smith loves the Coast lifestyle.

“I love the laid-back lifestyle, and the focus on health and wellbeing among the community here. Even though it’s a relaxing place to live there is obviously a large boom in infrastructure and development, and I love the buzz created by this expansion of our retail, food and entertainment precincts.

“As a business owner, I love that the Gold Coast offers the right market for start-up businesses and entrepreneurs like me to mix with like-minded people.”

What do you think could be done better on the Gold Coast?

Gold Coast light rail. Picture Mike Batterham

“With the huge boom in housing, retail, entertainment and hospitality overall, we are finding that our transport options are under increasing pressure.

“While I support the light rail and its expansion, I also think new and innovative transport solutions need to be discussed before congestion threatens the way of life for us living on the Gold Coast.

“As a business owner, when starting a business or signing a lease I always have to consider transport for my clients and my staff, and I am noticing now more than ever that parking, traffic congestion and public transport options seem to be under increasing pressure to fulfil our needs.”

In your travels, what have you seen being done elsewhere you think could work well here?

The Star.

“I absolutely love to travel, and am inspired by how larger cities find ways to deal with city problems like pollution, environmental impact and public transportation.

“I love that in Tokyo I can wander through historic temples and parks with trees hundreds of years old that lie directly next to a massive shopping district — yet they have been almost seamlessly integrated together.

“I love how reliable public transport is in Asia as a whole. I like the hospitality and personalised service I receive in the USA (albeit because they want a tip!).

“Looking at the developments coming to the Gold Coast Arts Centre, the Star Casino in Broadbeach and the proposals of developing a second casino I think we can definitely learn from other countries in terms of integrating modern developments in ways that respect and uphold our beautiful environment.”

If money, time, laws and approvals were no issue, what is one big project you’d undertake tomorrow?

He wants eveyone to live close to light rail stations.

“That’s a big question! Part of me would love to expand my own business into an international empire based here on the coast.

“But looking at helping the Gold Coast overall and future generations, I would have to say expanding the light rail to reach as many suburbs as possible.

“I would love as many residents of the Gold Coast to be within walking distance of a light rail stop as possible.

“This would provide a massive boost for our economy in terms of development of the network but more importantly reduce the amount of cars on the road and the cost of building and maintaining roads and car parks.

“Looking at the next 20 years and the prediction of how expensive carbon will become it just makes sense to start making plans now to reduce our reliability on fossil fuels as a city.

“Otherwise, this option is more fun but maybe not as good as the option above, what I noticed travelling to beachside ‘entertainment’ districts like Seminyak in Bali and Miami in Florida is the incredible way they base their night-life on the coastline itself.

“Whether it’s enjoying a nice dinner, a cocktail or partying late into the night, you are always aware that you are on the beach and, at a lot of venues, have views overlooking the ocean.

“As much as I love going to dinner at the Star Casino, or even in Broadbeach, in reality I could be at any city in the world.

“I’m excited to see the opening of Jewel in Broadbeach as this seems to be the kind of project I have in mind.

“I would love more beachside options for dining, retail and entertainment.”

What conversations should Gold Coast movers and shakers be having?

He wants to see traffic sorted out too. Picture by Scott Fletcher

“That’s an easy one, business growth. Speaking as a successful business owner myself, I want younger generations of Gold Coaster’s to be inspired and feel supported to open their own business.

“At the moment there is a little too much red tape for new business owners to cut through in terms of zoning and other fees when they are looking to budget a start-up project.

“Whether it’s opening a healthy cafe, a pilates studio or a fashion boutique, I would love to see more and more new businesses open up along the coastline and offer some variety and competition to the big corporate shops, fast food restaurants and chain-name hotels.

“While our universities are world class, I want more opportunities for graduates in terms of start-up funding, business loans or even mentoring programs to get more excitement and passion into our city from a business point of view.

“Our population is growing so fast that we have the risk of turning into a city of supermarkets and big brand retail stores if our smaller, Gold Coast-owned businesses aren’t given the support they need to survive and thrive.

“This is why I love speaking to the business students at Griffith University which I have done for the past two years — to inspire them and show them that they can stay here on the Gold Coast and create a fantastic business and a fun life in this amazing city.”

Kelsie Smith Photo by Richard Gosling