Would SEQ beach clubs be such a bad thing?

The Age

5 days ago

'We've got the most beautiful beaches, not just visually, but in terms of accessibility and lifestyle. But compared to places like the Mediterranean, South-East Asia or Central America, we've been pretty conservative when it comes to embracing our coastline as a part of our hospitality culture.
'There's definitely room, and appetite, for more beach-adjacent venues … without overdeveloping or overcomplicating it.'
Kirra Beach House owner David Galvin agrees.
'In Asia, even some places in the States, but particularly Europe, you get to enjoy the beaches but also this great hospitality,' Galvin says. 'It's really beautifully integrated into the coastal lifestyle when done well.'
Tate has been pursuing the idea for ages, and you can understand the mayor of a city that so heavily relies on tourism being right behind the idea – particularly after a successful trial at Broadbeach during the 2021-22 summer (a Council-endorsed three-year extension was blocked by the Department of Natural Resources). But environmental and resident groups have been pushing back since at least 2021, and the latest push comes as the city continues to rebuild its beaches after extensive damage caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Also intrinsic in why some Queenslanders and Australians are wary of the idea is that we rightly want our beaches to reflect our egalitarian, democratic culture. Beaches are for everyone, the argument goes, and keeping them free of food and beverage operators trying to peddle you wine and cocktails upholds that idea.
But you could repackage that argument the other way. Want to eat and drink on (or nearly on) the beach on the Gold Coast? You need to either opt for a surf club, where mileage may vary, or nab a front row spot at somewhere like Rick Shores or Kirra Beach Club, which can be easier said than done.
Beach clubs would open up that experience to more people – in particular tourists, who are often here for a good time, not a long time – and that wouldn't be a bad thing. They would offer a new way to enjoy our beaches (Those Russians back in 2017? They were quite upfront about not being able to swim. That's not why they go to a beach), in a sense making them more inclusive, more democratic.
The environmental questions are more complex, and you'd think Tate would've maybe kept his powder dry on resurfacing this idea until more work had been done to rebuild the Gold Coast beaches post-Alfred.
But take a look at Copacabana in Rio de Janeiro on street view. You could almost be at the main entrance to Surfers Paradise beach, but with a bunch of shaded food stalls, or quiosques, semi-built into the corso, with minimal impact on the beach itself, which is about as wide as Surfers or Broadbeach.
I've never been, but a colleague eagerly sung its praises when I asked about his experiences there during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Yes, there are food vendors who wander out across the beach, but I don't think anyone is proposing that for the Gold Coast.
Finally, we come to the 'anti-social' aspect, and this is my bugbear. For a country that isn't afraid of a drink, we sure treat it as a zero-to-one hundred pastime. Either we're supposed to drink at home, at a restaurant, or be herded into a crowded club or bar. And then in said crowded club or bar, we're surprised when the aggro kicks off.
Think of the transformation the proliferation of small bars has had on our food and beverage scene. A beach club could and should be an extension of that culture, which lends itself to a more considered style of drinking, just as people are becoming more conscious of how much booze they put in their body.
Sure, the idea of beachside day drinking spots comes with all sorts of concerns, from those already raised above to the government handing out the licences to their best and biggest pals.
But, a couple of wines in the late afternoon or early evening, watching the breakers roll in, before peeling off to your next destination? If done right, that sounds pretty civilised.
'Tommy Tate says he wants to jump out of the surf and come and grab a XXXX,' Galvin says. 'In reality, I don't think the council is going to be charging that kind of rent. It's got to be something that's approachable, that appeals to everyone.'