BEACH BARS A NO-BRAINER
A BAR on the beachfront would not be reinventing the wheel.
It also, if done properly, would not impact the environment or detract from the amenity of that most sacred of public spaces, the coastline.
Anyone who has experienced the beach-edge offerings available in tourism hotspots such as Bali and Hawaii will know how it can be done without an environmental degradation or cheapening of the beachfront experience.
Far from it.
As experienced during the Commonwealth Games with the plush beach-edge marquee in Broadbeach, during the Bleach* festival with its pop-up bar on the Burleigh sand, or the Magic Millions with its beach-front pop-up party venue in Surfers Paradise, it can very much be an enhancement.
The very professional marquee function area and bar erected for social events hosting visiting dignitaries in Broadbeach during the Commonwealth Games fortnight was universally endorsed.
Ditto the Bleach* Festival pop-up bar. None of those who enjoyed the Magic Millions launch party had anything but praise for the special experience of a night out on the edge of the sand.
A proposal by Broadbeach hospitality king Pat Gennari for a multi-million-dollar eco-friendly bar on the dunes at Broadbeach seems to be an example of how it could work in more of a semi-permanent fashion without spoiling the natural attraction of the beachfront, and add another drawcard to the city’s tourism appeal.
Whether Mr Gennari’s well-researched proposal put together by professional architects and consultants becomes a reality or not will be dependent on council endorsement and state approvals once submitted.
But the real test of such an idea is likely to come sooner once the stunning Jewel triple towers are completed as scheduled in a few months.
The centrepiece of the $1.3-billion Yuhu Group Australia development is a network of ground-floor pools, bars and restaurants that run right to the edge of the sand.
It will be an offering replicating the hotel frontages onto the sand at Hawaii’s Waikiki beach and provide a real litmus test for the city for beachfront hospitality.
The naysayers, predictably the environmental groups and less predictably LNP Member for Michael Hart as quoted in today’s Bulletin, need to rethink their opposition to the idea of beach bars and embrace at least trialling what could prove a very attractive proposition.
This city is a leader when it comes to attractions and experiences that excite the senses and leave not just its millions of visitors annually with treasured memories but its residents too.
Our climate is as unrivalled as it is consistent and year round would prove complimentary to the beach bar concept.
The Gold Coast is a 40km stretch of world-renowned beaches and they are not going to be ruined by a few well-judged and carefully planned entertainment options sprinkled at certain points.
It is an idea whose time has come and one with potential to make the city an even more attractive place to work, live and play.