Promoter says people worried by noise ‘living in wrong place’

REVVED up entertainment pioneer Billy Cross is over the debate about whether the GC600 is good for the city, saying 200,000 attendees can’t be wrong.

Mr Cross, whose Cross Promotions runs on and off-track party zones and gigs for the Supercars’ Glitter Strip leg, said detractors of this weekend’s three-day Surfers Paradise festival frustrated him immensely and should “shut up”.

“Anything that brings in 200,000 people who spend so much money when here is a good thing,” he said. “Whoever bags that are idiots – don’t bag something that is the biggest sporting event on the Gold Coast.

“Let’s embrace it. Yes, there is a bit of traffic and noise with it but every city in the world that has big events has those disruptions.

“The Gold Coast is an events city. If you don’t want the disruption, go live in Kingaroy. It’s nice and quiet there – you can sit down in peace and have your cup of tea and scones, you’ll be sweet.”

Mr Cross said on top of the GC600’s visitor and direct economic impact was “priceless” exposure from footage broadcast overseas.

“I know a lot of people in America who see it broadcast and say how they didn’t realise the Gold Coast was so beautiful. The footage is a big free ad. What it does brand-wise in terms of showcasing our beautiful city is something you can’t put a price on. Show me another event on the Coast that delivers 200,000.”

Earlier this year, prominent Gold Coasters questioned

whether the annual Schoolies knees-up and GC600 V8s street race created images and profile which fit with the city’s family friendly tourism profile.

But yesterday Mr Cross told the Bulletin: “Let’s end the debate, the GC600 is here to stay. Get behind it and what it does for this city.”

Mantra Group’s Luke Moran said this year had seen a “substantial uplift” in bookings at its 22 Gold Coast properties for the weekend.

“Our Gold Coast properties

are heavily booked and nearing capacity on Friday and Saturday nights, with a combined average occupancy of 94 per cent, in line with last year.

“We’ve also noticed an increase in our guests’ average length of stay year on year.

“We still have rooms but we expect these to be snapped up in the coming days.”

QT Resorts’ Andrew McSweeney said QT Gold Coast in Surfers Paradise was at 100 per cent occupancy from Thursday to Sunday nights.