Tourism Minister Kate Jones, Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew and Kaylee Campradt vow to protect Gold Coast’s World Surfing Reserve
Election candidates have revealed how they plan to protect an industry that’s worth $1.4 billion to the Gold Coast economy.
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THE Gold Coast’s iconic beaches and surfing industry is worth $1.4 billion to the local economy, says the Queensland’s Tourism Minister Kate Jones.
It also employs 20,000 people, said the outgoing Minister on Thursday afternoon at Currumbin Alley, where she met with Labor’s candidate for Burleigh Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew and candidate for Currumbin Kaylee Campradt.
The election campaigners visited the southern end of the Gold Coast to make an announcement regarding the World Surfing Reserve.
“Our Gold Coast beaches are iconic. They are the envy of the world and draw tourists not only from across Australia but the rest of the world,” Ms Jones said.
“Our iconic beaches and the surfing industry they support, bring in around $1.4 billion to the Gold Coast, employing 20,000 people.”
Minister Sport Mick de Brenni said a re-elected Palaszczuk Labor Government would ensure that the pristine beaches of the southern Gold Coast were protected for locals and tourists alike.
“We’ve heard from experts, and consultation is underway to hear from the people who visit our beaches, swim in our waters, and surf our waves,” Mr de Brenni said.
“Labor knows that the waves on the Gold Coast are a key driver of economic and social prosperity.
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“We’ve committed to consider enshrining these protections in law and this feedback will enable a re-elected Palaszczuk Government to develop legislation that could give strong and lasting protections.”
Labor candidate for Burleigh Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew said: “Our World Surfing Reserve is important globally as well as to our local community”.
“We have a unique opportunity to craft formal protections for the waves which ultimately support hundreds of surfboard and apparel shops, surfing schools, hotels, surfing festivals and surf lifesaving competitions.”
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Labor candidate for Currumbin Kaylee Campradt urged locals to speak up during the
consultation process, while Ms Jones said southern Gold Coasters who lived around the World Surfing Reserve needed representatives who would stand up for them.
“It’s really disappointing that the LNP Member for Burleigh slammed our push to declare these waves a World Surfing Reserve,” Ms Jones said.
Mr de Brenni said consultation is expected to be open online until the end of November. A decision will then be made on “how to best enshrine protections for our surf zone”.
You can have your say by visiting qld.gov.au/worldsurfingreserves and the discussion paper can be found at: hpw.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0017/13265/surfing-discussion-
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