Stab Magazine | Superbank Saved; Straddie Under Threat

Live Now — Premium Peek — Episode 4 Of Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico

364 Views

Superbank Saved; Straddie Under Threat

Political strong-arming led by Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, forced South Straddie and the Spit – two world class waves at the northern end of the Gold Coast – to be dropped from the Gold Coast’s World Surf Reserve bid. The move has freed up the areas to be turned into a proposed $70m cruise ship terminal, which would almost certainly kill one of the world’s premiere waves in South Stradbroke. “I was told in no uncertain terms from state government, local government and the Gold Coast Waterways Authority that they would not support a World Surf Reserve proposal with South Straddie in it,” says Andy Mckinnon, Chairman of the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve. The Gold Coast’s recently declared World Surfing Reserve takes in only the southern end of the coast – an area running from Burleigh to Snapper. The initial bid had included the entire coast, going as far north as South Straddie. The bid even won support in its early stages from State Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, but political pressure won out. “Behind Mayor Tate is a great number of international developers, consortiums, a Chinese Port company, many of the chamber of commerce people along the coast, and many people who believe success and progress is defined by cranes in the sky and concrete on the ground,” says Luke Sorensen, of the Save Our Spit campaign group. Yeah, Straddie is really something. Photo: Simon Muirhead Asked about the World Surf Declaration, Mayor Tate said, “It’s an honour to recognise we are one of the eight surfing reserves. When it comes to the best surf, we are on the list.” Not everyone is buying it. “They try to divide communities with things like this but with the surfing community up here there is no north or south end on the coast,” says Sorenson. “We are all one community and that sentiment resonates across the whole coast. When you see proposed cruise ship terminals that will be detrimental to the north end you will see the same uprising as the south end and we have seen that already. The community is now seeing what they can accomplish to protect their waves and there is no doubt that’s what they want.” The fight to have the southern end of the Gold Coast declared a World Surf Reserve gained momentum when plans for a proposed cruise ship terminal at Kirra were leaked to the public. The news was met with a 4000-strong protest on the beach at Kirra and an eventual crushing political victory for Andy Mckinnon and the surfers and coastal conservation lobby.

news // Mar 21, 2016
Words by stab
Reading Time: 2 minutes

Political strong-arming led by Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, forced South Straddie and the Spit – two world class waves at the northern end of the Gold Coast – to be dropped from the Gold Coast’s World Surf Reserve bid. The move has freed up the areas to be turned into a proposed $70m cruise ship terminal, which would almost certainly kill one of the world’s premiere waves in South Stradbroke.

“I was told in no uncertain terms from state government, local government and the Gold Coast Waterways Authority that they would not support a World Surf Reserve proposal with South Straddie in it,” says Andy Mckinnon, Chairman of the Gold Coast World Surfing Reserve.

The Gold Coast’s recently declared World Surfing Reserve takes in only the southern end of the coast – an area running from Burleigh to Snapper. The initial bid had included the entire coast, going as far north as South Straddie. The bid even won support in its early stages from State Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, but political pressure won out.

“Behind Mayor Tate is a great number of international developers, consortiums, a Chinese Port company, many of the chamber of commerce people along the coast, and many people who believe success and progress is defined by cranes in the sky and concrete on the ground,” says Luke Sorensen, of the Save Our Spit campaign group.

Straddie Inset

Yeah, Straddie is really something. Photo: Simon Muirhead

Asked about the World Surf Declaration, Mayor Tate said, “It’s an honour to recognise we are one of the eight surfing reserves. When it comes to the best surf, we are on the list.”

Not everyone is buying it.

“They try to divide communities with things like this but with the surfing community up here there is no north or south end on the coast,” says Sorenson. “We are all one community and that sentiment resonates across the whole coast. When you see proposed cruise ship terminals that will be detrimental to the north end you will see the same uprising as the south end and we have seen that already. The community is now seeing what they can accomplish to protect their waves and there is no doubt that’s what they want.”

The fight to have the southern end of the Gold Coast declared a World Surf Reserve gained momentum when plans for a proposed cruise ship terminal at Kirra were leaked to the public. The news was met with a 4000-strong protest on the beach at Kirra and an eventual crushing political victory for Andy Mckinnon and the surfers and coastal conservation lobby.

Comments

Comments are a Stab Premium feature. Gotta join to talk shop.

Already a member? Sign In

Want to join? Sign Up

Advertisement

Most Recent

Royalties, Equity, and YouTube: Brandon Wasserman on Surfing’s New Economy

“If you’re taking those kinds of swings, you could be walking away from a lot…

Jul 18, 2025

Power Surfing Isn’t Dead

Connor O'Leary & Gabriela Bryan assert their strength at rifling J-Bay, win their first and…

Jul 18, 2025

WSL Changes Fiji Format One Month Before Finals — Carissa Moore And CJ Hobgood React

"Does it really matter at this point?"

Jul 18, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 4

Our surfers' most dreaded challenge: The Zero Sum Game.

Jul 17, 2025

“My Feet Are Completely Fucked. I Didn’t Expect Them To Get This Infected And Mouldy.”

A mid-world record check-in with Blakey Johnston.

Jul 17, 2025

Why The Surf Industry’s Kingmakers Are Betting On Florence

Pat O’Connell and Evan Slater on why ex-Volcom, Billabong and Hurley CEOs are riding shotgun.

Jul 16, 2025

Mixed Symmetry — The Surfboards Of Milk & Honey 

As told by Stephanie Gilmore, Caity Simmers, Coco Ho, and Frankie Harrer

Jul 16, 2025

Cloud 9 Becomes First Surf Break To Outlaw Beginner Surf Lessons

Time to make it a universal ruling at sketchy reef breaks? A local photographer explains.

Jul 15, 2025

10 Shapers To Watch In The Next 10 Years — Part Two

A few more foam craftsmen worth keeping on your radar.

Jul 14, 2025

Watch: Rip Curl Mobilises Its Teenage Army In ‘Dunno’

A 30-minute surf film by Vaughan Blakey and Nick Pollet.

Jul 14, 2025

There’s A New Number One Surfer In The World

And it feels so right.

Jul 13, 2025

Controversial Opinion: No One Needs To Yoga In Boardshorts

8 Trunks for the traditionalist.

Jul 13, 2025

Stab Edit Of The Year: Sam Piter Stars in ‘Rogue DNA’.

French blood, thick water.

Jul 13, 2025

Matty McG Skydives Into CT Heat, But Jordy’s Still The Main Event

A full day of heats at J-Bay, and only one shark warning.

Jul 12, 2025

Correction: J-Bay All Foreplay, No Climax

Slim pickings on Day 1 of the Corona Cero Open J-Bay 2025.

Jul 11, 2025

What Do Hollywood, Surf Lessons, Michael Jackson And Traction Pads Have In Common?

A Stab Interview with Teva Dexter, the man behind surfing's hardest new hardware brand —…

Jul 10, 2025

Surf100 Challenge Series Presented By Pacifico: Episode 3

"The tribe has spoken," Dane Reynolds pronounced, and a surfer's torch was snuffed.

Jul 10, 2025

How Josh Ku Nearly Died Trying To Cross From Ulus to G Land by Hydrofoil

“If someone finds me dead at least they can find my phone and know what…

Jul 10, 2025
Advertisement