DRAWING LINE IN SAND
HUGE crowds at the Broadwater Parklands and Owen Park during the city’s long weekend have convinced organisers that finding a permanent home can guarantee the long-term future of the Gold Coast Show.
While final figures are yet to be officially tallied up, total attendance for the show could top 130,000 people.
Now organisers are pushing for a place it can call home with suggestions including Avica Resort at Merrimac and the old Molendinar refuse tip,
Gold Coast Show Society president Leanne Kellett said the move from the city’s turf club to the Southport venues had been a stellar success.
“Everyone is looking forward to next year,” she said. “It shows the show is not dead.”
A GROUNDSWELL of support from huge crowds at this year’s landmark Gold Coast Show has renewed organisers’ hopes the event can secure a permanent home of its own.
And Clive Palmer’s Avica Resort at Merrimac and the old Molendinar tip have been mooted as potential future sites for a new Gold Coast showground.
Gold Coast Show Society president Leanne Kellett said while the show’s relocation from the Gold Coast Turf Club to Broadwater Parklands and Owen Park this year proved a stellar success, the city still needs a community venue to replace Parklands Showgrounds.
“When we were moved from Parklands Showgrounds the Government spent $12 million on the convention centre (at the turf club) which we can only use for 12 days of the year,” she said.
“We have an office and a shed there but that’s about it.
“The whole area around the racetrack is being built out. Traffic management is a nightmare. There’s nowhere to park, no public transport and all the traders and exhibitors have told us they will not go back to that location.”
Ms Kellett said Avica Resort and the Molendinar tip were great potential sites for showgrounds.
“Think of the Hollywood Music Bowl – that was an old quarry and look at that iconic site now,” she said.
“Someone with vision and deep pockets could do something like that with the Molendinar tip site too.”
Ms Kellett said official crowd figures would not be available until later this week but early forecasts indicated total attendance at the two sites could top 130,000.
“Every trader here this weekend has said thank you – thank you so much. The crowd have been lovely. Everyone is looking forward to next year,” she said. “It shows the show is not dead.”
Ms Kellett said members of the Showmen’s Guild of Australasia, which represents vendors and workers who travel the show circuit, had vowed to boycott the show if it returned to the turf club.
“This has been a great show for the guild members – it’s working really well for them,” she said.
“They’ve said they’re not going back to the turf club.
“The show has been a lot of hard work and a lot of tears but I’m so proud of what our committee and staff have put together.
“The people of the Gold Coast have shown how much they want a Gold Coast Show.
“It’s heartwarming that the Gold Coast has embraced the show again.”
Area councillor Dawn Crichlow, a long-time supporter of the show, said she hoped the event would remain in Southport.
“I think the venue they have is perfect,” she said.
Surfers Paradise MP John Paul Langbroek didn’t attend the show this year but was pleased crowds had turned out in force.
“I thought it had had it’s day but obviously the turf club wasn’t the right place for it,” he said. “I went last year and it was terrible. I’m really glad it’s been a success. It’s wonderful.”