A fight to the last letter
Residents vow to save sign
A NEW community in the Gold Coast’s north is in a fight with the council to save its unique landmark.
More than 200 residents are lobbying City Hall for the 2m-high Montego sign on a lot overlooking the Montego Hills estate in Kingsholme to stay.
Under an agreement between the Gold Coast City Council and developers of the Villawood estate, the sign, on council land, was allowed to remain until development was fully completed.
But residents say they have fallen in love with the sign and want it to remain as a landmark for the area.
“For most of the people who have built homes here it has been something that we are really proud of,” resident Anna McMaster said. “We are only a new community but are really close and driven. I know a sign doesn’t change a sense of community, but it does add to it.
“For most of us it is a point of difference and gives us a sense of warmth when we drive home.”
Area councillor Mark Hammel said he was supportive of the push to keep the sign, although the agreed removal date was some time off.
“It was raised as an issue during the election campaign and I have quite a few residents who get in contact,” he said.
“People are proud to live in their area in the north of the
Gold Coast, so it’s something I will take to council.
“The council still holds a bond from the developer to ensure it is removed ... so there will have to be some sort of handover arrangement,” the councillor said.
The petition was launched last week. Mr Hammel, who had previously been critical of the Yatala Gateway sign on the M1, said the Montego landmark was the “type of sign that should be kept on the Gold Coast”.
EMBATTLED swimmer Shayna Jack was spotted at Brisbane Airport yesterday among other celebrities believed to be travelling to NSW to continue filming a new reality show.
Channel 7 announced it was rebooting iconic ’90s game show Who Dares Wins, and while filming began in NZ in March it was halted due to COVID-19.
The line-up for the cast is rumoured to include Nick “Honey Badger” Cummins, the 2018 Bachelor, who was also seen at the airport yesterday, Roxy Jacenko, Erin McNaught, Ali Oetjen and others.
The show, called SAS: Who Dares Wins, features 14 celebrities put through a gruelling two-week training course.
It’s a whirlwind time for the swimmer, whose coming Court of Arbitration for Sport appeal hearing is being kept confidential.
Jack, 21, is appealing the four-year ban recommended by the Australian Sports AntiDoping Authority in March.
She has protested her innocence since being stood down from the Australian team in the lead-up to the 2019 world titles before it emerged she had tested positive to Ligandrol, a muscle growth agent.