Letter of the Week
Have strong opinions, write in an engaging way? You could win our Letter of the Week, and with it a book from our friends and sponsors, the publishers HarperCollins. This month’s book prize is Cross her Heart by Sarah Pinborough. Some secrets are worth dying for – the mind-blowing thriller from the author of the bestselling Behind Her Eyes.
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ON Sunday the Queensland Govt announced $125 million for a new theatre facility for QPAC in Brisbane. This will enormously benefit the people of Brisbane and provide a new driving force for arts and cultural tourism. It will provide economic and social benefits exponentially in excess of the planned monetary investment.
Tourism and arts industry analysts have long recognised the enormous economic potential of arts and cultural tourism, as well as the richness it brings to the lives of local residents. As a mature international tourism destination, the Gold Coast must have venues that cater for an arts and entertainment offering that ranges from the established classics and performing arts through to emerging forms of artistic expression, modern music concerts and everything across the spectrum in between. This theme has become part of the debate about Cbus Stadium and whether or not a smaller stadium might encourage the expansion of the arts and cultural tourism offering.
But a leading point is being missed: why isn’t the proper funding path being followed by Mayor Tate and Council to fund the Gold Coast Arts Precinct? Clearly there are State government funds available, and the State’s Trade and Tourism Ministers both recognise the importance of the arts and cultural sector as part of the tourism offering. Why wasn’t the funding of the Cultural Centre Precinct a Commonwealth Games legacy program initiative? Who dropped the ball there?
Why are we trying to sell the family silver (the profitable and essential Bruce Bishop Car park) to fund the expansion of essential arts tourism infrastructure?
The tired old idea of lazily flogging off valuable assets in order to acquire other assets is so mid-20th century. Mayor Tate and this Council pride themselves on being innovative and forward thinking and Mayor Tate seems to have a close relationship with both Ministers. Where is their innovative spirit now?
DEBORAH KELLY, SECRETARY & STEERING COMMITTEE COORDINATOR, SAVE SURFERS PARADISE INC.
I NOTE from the Bulletin that the police are being directed to investigate the process of a peaceful and respectful passing by the old and infirm (‘Dead of night doorknock’, GCB, 29/5/’18).
Raiding premises at night and terrorizing citizens who are seeking a dignified passing. Please leave them in whatever peace they may be able to salvage.
I also would like to know WHO is directing this obvious abuse of the elderly in pain. I doubt whether it is the Police themselves. It is out of character.
I would think all of those suffering from this misdirected effort are suffering enough as it is. Some form of support from the public would be appreciated.
We have enough to worry about without the fear of intervention. We hurt nobody except ourselves. MAURIE, BENOWA
In my letter GCB 29/5, through a slip of the pen, I of course omitted to include the GCCC Library in my proposal for an early start to a multistory car park at Burleigh Heads.
The Gold Coast Library network is unmatched, and redevelopment of the Burleigh Branch Library would bring it up to the standard of those magnificent community facilities at Broadbeach and Southport. PETER SCOTT, TALLEBUDGERA