Letter of the Week
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AS the Gold Coast population approaches one million people over the next 20 to 25 years, we have the opportunity to think about how the city operates to leverage investment and resources to grow our economy and tourism (Alliances facing the axe 10/11 GCB).
It’s time to move past the existing parochial “village culture” and embrace a single City of Gold Coast as our council now promotes.
The city’s tourism organisations, Gold Coast Tourism, Surfers Paradise Alliance, Broadbeach Alliance, Connection Southern Gold Coast, Promoting Southport CBD (for want of a name) and Study Gold Coast etc receive around $30 million each year, via direct tourism and economic diversification levies and other funding directly from within the annual city budget. Many of these organisations receive additional third party income via government funding, rebates, membership fees, co-operative marketing and advertising campaign and sponsorships.
Council also invests in promotion, events and civic ceremonies so the overall investment far exceeds the $30 million dollar mark. I make no judgment on any individual organisation, other than the striking imbalance in the 17-18 budget where Surfers Paradise receives $3.4 million and attracts millions of visitors and Southport receives $1.2 million for an unknown number of visitors and development related activation.
This is a substantial investment in the city by the Mayor and council and they are to be commended for this long-standing commitment on behalf of ratepayers and businesses.
Why should selected areas have dedicated marketing and promotion authorities while other important places such as our northern suburbs and Hinterland are left wanting for both economic and tourism-related visitations and activation? With Coomera’s population growing to 77,000 by 2043, it’s time to consider changing the way we deliver these services across all suburbs in the our fast growing city.
A single entity delivering all tourism and event-related marketing, activations, event delivery and economic stimulation has the potential to deliver a far more efficient service and facilitate activation across the entire city. A 21st century business model for leveraging return on investment, growing visitations and maximising the execution and delivery.
I do recall this model being discussed in council over 10 years ago, so this is not a new idea. RICHARD HOLLIDAY, SURFERS PARADISE I WOULD imagine the naked gardener service to be offered between Byron Bay and Noosa shouldn’t need too much promotion as I imagine word of mouth should see business flourish. (GCB Nov 9)
Naturally the weather will play an important role as to how far the gardeners will go.
These guys (and gals) will need to be very careful when pruning roses for example as one prick can do a lot of damage.
As for health authorities worried about the dangers of the sun on bare bodies, surely the onus is on the workers to cover up or use sunscreen. Of course, covering up defeats the purpose.
I’m sure gardeners will be really attracted to homes with a swimming pool as I’m think a skinny dip would be in order. KEN JOHNSTON, ROCHEDALE SOUTH WHAT’S next for Malcolm Turnbull? After blaming everyone but himself for the Wentworth debacle, will he now continue his vendetta against the Government?
His windy ramble on the ABC .(where else?) on Thursday night indicates a deliberate campaign by an embittered man right up to the next election. Everyone, it seems, is out of step except Malcolm. P.C. WILSON, MIAMI MAGIC is the art of distraction and now, so is politics.
I saw Jurassic Park with real dinosaurs. I saw Star Trek with real aliens. I saw The Walking Dead with real zombies.
Then I saw Sarah Huckabee Sanders’s tweeted video clip with real editing changes and a ‘faked’ version of what hundreds saw live and that was filmed. Resign now before somebody hands in a faked resignation for you. DENNIS FITZGERALD