‘Tired’ Surfers showpiece in need of a rejuvenation

MERIT to Ann Wason Moore for her reflective opinion piece on Surfers Paradise. (GCB, 15/8/20)

Few would disagree with her accurate narrative “The alleged jewel in the crown of this tourism kingdom has been decidedly dull for too long”.

While decision-makers continue to choose tacky over quality, the tongue-lashing will persist, the most recent from Miriam Margolyes in her ABC documentary, now sold for world-wide distribution.

I always ponder why Gold Coast City Council encourages locals after reporting community issues by phone, to participate in a survey on their experience with the polite Council officer, when seemingly nothing further happens to rectify the reported issue. If serious, why not a result or outcome follow-up survey?

The heart and soul of Surfers Paradise is the beach framed by our famous sign with Cavill Avenue, restaurants and shops leading to parks and Riverwalk for ferries to act as ambassadors for our vast waterway network.

I see no merit in moving our famous sign, as has been suggested, that millions take their photo under as a right of passage, along with our unique, beach backdrop wave rock Cenotaph which doubles as a park bench with no barricades to stop the hordes climbing over it.

Two riverside restaurants on the most expensive piece of real estate, experiencing the most glorious daily sunsets sit empty, apart from a regular trashing by vandals.

Recently vandals flooded the basement of a central, residential highrise building and smashed the glass entry door. One wonders if this incident would have happened had the lights in the nearby park, repeatedly reported out of order, been fixed.

We happily spruik we are a serious tourist destination yet see no problem with rubbish bins and milk crates hindering foot traffic in busy thoroughfares and industrial bins housed permanently near essential community services.

We have been blessed with a gem, but “tired” is written all over Surfers Paradise.

The planting of native trees in Cavill Mall is the first step hopefully toward rejuvenation. Let us hope we now have the maturity to enter a new era honestly, showcasing Surfers Paradise in all her glory to be the classy destination she deserves.

The framework is waiting, we just need to take off the blinkers.