Inside Surfers Paradise beach club’s million dollar post-cyclone reno

A Surfers Paradise beach club was among the worst hit by cyclone Alfred’s destruction, however with the sun reemerging the venue is taking the opportunity to revamp bigger and better.

Before and aftermages of Cali Beach Club damage

The operator of a Surfers Paradise rooftop beach club which suffered significant damage from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred is taking the opportunity to revamp bigger and better.

Cali Beach Club, on the Elkhorn Avenue-Surfers Paradise Boulevard corner, is expecting losses exceeding a million dollars after the cyclone caused the kitchen roof collapse and significant water damage. On top of that, a steel shade ripped free and wooden louvers were torn straight from their hinges by the strong winds.

Artesian Hospitality managing partner Matt Keegan said the expected losses resulted from both the physical damage combined with the cost of closing down for reconstruction.

“To the extent possible we’re still making payments to staff and contractors even though we are closed. The loss of revenue on the three to four weeks we expect to be closed is quite a significant amount of money.

“But equally the amount of damage that’s being done is going to require a large amount of works.

“It’s everything from landscaping to AV to kitchen equipment to day beds - it’s just such a large scope of work that now has to be undertaken.”

The large shade was ripped from steel fastings by cyclone Alfred

Wooden louvers were torn straight from their frames by the strong winds

Mr Keegan said going through the venue after the weather emergency and seeing the extent of the damage was “devastating”.

“Over the subsequent days, we learned the scope of damage to things like electrical and kitchen equipment was going to mean that there was going to be an even longer period of closure.

“It’s pretty heartbreaking.”

It isn’t all bad news however - the venue is taking the opportunity to renovate, with Mr Keegan promising to “spruce things up” so the Glitter Strip hotspot can come back “bigger and better than ever”.

“We are going to be deploying some money towards improving things. 
There’ll be a mini face lift going on up there and it’s a good opportunity for us to take the time and come back bigger and better than ever as Cali Beach 2.0 when we reopen in a few weeks time.”

Mr Keegan said the facelift would include sound and lighting improvements as well as aesthetic additions and management are already preparing to welcome back guests.

“We’ll want to kick things off with the bang, so we’ll be planning a reopening party and we’ll have more details on that over the next week or two. “

Cali Beach Club is a mutli-faceted venue reminciscent of Bali and Vegas-style beach clubs, complete with day beds, cabanas, swimming pools, an outdoor volleyball court and movie theatrette, DJ area, bars and restaurant zones.

Originally published as Inside Surfers Paradise beach club’s million dollar post-cyclone reno