from Gold Coast Bulletin

FORGET Metricon Stadium, the Billabong Kirra Groyne could be the city's next major sporting venue.

Coolangatta councillor Chris Robbins has proposed seeking private sponsorship to rebuild the famous surf break -- and surfwear giant Billabong would consider the idea.

Cr Robbins proposed the plan after City Hall last month dumped its plans to rebuild the 30m Kirra Groyne, which was removed in 1995.

If it gains support the plan would mean having advertising at the groyne, similar to football stadium sponsorship.

Cr Robbins said with the council and State Government crying poor, other options had to be considered.

"There's Metricon Stadium, we could have the Billabong Groyne or the Rip Curl Groyne," she said.

"It's certainly supported by a lot in the industry. I don't think it's out of the question that we could ask funding for that externally within the surfing industry."

She said a council report into the cost of rebuilding the groyne, previously estimated to be about $500,000, was expected back in the next few weeks.

Billabong spokesman Chris Fogarty said the company had not been approached about sponsorship.

"Our heritage is here, the Gold Coast is an important part of the Billabong story," he said.

"We would sit down and discuss it if any substantial proposal was put in front of us. Without any detail it's difficult to comment further."

Kirra Point Inc boss Wayne Deane said he was meeting with Cr Robbins on Friday and would discuss the possibility.

"There have been a lot of ideas rolling around. I need to evaluate it and get a plan," he said. "I've met with (Currumbin MP) Jann Stuckey and she said there's no funding available from the State Government for at least the next one or two years."

Surfing activist Andrew McKinnon said some in the surfing fraternity would have reservations about a sponsorship deal. "The one idea people steer away from is to get someone like Billabong or Rip Curl to do it because it could be selling out."

CMC said...
Maybe better wording would be 'donate'

rager said...



Sounds good. I've got plenty of rocks in my backyard I can donate

chrispychru said...


that really ****s me...donations are given because people believe in something and their money is supporting a cause that one believes in....not for a freaking tax deduction...sort of defeats the purpose of donating if one wants something back. besides the good feeling you get for doing something good,is all one should want in return

chrispychru said...
^^^^^and their would be 0.01% off surfers who can actually surf kirra when its good put the money elsewhere and help surfers...any ideas?

i still believe if your giving money for a cause whatever that might be...well do it cause you can,not cause you will get something back.....starving people pfffft..surfers pfffft i will still give my coin to animals without wanting a tax deduction

LateStarter said...
Maybe we could have a 12 month Amnesty on SUP's australia wide, kind of a government 'buy back' scheme where people just surrender any boards over 8 feet in length.

With all the money people save on solar rez, ding tape, repair putty, professional repairs, new boards, first aid supplies, ambulance service, medical bills, rehabilitation, lost time from work etc, we could rebuild the kirra groyne and plate it in 9ct gold, then fund a webber wave pool in every city and buy 'street sups' for all those guys who might miss the thrill of being a gondoleir.

12 months without SUP related carnage at our already overcrowded breaks sounds pretty good too