Videos – Surfers Paradise Esplanade Closure Trial

The Surfers Paradise Esplanade closure trial was introduced as a bold move toward a “pedestrian-first” beachfront precinct. Council promoted the trial as a way to create vibrancy, community spaces, and safer movement along the foreshore. But after months of observation, a very different picture is emerging.

This page brings together real-world video evidence recorded throughout the trial—covering everything from emergency services struggling to navigate traffic, to businesses experiencing reduced footfall, to activation zones struggling to attract participation. Rather than increasing visitation and activity, the footage suggests the closure may be contributing to congestion, confusion, and declining trade along one of Surfers Paradise’s most important pedestrian and tourism corridors.

These videos are being collected as an independent visual record of what is actually happening on the ground—beyond press releases, marketing renderings, and official talking points. As more footage becomes available, it will be added here.

Driving visitation—or driving people away

A video showing the Esplanade area only during the 3 months to 16 November 2025. [32 minutes]

This video documents the first three months of the Surfers Paradise Esplanade closure trial, revealing largely empty activation zones, declining foot traffic and limited community engagement despite significant investment and promotion. Notable crowd activity occurs only during major external events like the GC500, raising questions about whether the trial is driving visitation—or driving people away. Additional footage highlights concerns about traffic rerouting, business impacts, and access issues for services and emergency vehicles.

Emergency Services

A video showing challenges faced by emergency services operating 3 months to 16 November 2025. [7.5 minutes]

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This 7½-minute video of street footage shows how the Esplanade road closure affected the ability of emergency services to move through Surfers Paradise during everyday conditions.

Captured across ordinary days and nights—not staged, not special events—the footage reveals:
• Fire trucks stuck in long, stalled traffic queues
• Fire crews forced to approach on foot when vehicles cannot advance
• Ambulances delayed behind narrow, congested roads while transporting patients
• Mixed traffic congesting  emergency vehicles as they attempt to move off
• Police units sounding sirens to clear a path and driving against traffic to exit
• Congested streets filled with delivery riders, tourist vehicles, joy-riders and revellers
• Reduced working space, increased time pressure and elevated public risk

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Pedestrian Safety Report

A visual record of the dangers and hazards faced on the streets surrounding the Esplanade closure.

This 24-minute film presents a visual diary documenting the real-world safety impacts observed during the Surfers Paradise Esplanade Closure Trial.

Filmed over three months, this report captures frequent instances of congestion, confusion, and dangerous interactions between pedestrians and vehicles—often occurring within seconds of the camera being switched on. The consistency of these moments indicates a high-frequency public risk during the trial period.

The video highlights the movements of a wide range of people navigating the diverted traffic environment, including:
• Individuals using wheelers, crutches, or wheelchairs
• People with injuries or mobility challenges
• Parents with prams and infants
• Children, teens, and older pedestrians
• Tourists and holidaymakers
• People carrying drinks, bags, beach gear or towing carts
• Cyclists, scooter riders and delivery riders
• Night-time crowds and intoxicated pedestrians
These vulnerable road users are seen crossing paths with:
• Cars, council vans, motorcycles and trade trucks
• Heavy vehicles including delivery trucks and promotional billboard vans
• Hummer limousines and, at times, emergency vehicles such as fire trucks

Closure causes chaos in Surfers Paradise

A short video showing the first four days on the Esplanade and nearby streets. [6 minutes]

This 6-minute video captures the severe traffic gridlock following the Esplanade closure and the conversion of Elkhorn Avenue to two-way traffic. Footage shows fire trucks and ambulances trapped behind stationary cars, police vehicles unable to move even with lights and sirens, and pedestrians weaving between gridlocked vehicles. The scenes reveal how the trial has created unsafe conditions for residents, visitors, and emergency services—turning what should be a world-class beachfront precinct into a traffic chokepoint.