SHRINK SCHOOLIES

CALL TO WIND BACK FESTIVAL

CHANGES are afoot for the Schoolies Festival amid sustained pressure from Surfers Paradise traders to downsize the annual event.

In 2019 Queensland school leavers will be of legal drinking age following the introduction of the Prep year in 2007 and the raising of the school starting age by six months in 2008.

The Surfers Paradise Alliance argues that as schoolies will be able party in bars and clubs there will be less need for the extensive public infrastructure that closes off parts of Surfers Paradise beach.

Alliance boss Mike Winlaw said traders understood the Schoolies “hub” was primarily for safety purposes but it took up too much room and many graduates were exhausted by the marathon seven-day party.

“It’s time for a rethink of the seven days, maybe we could do four or five,” Mr Winlaw said.

“The kids get bored after two or three days. We need to look at the timeframe and quality of experience.”

Mr Winlaw said locals and other tourists were turned off by fenced-off sections of the beach at the end of Cavill Avenue and rows of portable toilets.

“I think we should be looking at the footprint of the event,” he said.

“That’s something we’ve been asking for, to get the footprint reduced so that holidaymakers can also enjoy the beach and it doesn’t detract from the natural beauty. It puts off locals coming in and the nightclubs suffer.”

Communities Minister Shannon Fentiman, whose department oversees the festival, confirmed there would be changes to the event but said “we have no plan to reduce the size of the Schoolies response”. She declined to detail other changes.

“Obviously there will be some change from 2019 as the first group of slightly older graduates completes their schooling,” she said. “The Government works closely with Gold Coast residents, community organisations and local businesses in preparation for Schoolies.

“We expect about 80 per cent of those attending this year’s Schoolies events will once again be under 18.”

Mr Winlaw said the Schoolies Festival, which attracts about 30,000 school-leavers, negatively impacted many Surfers Paradise traders.

But Matt Lloyd, the boss of Schoolies.com which handles Schoolies accommodation, took a swipe at businesses complaining about the event.

“Businesses who are agile and recognise the potential by tailoring their offering to suit the Schoolies market do incredibly well during this period,” Mr Lloyd said.

“Schoolies are going to come to the Gold Coast regardless, so it is best to have a controlled setting where the students are protected and can have fun in a safe, happy environment.”