Big names on concert’s bill

But Cooly locals unimpressed with beach event

A TOP US rapper and Canadian star are helping fuel a projected $11 million windfall for the first music festival to be held on Coolangatta Beach, the State Government and organisers say.

The only parties left to get on board are local residents and businesses.

Promoters TEG Dainty has revealed American rapper Logic and Canadian Carly Rae Jepsen are on the bill for the two-day SandTunes festival on November 30-December 1.

For Logic, it will be his first time performing in Australia. Jepsen, whose hits include Call Me Maybe, will also be joined in the line-up by Australian singer-songwriter Dean Lewis.

TEG Dainty president and CEO Paul Dainty told the Bulletin yesterday: “There will also be other exclusive and firsttime performances with the talent on the SandTunes lineup.”

Tourism Industry Development Minister Kate Jones said SandTunes would deliver an estimated $11 million into the local economy and generate almost 50,000 visitor nights for the Gold Coast.

“This brand-new concept on the beautiful sands of Coolangatta Beach is set to attract 35,000 people per day to the southern Gold Coast,” Ms Jones said.

“We expect up to a third of those attendees will be from interstate.

“We’re playing to our strengths – that’s why the event program is designed to showcase Coolangatta’s iconic beaches.

“The SandTunes program has also been strategically planned to finish at 10 each night so visitors can enjoy the city’s night-life, spreading the benefits of this great new event to pubs and clubs.”

However, Southern Gold Coast leaders have quizzed the merits of the festival.

They question the event’s timing during peak season, the overall economic impact to the town given many accommodation houses are already full, noise, consultation with the community and blocking parts of Coolangatta Beach for up to three weeks.

Area councillor Gail O’Neill questioned whether much of the benefit from SandTunes would be going directly to southern Gold Coast businesses.

“While I understand this will be a major boost to the Gold Coast, I can’t see Coolangatta getting a lot out of it, especially accommodation wise.

“So many places are already reporting they are 80 to 90 per cent booked at that time of year,” she said.

“My concern has always been the timing of the event,” she said.

The concert will be the main focus at the Coolangatta Police Community Consultative Committee tomorrow. The quarterly meeting is expected to address a number of community issues regarding SandTunes.

“The promoters have held several meetings with the business community but there has been a lack of consultation with the local community and that’s what’s causing concern, particularly how it will impact on Coolangatta and the southern Gold Coast,” Greater Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce vice president Jo Smith said.

Due to public interest, the meeting will be held at the Coolangatta Surf Club, starting at 4pm.