TOURISM ALLIANCE ABOLITION A ‘BACKWARDS STEP’
FURIOUS Surfers Paradise traders say “ill-informed” councillors likely to abolish tourism hub alliances have done little consultation and allege it’s all pre-determined.
The Gold Coast City Council today votes on whether to disband Surfers Paradise (SPA) and Broadbeach alliances plus Connecting Southern Gold Coast in favour of a single city-wide entity.
The Bulletin has learned council CEO Dale Dickson has already called SPA, Broadbeach Alliance and Southern Gold Coast staff and boards to a “transition meeting” tomorrow.
One source was incredulous staff and boards had been advised of the “transition meeting” before the vote had been held.
“That’s outrageous. How do they already know how every councillor is going to vote?” they said.
“It’s like the decision has already been made before the vote has even happened.”
Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce president Martin Hall said the chamber opposed any move to abolish the separate alliances.
“It would be a sad day. The three regions are starkly different and the local feel to manage the local events is what is needed,” he said.
“We have seen the benefits of that with Blues on Broadbeach and the VIVA Elvis Presley festivals.
“What we didn’t see during the Commonwealth Games was those local alliances brought in. If they had, Festival 2018 (for the Games) might have been more successful.”
Michael Russo, co-owner for more than 35 years of Surfers Paradise bar The Avenue, said disbanding the SPA was “a backwards step”.
“What really gets me is a lot of these people making this decision have no idea about Surfers Paradise. I’ve been here a long time but no one is asking what we think about this – we’re only the major stakeholders.”
Mayor Tom Tate and Mr Dickson refused to discuss tomorrow’s “transition meeting” or today’s result being a “foregone conclusion”.
Cr Tate said: “I look forward to the debate and will not be publicly commenting until after.”
Mr Dickson said: “The report is before council. As such, I have no comment.”
Broadbeach Alliance chairman Darryl Kelly confirmed an invitation to tomorrow’s post-vote meeting but did not believe it was “curious”.
“There should be a major events organisation, I don’t think we are doing that overly well as a city. But there are different precinct requirements,” Mr Kelly said.