Queensland state election 2024: LNP candidate Hermann Vorster calls for Burleigh night-life plan

There are calls for a strategy to manage Burleigh Heads’ transition from beachside village to busy nightspot as suburb again comes under the microscope. FIND OUT MORE

Former councillor turned Burleigh LNP candidate Hermann Vorster is calling for the creation of a strategy to manage the suburb’s transition from beachside village to busy nightspot.

The microscope is again on the future of Burleigh as a night-time destination after the alleged fatal assault of 22-year-old Nerang man Cameron Duce, who died on Saturday more than week after he was found by members of the public lying on the ground at First Ave near the corner of The Esplanade with a serious head injury.

Mr Duce had been walking home after a night out.

Hermann Vorster.

An 18-year-old man has been charged with unlawful striking causing death.

Following a series of other incidents, rampant development and a growing number of venues seeking longer trading hours, Mr Vorster said a coherent plan was needed to ensure the area was being managed better.

He blamed the incumbent Labor government for the “chaos” and not putting a plan in place while Burleigh’s population grew dramatically.

“What needs to happen is a strategy for our night-time economy and that work does not exist at the moment,” he said.

“We need to set expectations for the community and we need to set expectations for licensees and most important, we need to see police numbers increased to keep people safe.

Pink Monkey at Burleigh Heads. Picture Glenn Hampson

It comes after a growing debate over Burleigh’s night-life.

It was revealed just last week that popular venue Pink Monkey, which cut trade two hours to 11pm midweek – has a green light to operate as a “commercial hotel”, paving the way for 2am trading on Friday and Saturday nights.

It had already received development approval on August 2 for a commercial hotel which enables it to trade until 2am on Friday and Saturday nights.

There have been calls for the state government to designate Burleigh a “safe night precinct” in recognition of it as growing into a night-life hotspot.

This state designation has already been given to 15 locations, including Broadbeach and Surfers Paradise and were introduce to reduce drug and alcohol-related violence.

Light rail will be travelling through the heart of Burleigh Heads and further south. Renders from Queensland Government

It gives police the power to ban people from these precincts.

Mr Vorster, said there were pros and cons to the idea.

“Locals tell me they want a plan for the area and I don’t want to prejudge what that is but people pushing for a safe night precinct say those who are banned from Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach could be banned in Burleigh,” he said.

“Others warn this will open the door to more aggressive applications for late trading.

Let’s ask with the community aspires for the area, licensees who are doing the right thing and focus on the job for more police.

“I’ve spoken to a lot of residents and body corporates and they are worried about application after application without a broad plan for how this precinct should be managed.

“Some argue a reduction in weekday trading and an increase on the weekends will impact on their sleep but what we do need is a plan.”

Chief Superintendent Craig Hanlon earlier said part of the problems Burleigh had faced from night-time violence had come from people banned from the Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach safe night precincts heading south.