ALL IN TO SAVE AN OLD SLICE OF BURLEIGH
I AM convinced that hope is not a pretty bow or a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow.
Hope is often hard fought. It’s clumsy. It’s scared. It’s determined.
Meet Nikki Archer. She’s the face behind the We are Burleigh campaign to preserve the Old Burleigh Theatre Arcade from demise.
“It didn’t start as a fight. It started from curiosity.
“I heard that tenants were leaving and when it was sold I assumed the new owners would value it like we all did … as a common area, a meeting place for the locals.
“There was outcry when we heard it was to be gutted and made into another luxury high-rise.
“Despite becoming a heritage-listed property, the plans remain to forge ahead, gut the building and construct a tokenistic preservation of the facade. Once again, developers neglect to acknowledge the essence of such a historic part of the GC’S history and the connection our people have with it.
“I have run surveys, knocked on doors and made a submission to council in an attempt to oppose it. Next week, I find myself in the Planning and Environment Court in a legal appeal against the approved design.
“It’s critical. The outcome of this is the
precedent for how all buildings will be treated in our town in the future.
“I am urging the community to support me as I am largely funding this myself and the debt is daunting. I still believe that if you put people first the money will follow.
“I know together we are better, especially when we recognise and celebrate who we are, the people, places and history.
“My dream? To honour my inner punk as a grown arse adult and see this through. I need support at our fundraiser Morning of the Earth: We are Burleigh on May 29 at various Burleigh venues.
“I am fighting for my life here. There are no personal goals. This is about finding a handbrake, to stop and really think about the decisions we’re making and the impact they have on our people.”
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