BURLEIGH AT CROSSROADS

BURLEIGH is undergoing massive change but its beach, barrels and headland remain a haven for the locals who love it.

Whereas Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach have a name as a tourism mecca – the famous Glitter Strip – places like Burleigh have been where Gold Coast families have gone for a swim, surf and day on the sand. Of course, domestic tourists have made Burleigh their destination too, seemingly forever, going back to the days when the Gold Coast’s beaches became tent and van cities packed with families who’d driven a day to claim their patch of sand for the holidays.

Burleigh remains the beach where kids learn to bodysurf and ride a board; where anglers even this week have fished the channels when the tide is right; where locals and visitors relax with fish and chips under the Norfolk pines at sunset, the silent serenity interrupted by thousands of lorikeets settling in the branches overhead.

Locals, however, are worried about change, kickstarted beachside by a dynamic young businessman who has taken over the Burleigh Pavilion and is seeking a pub licence. That worries residents, concerned about the presence already of burly bouncers on the footpath outside a building that has housed two restaurants, a coffee nook and a swimming pool, and now includes a popular bar.

So what happens if it gets a hotel licence? Burleigh has to grapple with the prospect of a full-blown pub right on a beach known for its beauty and family vibe.

There is also uncertainty about the future of the iconic Old Burleigh Arcade if that building across the street is sold.

Area councillor Pauline Young says “we need to listen to what our residents want to say”. But she also talks about the need to “find our balance”. Burleigh must decide right now what it is – a charming local spot with a great beach, surf and headland, or a new late-night party central. Change might be inevitable, but Cr Young must be careful. Allowing the outside world to dictate what happens risks swamping what has made the suburb so precious.