Nicolle Patricia Archer: Community campaigner and former council candidate sentenced after drink driving four times over the limit

A former Gold Coast council candidate has been sentenced for driving under the influence after she blew more than four times over the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration limit. Read when she will be back on the road.

Former Gold Coast council candidate Nicholle Patricia Archer, 50, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor when she appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Photo: Scott Powick

A former Gold Coast council candidate has been sentenced for driving under the influence after she blew more than four times over the legal Blood Alcohol Concentration limit.

Nicholle Patricia Archer, 50, pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of liquor when she appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

The court heard Archer, while driving a car at five kilometres per hour, hit a concrete curb at an intersection near Price Street, Nerang on March 27, 2025.

She was intercepted by police and submitted to a roadside breath test.

Archer, who unsuccessfully ran for Division 13 in the 2024 local government elections, pleaded guilty when she appeared in the Southport Magistrates Court on Wednesday. Photo: Scott Powick

The court heard Archer had bloodshot eyes, smelled of alcohol and was incoherent.

After the test she was taken to Nerang Police Station where she submitted to another breath test.

She returned a Blood Alcohol Concentration reading of 0.207 – more than four times over the legal limit.

The court heard Archer was attempting to drive from Nerang to her home in Tallebudgera Valley, and she told police her last drink was 30 minutes before she was intercepted by police.

Archer’s defence solicitor, Sam Jackson from Bamberry Lawyers, told the court that his client suffers with PTSD, severe anxiety and depression following a traumatic event in her childhood.

He said Archer thought those issues were behind her due to the passage of time but had recognised last year her drinking wasn’t healthy.

Mr Jackson told the court his client was a high functioning member of society and that Archer could recognise now she was probably busying herself to distract herself from her turbulent mind.

Archer unsuccessfully ran for Division 13 in the Gold Coast local government election last year and has led a number of community campaigns, including one to save the Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade.

Archer pictured meeting Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Supplied

The court heard Archer has also given her time voluntarily to a number of organisations and causes.

Mr Jackson said Archer had seen a GP and was prescribed antidepressants but it seemed to not be sufficient in managing her mental state which worsened in the lead up to the offence.

He said that on the night of the offence, Archer had attended the AGM of one of the organisations she was involved in and alcohol was flowing freely.

“She drove there, the plan was to drive home and she just did not exercise any restraint,” he said.

The court heard that Archer has commenced counselling with Lives Lived Well.

Archer has led a number of community campaigns including one to save the Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Jackson said that a loss of licence was going to affect Archer, who works as a mobile bookkeeper and is currently studying a masters degree.

Acting Magistrate Sarah Thompson noted Archer had spent a night in the watch house after her offence.

“That must have been a salutary lesson to someone who does not have a criminal history,” she said.

Ms Thompson said Archer had expressed remorse and noted the letters to the court that spoke of her good character and involvement in the community.

She said she was satisfied a fine was appropriate, given that Archer was attending to her own rehabilitation,

Archer was fined $750 and disqualified from obtaining a driver’s licence for six months.

A conviction was not recorded.

Originally published as Nicolle Patricia Archer: Community campaigner and former council candidate sentenced after drink driving four times over the limit