Year going out with $1.7m ratepayer bang
THE entire city is to enjoy a post-covid Christmas-new Year events bonanza with more than $1.7m planned in celebrations.
Mayor Tom Tate released details in a mayoral minute at full council on Friday morning.
Instead of fireworks focusing on Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach, the north and south of the city will host their own events from council’s total budget.
Christmas carols will be switched from HOTA to its traditional home at the Broadwater Parklands to cater for a crowd of up to 10,000 people.
The total cost to host additional carols and New Year’s Eve events will be “around $100,000 each”. A majority of councillors backed the move.
Coomera and Coolangatta will have “big bang” fireworks on New Year’s Eve. HOTA, for the Christmas carols, will have some fireworks and laser technology with a drone show.
Cr Tate said he had suggested during special budget meetings that some divisionallysignificant events be absorbed in the whole city budget.
He said residents had suffered significant event restrictions in the past two years due to the pandemic and “now is the time to finalise the proposal for 2022”.
The funding will cover these significant events: SOUTHPORT will have Australia Day, CBD Sundown, Monster Machinery Day and the Mayor’s Christmas Carols, with an estimated $872,000 injection of funds.
SURFERS Paradise will get almost $500,000 for Seafire, Kids Weekend, Christmas Carols and New Year’s Eve fireworks. BROADBEACH will get more than $188,000 to spend on various events, including New Year’s Eve fireworks. NORTHERN and southern Gold Coast will each have $100,000 spent on Christmas and New Year.
The Mayor said the program would deliver “financial and delivery efficiencies”.
Cr Tate told the Bulletin: “Ho, ho, ho – it’s off to Coomera we go and off to Coolangatta and Southport with three major carols events endorsed today as well as New Year’s Eve celebrations for those areas.
“These will include the traditional Mayor’s Christmas Carols (back at Broadwater Parklands) as well as two other key events – in Coomera and Coolangatta.
“The rolling Covid lockdowns of the past two years have impacted the social connection our city is famous for so it’s time to come together and celebrate the joys of the festive season.
“Divisional councillors can still host their own local carols or be a part of these whole-ofcity-funded events. With today’s decision, planning can now start in earnest.’’
Mayor Tate confirmed that all events would remain free.
“We urge attendees to consider using public transport to get to their chosen event. Dates will be published in coming weeks.’’