Surf titles to rescue for local businesses
Trade spike welcomed after Games disaster
A SENIOR politician has dubbed the Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships “busier than the Commonwealth Games” as local businesses enjoy a week of bumper trade.
While the city was a ghost town during the Games in April last year, cafe and restaurant owners are expecting a massive week as surf lifesavers descend on the Glitter Strip.
Organisers have predicted millions of dollars will be injected into the local economy by the time the event wraps up on Saturday.
“We have about 6000 competitors and with them come 90,000-odd spectators which generally adds up to injecting about $20 million into the local economy,” Australian Surf Lifesaving Championships referee Wayne Druery said.
Lola’s Cafe and Lola’s Fish and Chip shop are among the businesses rostering on extra staff for the Aussies.
“We have put on about 13 staff members – on a normal Monday we would have about four,” owner Cheryl Bench said.
“We are expecting it to be extremely busy … a lot of coffee, but it all just depends on the weather.”
Restaurants and cafes were already packed at Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads for the weekend.
Broadbeach Alliance CEO Jan McCormick said business was booming on the back of the event.
“It’s wonderful, absolutely wonderful for the precinct,” she said. “Most are staying locally, therefore they’re shopping at supermarkets plus they’re also eating out at the restaurants, drinking in the bars, and as the tournament progresses and people are no longer competing they hang around Broadbeach and have a good time.
“It’s a great boost leading into Easter.”
Ms McCormick said for each competitor there were often a number of supporters spending money in the city.
“Any young person competing is travelling with mum and/or dad and generally the siblings come as well,” she said.
It was a similar story at Burleigh as local businesses scored a surge in trade during the weekend’s juniors events.
Burleigh MP Michael Hart told the Bulletin the event was a bigger drawcard than the Commonwealth Games.
“The government went too far in trying to scare people away during the Games and so locals left town and visitors didn’t come to other parts of the Gold Coast because they were worried about the traffic on the M1, the accommodation, things like that,” he said,
“The Aussies are bringing people in looking for a place to have a feed each night and a coffee in the morning. It’s good for Burleigh, it’s humming.”
The competition has moved to Broadbeach for the rest of the week.