Parklands ‘perfect home’ for big gigs
CALLS for a permanent stage to be built at Broadwater Parklands to help lure more large live acts have been renewed following the success of this year’s Gold Coast 600 race weekend concerts.
“If you build it they will come. It’s as simple as that,” promoter Billy Cross said.
The Gold Coast City Council’s Live Music Taskforce has made a raft of recommendations to restore the city’s former reputation as a live music mecca.
Its report, currently before the Economic Development and Major Projects Committee, recommends council assess key public venues including Broadwater Parklands at Southport, Kurrawa Park at Broadbeach, Queen Elizabeth Park at Coolangatta and Doug Jennings Park, at The Spit, with a view to upgrading them to live music concert standard to optimise their appeal to promoters.
The report says the upgrades would minimise set up costs around items such as three-phase power, WiFi, stage reinforcement and lighting supports.
Council is reviewing the taskforce’s recommendations and will consult with the community and industry on any proposed changes.
Calls for permanent concert infrastructure at Broadwater Parklands were first floated in 2015 after more than 18,500 motorsport fans filled the area to see Cold Chisel as part of the GC600.
Area councillor Dawn Crichlow said this year’s Broadwater Sounds race weekend shows by Delta Goodrem and Daryl Braithwaite on Friday and Hilltop Hoods and Violent Soho on Saturday, had gone off without a hitch, with no sound complaints and no police incidents.
“They were highly successful with the light rail to move the crowds and no complaints whatsoever from neighbours about the noise,” she said. “In fact, they said it was great to be able to sit on their balcony and watch the music and watch the artists.”
Acting Mayor Donna Gates said council’s immediate focus was on the Cultural Precinct, stage one of which includes a “versatile outdoor space” (VOS or amphitheatre) stage and concert lawn for artistic, cultural and civic celebrations as well as ticketed concerts by touring acts.
Promoters will be invited to the Coast to view the new venue in the new year.
“Given our huge investment in the cultural precinct, I think our priority should be with activating it at this time,” Cr Gates said.
Mr Cross said the Coast needed a mid-sized venue to fill a void its range of venues.
“At one end, you have Metricon, where you have the big 40,000 seat Bon Jovi and Pearl Jams and Foo Fighters, and at the other, there’s all the amazing Miami Marketta and NightQuarter venues for smaller acts.
“We need something to fill the void for that 5000 to 10,000 crowd act.
“Obviously we need a facility that is set up so promoters can just plonk their acts there — these acts bring in a massive production and they need the facility for that. It needs to be a one-stop shop, close to public transport.”