Southport’s growth must take in the bigger picture

THE development of Southport will continue, and rightfully so.

But Rob Molhoek and Eddy Sarroff are right: it does not need a casino. Southport needs investment by all levels of government – and by business – to strengthen its standing as the city’s CBD and ensure its long-term viability.

It is inevitable, therefore, that under-utilised public land will be reimagined and repurposed.

Many public service tasks, and business ones, could be undertaken from the Gold Coast, so why not place local people locally?

However, the relocation of our library into one of the proposed towers is not the go. Our library is a popular hub where people gather, reducing social isolation.

Access is a key issue. The parking lot would go, for one, and people would be forced to fight for fewer spaces and probably pay for the privilege in a building.

Many houseless and disenfranchised people also use the library.

It is a safe haven to catch up on the day’s news, access computers, undertake activities, get out of the weather, make friends.

They might not be made welcome in a larger office block inhabited by business and government people.

An alternative site needs to be considered.

And, shamefully ignored by both the Newman and Palaszczuk governments, the former TAFE site in Ridgeway Avenue has for years remained a large, vacant, decaying facility, despite submissions from many community organisations to use the buildings for their own and wider community purposes.

Sell off this site to fund other Southport developments, make it available to local groups, or reinvigorate it with government offices. Do not let it rot further.

IAN MCDOUGALL