CHEF SERVES UP BROADIE GLORY GOAL

A BROADBEACH restaurant owner is on a mission to bring the suburb back to its former glory and wants the elected government to help in any way possible.

Tim Huijs is a New Zealand citizen and won’t be able to vote at the weekend’s federal election, but the first-time business owner will be affected by the result.

The 30-year-old chef opened Don’t Gnocc It six months ago and a 1920s-themed bar is set to launch next door in July as part of the business.

He said marketing costs were a major but necessary start-up expense and any assistance in this department would go a long way.

Mr Huijs also suggested new businesses owners pay less tax to help overcome the hurdles of the make-or-break first years.

He praised current incentives to hire young people, which he had used. But he said it would be even better if the youngsters were given prior training to optimise the chance of them becoming long-term employees.

The team at Don’t Gnocc It is hyped up for Blues on Broadbeach and thinks such events are vital for the suburb’s future.

Mr Huijs would like to see major events spread out across the yearly calendar to keep traffic at a steady high.

“We want to bring more things for people to experience at Broadbeach,” he said. “We need more things like Blues. We have a lot of awesome events which happen here but they all seem to be around the same time.”