Big Day Out to stay on Gold Coast

THE Queensland government says it has struck a deal to keep the Big Day Out musical festival on the Gold Coast for years to come.

the Gold Coast leg of the 2012 Big Day Out music festival, held at Southport Parklands, Southport

A DEAL has been struck to keep the Big Day Out music festival on the Gold Coast for at least the next five years.

The future of the festival on the coast had been in doubt due to the redevelopment of its Parklands site to accommodate an athletes village for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.

But the Queensland government says festival organisers have accepted an offer to help relocate the event to another Gold Coast venue.

"This agreement lays to rest any speculation about the future of the Big Day Out not remaining on the Gold Coast," Tourism Minister Jann Stuckey said in a statement on Friday.

The event's chief executive Adam Zammit said he was relieved a resolution had been reached to keep the festival on the tourist strip.

"We hope to secure and announce a new location on the Gold Coast very soon," he said.

Ms Stuckey said more than 45,000 people were expected to attend this year's festival on January 20.

"The Big Day Out is a major event for the Gold Coast, attracting visitors from throughout Queensland and interstate and I am very pleased to see it stay on the Gold Coast," she said.