Surfers Paradise Esplanade closure – what’s at stake?

Cutting the city with a north south divide

Council’s report describes the Esplanade as a “rat run,” a dismissive label that ignores its role as the cultural and economic lifeblood of Surfers Paradise. It is a main traffic artery for residents, tourists, operators and services all along the most densely populated eastern edge of the city. This complicates movement and options for residents, services and traders when before access was simple, safe and enjoyable.

Making the Surfers Paradise experience smaller

The Esplanade is also a stunning scenic drive. For decades, driving the Esplanade has been its own Surfers experience — where residents and tourists contribute to the unique character of the city. Browsing our lifestyles while gliding by, or witnessing the free parade of people rolling and strolling. Malling a short section of the Esplanade erases that activity disrupting the north south flow of the much larger and more varied range of experiences extending the length of the Esplanade.

For the benefit of 12?

Only a handful of beachfront cafés and restaurants may gain from a permanent closure — about a dozen in total. Meanwhile, approx 3,000 other businesses in Surfers Paradise are dealing with the fallout: traffic snarls, delivery headaches, and customers avoiding the area altogether. For the city’s 30,000 residents, the trial has meant longer commutes, restricted access, poorer service, delivery delays and safety concerns from blocked emergency routes and more dangerous intersections.

Losing tourists and visitors

One of the most immediate effects of the closure has been gridlock. Streets that were once quiet have become clogged, with delays rippling through the entire suburb. Suburban Goldcoasters already reluctant to venture into Surfers Paradise now have one more reason to stay away — undermining the very economic activity the closure was meant to boost. Tourists who have spent handsomely on accommodation do not want to waste blocks of their enjoyment time in a traffic jam as the following passing comment illustrates.

We are here from Brisbane for my sons sporting award. We chose Surfers Paradise for a weekend treat. We spent three hours getting to and from Nerang today and we are never coming back.

Costing locals and trade due to traffic

The costs in lost time and additional costs to traders and services is very real adding more burdens to all businesses. So will this help the 30% vacancy rate in commercial letting?

Losing our culture of fun

Surfers Paradise was a city with no rush hour. No daily grind. Part of its laid back, fun-city magic. This closure abruptly upends that by creating city chaos traffic where there was none. The streets are more aggressive. Customers are more stressed. Tourists are losing precious holiday time in traffic – not the holiday escape they paid for. Locals are feeling trapped in their own homes. Taxis and delivery drivers want to avoid coming. Limo drivers can’t get to hotels. Local rate-paying residents can no longer enjoy the glittering ocean drive as part of their daily routine. Denied the ocean view, now just a city grind commuter.  

Where is our fun culture in this?

We don’t have to do this

We all agree Surfers Paradise deserves thoughtful revitalisation. But it must start with a clear vision — one that celebrates our unique culture, supports all businesses, and enhances the lives of residents. Closing the Esplanade to cars achieves none of these goals. Instead, it risks making the precinct less attractive, less accessible and less true to what makes it special.

So lets not.

Where Do We Go From Here?

The trial is ongoing, but its impacts are already being felt. As a community, we need to ask: is this really the future we want for Surfers Paradise? Do the limited gains for a few outweigh the costs to the many?
In a series of videos and articles In Surfers Paradise examines the reports and digs into the issues that surround the Revitalisation with the goal of creating better understanding of how we got here and how we can rescue our town from a serious malling.