LINE IN BURLEIGH SAND

A GROUP of Gold Coasters has drawn a line in the sand on rampant development, taking a developer and council to court to save a heritage site.

Action group We Are Burleigh has taken legal action to stop a redevelopment of the historic Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade. Sydney developers had pledged to keep its distinct red brick facade.

A group spokesperson said: “It’s Burleigh, baby. That’s why everyone’s fighting to save it.”

A GROUP of Gold Coast locals have drawn a line in the sand on rampant development, taking a developer and the city council to court in a last ditch bid to stop one of the Glitter Strip’s few remaining heritage buildings from being bulldozed.

The historic Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade, which opened at Burleigh Heads in the 1930s as the De Luxe Theatre, was approved last year for yet another luxury high-rise.

The Gold Coast City Council approved the 14 storey project despite heritage listing the old theatre in 2019.

The Sydney developers pledged to retain the iconic building’s red brick facade, but locals aren’t happy and have launched legal action in the Planning and Environment Court. They formed an action group, We Are Burleigh, and are holding fundraisers to bankroll lawyers and town planning experts for the five day court appeal which starts on Monday.

Spokeswoman Nikki Archer said the community felt it had to take a stand to try to save the landmark as “overdevelopment” steadily eroded Burleigh’s village character.

There has already been significant outcry over the extension of the light rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh, with a tram stop to be built right next to the arcade.

“Anyone who comes to Burleigh sees this building, the lawn bowls club across the road, the (Norfolk Pine) trees, the big open sky and the sparkling ocean,” she said.

“That’s why we live here. It’s why we don’t live in Surfers Paradise. It’s Burleigh, baby, and that’s why everyone’s fighting to save it.

“I won’t be able to go back into town if I see that building gone, it’ll break my heart.”

Ms Archer accused the developer and council of “facadism” on the Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade site.

She said the planned apartment was “poorly designed, too bulky and will completely close off the public for the first time in the site’s history”.

“They’ve missed the mark so badly with this design,” she said.

“It’s just a facade and a nod d to the past. They haven’t taken n into account the true spirit of f the heritage listing.

“The community expec- tation was pretty loud and d clear and this certainly hasn’t t met community expectations.” ”

Ms Archer said the legal action was financially and emotionally draining but was all the community had left “to fight back and push back”.

“This is so important that it deserves judicial review,” she said. “Win or lose, our voices will be heard.”