It’s a no-brainer, but it needs local political support.
Major expansion of the Exhibition and Convention Centre at Broadbeach, reported in today’s Bulletin, could be a real boost for the Gold Coast economy. It’s certainly superior to Star Casino’s last tentative $100m upgrade offer in 2019. Studies have shown that the business tourism potential is huge and untapped. It seems like a no-brainer that hardly needs discussion. But big ideas like this get bogged down amongst the vested interests and local politics here.
Mayor Tom Tate said the Gold Coast needed big ideas, but he could not support the project. “What concerns me is the lack of consultation and the quality of what is being proposed,’’ he said. “In my humble opinion, it’s not for us.’’ Gold Coast Bulletin 6 November, p4
Here appears to be a case of the pot calling the kettle black. Whenever did Tom Tate have a humble opinion? More likely that this proposal might trump another scheme he has up his sleeve.
Speaking of which, I had an idea for Surfers Paradise last night. The council’s decision this week to sell Bruce Bishop car park was on my mind. I lived in Surfers Paradise from 1994-2000 and was very familiar with the good and bad aspects of Neal Shannon Park. I was thinking about the many efforts that have been made over decades to activate and make it safer and more appealing for passive users. The festivals, the art projects, the installations. One that stands out in my mind was the giant ferris wheel which sat and twirled perfectly amongst tall buildings around it and gave riders wonderful views over central Surfers, out to sea and across to the hinterland.
2007 proposal for transit centre site by Zaha Hadid Architects
That prompted me to remember the competition for design of a major building on top of the transit centre. I was living away from the Gold Coast at the time, circa 2007, and wasn’t taking a close interest in local development but I recall stunning proposals by Zaha Hadid and several other major architectural firms. I don’t know why nothing eventuated though - perhaps complications around the volumetric subdivision for sale of the air rights above the transit centre? But to get to my point… all of that happened, well before light rail, when there were frequent interstate and intrastate bus services, and retention of the transit centre in Central Surfers was assumed necessary.
That has all changed now, so why not identify an alternative transit hub for buses and tour coaches in Southport, raze the transit centre building and sell off just that portion (approximately 6000sqm of the total 18,000sqm site), or the air rights above it. i.e. retain Bruce Bishop car park, with Neal Shannon Park on top as a public asset. There are wonderful examples around the world for transforming Neal Shannon Park into an amazing, green public oasis. It could be a place for moonlight cinema, markets, schoolies parties and all sorts of public events and passive and active recreation activities.
The transit centre site, or air rights above a portion of it, could be sold encumbrance-free but with conditions to design-in clear vehicle and pedestrian access for public parking in Bruce Bishop. It could integrate with the upgraded and more accessible Neal Shannon Park. If ever there were a site for a huge, tall tower with minimal impact on the beach and/or neighbouring properties, it’s this one - right in the heart of Surfers. Relaxation of car parking and open space requirements for the new tower would be justifiable.
Everyone wins. Bruce Bishop Public car park retained. Neal Shannon Park upgraded and activated. Underutilised transit centre asset liquidated. Even at the lower end of recent property sales in this area of $10K-$15K/sqm, the council could expect to receive more than $60m.
The funds raised through the sale could be allocated to a variety of strategic improvement initiatives:
Upgrade and maintain Bruce Bishop car park
Establish a Southport facility for the few remaining bus services
Ungrade, maintain and activate Neal Shannon Park
Build another greenbridge to Chevron Island
Reintroduce shade trees and greenery into Surfers Paradise streetscapes in walk-up streets to this destination
It seems simple and obvious, but maybe I’m missing a piece in the puzzle. Can anyone see flaws in this strategy, apart from potential, hidden, competing political and/or development ambitions?