Riverwalks, reduced traffic and HOTA urban oasis part of plan to return to Surfers Paradise tourism ‘glory days’
Dated holiday destination Surfers Paradise will undergo a massive transformation as part of a plan to return the central suburb to its “glory days”. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PLAN
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Riverwalks, reducing traffic and an urban oasis to HOTA will all be considered in the push to return Surfers Paradise to its “tourism glory days”.
A council report will be commissioned to outline a strategy and funding model for the dated city centre.
Area councillor Darren Taylor has already started the spend, ensuring the popular Seafire fireworks return in June.
Future changes could include:
* A riverwalk between the Riverside precinct, Budds Beach and Macintosh Island Park.
* A widening of foreshore pathways and changes to traffic.
* A refresh of Orchid Ave, reducing vehicle access or speeds.
* An “urban oasis” marking the start of a cultural walk to HOTA.
“It’s really important we understand where it all started from and came from. And it’s important that we do understand what’s needed to ensure that Surfers Paradise is still a golden jewel on the Gold Coast,” Cr Taylor told councillors at the Evandale chambers on Tuesday.
Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster said Cr Taylor had worked hard on creating a new vision, putting up plans but had until now been unable to get support.
“I think you’ve had a lot of meetings but you haven’t had much traction. But today the rubber meets the road,” Cr Vorster said.
Acting Mayor Donna Gates told the Bulletin: “We know the importance of the Surfers Paradise to the Gold Coast and it’s more important than ever as the long recovery for our tourism sector continues.
“But it’s not just visitors, we want residents to rediscover this very important jewel in the Gold Coast crown.”
A place-making report released more than 12 months ago said many locals who visited Surfers Paradise believed the precinct had “lost its identity and soul”.
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“Surfers Paradise has always been seen as a place for fun and playfulness, but at some point it tried to become more sophisticated and in the process lost its connection with locals and in particular families,” the report said.
“Recently, the precinct has tried to rectify this through a number of family events, such as Seafire, Kids Week, VIVA, Surfers Paradise Live and Sand Safari Arts Festival. It is vital for Surfers Paradise to diversify its economic revenue streams to create a more sustainable economic base.”
Cr Taylor told the Bulletin that the place-making plan was about streetscaping but another “body for work” was focused on the foreshore and Cavill Mall.
He said no timing had been set on the new report or funding level, but the changes would look at all options.
“Do we need the roads on the foreshore, or don’t we need it? There’s a lot of body of work that needs to be done to understand what we can and can’t do in Surfers and then what the outlook could look like.”
Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek told Parliament this week that his electorate had “fallen victim to a devastating deluge of hooning”.
“The correlation between diminished traffic police presence on our local roads and juvenile delinquents wreaking havoc can only be attributed to officers being bombarded by other jobs and other priorities,” he said.
Mr Langbroek described his electorate as a “shell of its former self” and was “not looking the best or as it has in the past”.
“The Council of the City of Gold Coast and new councillor Darren Taylor are coming up with significant plans, but that does not help the businesses there at the moment.
“(It is) certainly an issue for the future and a challenge for the Gold Coast.”
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