Surfers Paradise: City leaders back revamp plans for party precinct

Civic leaders have universally backed calls to revitalise Surfers Paradise, warning if it “had ­feelings it would be in therapy because it keeps getting bashed”.

CIVIC leaders have universally backed calls to revitalise Surfers Paradise, arguing it must again become the jewel in the Gold Coast’s crown.

Harcourt’s Coastal boss Dane Atherton said the Glitter Strip has long been a source of constant criticism and deserved to be revamped.

“If Surfers Paradise had ­feelings it would be in therapy because it keeps getting bashed,” he said, speaking at the Bulletin’s Future Gold Coast forum.

“We ask so much of that suburb – it’s the night-life, the capital, the family place and it does very well for what it does.

‘I’m not saying it doesn’t need a refresh … and I do believe that a refresh is warranted but we cannot be too hard on it and expect it to be everything in the Gold Coast landscape.”

Dane Atherton, director of Harcourts Coastal. Picture Glenn Hampson

Acting Mayor Donna Gates aid it was important for Surfers Paradise to be revitalised.

‘There is a lot of empty shops and it is hard to encourage people to take up rentals when the expectation of the level of rent is perhaps inflated,” she said.

“It is something we do need to address because it has been the jewel in our crown and it would be good to put it back there again.

“That Surfers Paradise sign is one of the most frequently photograph places in Australia and that image is spread around the world.

“We really do need to give it a lick and polish.”

Donna Gates. Picture Glenn Hampson

Star Entertainment Group boss Robbie Cooke said he had a “soft spot” for Surfers Paradise and called for the return of beachfront slides, an icon of the area in the 1980s when it was home to the Grundy’s Entertainment Centre.

“The water-slide was great,” he said,

“As a kid the slides at the Grundy’s centre was my favourite place in the world.”

Queensland Airports CEO Amelia Evans also backed a refresh.

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Originally published as Surfers Paradise: City leaders back revamp plans for party precinct