BEACHY KEEN

STAR Entertainment Group CEO Matt Bekier is still keen on activating its Sheraton Grant Mirage property beachfront in future. Mr Bekier has previously expressed his interest in seeing hospitality on the beachfront at the Main Beach site it purchased for $140 million last year. But he ruled out any plans for gaming there for now. “There are more things we’d like to do at the Sheraton Mirage site — clearly the activation of the beach which would be quite a gamechanger,” he said. AUSTRALIA’S richest man says the Gold Coast does not need a second casino — even if it was built next to his Meriton Sundale apartment building.

Harry “Highrise” Triguboff AO (above) is founder and director of Australia’s biggest apartment developer and builder and he’s also a life member of the Southport Bowls Club — which is at the centre of Mayor Tom Tate’s latest idea for a second casino on the Gold Coast.

The billionaire was credited with saving the historic club from closure on the eve of its 100th anniversary celebrations in 2014, having donated generously to it as it faced declining membership and increasing costs. It is now one of the city’s most successful clubs.

Cr Tate last week announced an idea to offer it, along with the neighbouring tennis club and parkland, all on state land, to developers of an integrated resort.

Mr Triguboff, whose wealth was valued at $11.45 billion in May, said he did not believe the Gold Coast needed a second casino and it would be “unfortunate” if one replaced the bowls club. “The club is very much a family, a community, everyone knows everyone there.”

But Mr Triguboff, whose Sundale development is across the road from the Mayor’s proposed casino site, said he was open to other uses for the land if it benefited the community.

“I don’t believe a second casino in the Gold Coast will benefit the community or make the surrounding units more valuable,” he said.

“They should think carefully. However if it is a longterm investor, it could be a good investment for the developer.

“I’m generally in favour of development on the Gold Coast and more buildings in the centre proposed, the better.”

Meriton is building a $300 million tower on the Surfers Paradise Esplanade.