My Say

I like to hear the voice of reason and keep an open mind. We are all different and enjoy varying beliefs and interests, and can reasonably expect to have them fulfilled, at least some of the time.

The Gold Coast is a very popular destination for tourists, and those tourists help keep us locals in work, which is a good thing. In years gone by, many of us gravitated to the Gold Coast because it was such a wonderful place to live. Sadly, I think that is changing. The Gold Coast has been developed to within an inch of it's beautiful life, and is becoming just like any other big city.

When is it time to say "enough is enough"? Is it time to say to the developers and tourism operators "you have had a fair go"? Is it time for us locals to say "what about us"?

The beaches are still as beautiful as ever, but if it had been possible, I think they would have been built on too. The urban sprawl has eaten into natural bushland right out west through the hinterland. Once upon a time, there were thousands of rainbow lorikeets that came to the coast twice daily, to be fed by locals and tourists alike. Not now! It's too far to be worthwhile for the birds to come. We are in danger of destroying the very things that made living here so wonderful.

"The Spit" is a natural remnant of what "once was" in our beautiful Gold Coast. Even here, about half of it has been taken from us by the developers and various businesses. There are whispers about that they want more, and I believe that they will continue until it is all gone, spoiled, locked away, sanitised, concreted, fenced and tolled.

It doesn't have to be that way. We can, if we work together, protect what is left and keep it the beautiful, informal, relaxing and easily accessible place that it is. We can keep it "ours".