We won’t beat it
Band of bongo buddies determined to keep the rhythm
BURLEIGH bongo players say the beat will go on despite Gold Coast City Council’s calls for the group to get a permit.
Council yesterday backflipped on its decision to ban bongo drumming, fire twirling and slacklining from a Burleigh Heads park. But it insisted those gathering retain liability insurance and a park use permit before meeting.
Jason Ure, who has been drumming with a Burleigh group for more than a decade, said they will meet again this Sunday following the council U-turn.
“It is definitely on this week, there will be a big turn out. It is just an organic group of people that get together,” he said.
Mr Ure said he does not see a difference between a casual gathering of surfers, runners or drummers.
“It is pretty hard to see the difference between anyone swimming around in a group and a group of people meeting up in the park,” Mr Ure
said. “We aren’t an official group, we don’t have a committee or a leader. It doesn’t make sense to put a gathering into a box like this.
“Charging people to pay for insurance would go against the feeling of the event.”
The group which has previously been prevented from playing past 8.30pm, said they share some of council’s concerns about anti-social behaviour by fringe spectators during the gatherings.
“Very occasionally there are people in the crowd that are on drugs, or have come out from a pub after drinking to watch,” recreational drummer and Burleigh resident Karen Achilles said.
“The group doesn’t want them there either, it’s become a family gathering. But drug concerns should be the responsibility of the police not of others in the park.”
Permits for the use of a Gold Coast City Council park for community activities cost $98.00 per application, however the public liability insurance has been quoted into the thousands.
For Concillor Pauline Young, who met with stakeholders earlier this month, the issue is a matter of safety.
“Incidents that occur in the park may fall back on ratepayers if the group doesn’t maintain liability insurance,” she said.
“All other activities are governed by the permit program.
“As the elected reprehensive I need to act on the complaints and concerns raised by community.
“The park and safety of our residents and public liability is something I have to deal with and is part of the job I was elected to do.”