The Esplanade’s multi-speed experience economy

The council says it wants to bring a “new experience economy” to Surfers Paradise. But here’s the thing — we already have one. And it’s world-class.

The Esplanade is part of how we see ourselves. Flip off your shoes, dig your toes in the sand — billionaire or beach bum, we’re all the same here. That’s the magic of Surfers.

It’s free to swim, free to walk, free to barbecue, free to just sit and watch the world go by. Surfers even invented meter maids to keep it free. The road has always been the line between the open, public beach and the private, commercial strip.

And that road — The Esplanade — is the spine of what makes this place tick. It’s not just a street. It’s one of the world’s most unique scenic drives. And it powers what you could call the seven-speed experience economy:

The seven-speed experience economy

The beach

swimming, surfing, playing, relaxing.

Passive pedestrians

Reading, snoozing, coffee in hand.

Active pedestrians

Runners, joggers, skaters, scooters.

Street markets

Stalls, colour, and movement.

Motorists

Locals and tourists in a passing parade of street machines, hot rods, muscle cars, fun buggies, classics, even pedal-powered go-cabs.

Cafes and restaurants

Food, friends, people-watching, and

Major events

From Seafire to the Pacific Air Show, from the Gold Coast Marathon to New Year’s Eve.

So what are we getting?

Together, this mix creates a living economy where everyone has a place — free or commercial, fast or slow. And the Esplanade is what stitches it all together.

The council’s “day in the life” example lists 22 activities their redesign will supposedly bring. But right now, today, we’re already doing 20 of them, all along its 1500 metres.

So what are we really getting with this so-called “new” economy? And what are we losing if cars — and the full seven speeds of the Esplanade — are stripped away?

It would seem we are swapping out a lively integrated set of evolved experiences for fewer, smaller, more passive, imposed ones.