Marine Action Group- Tipplers is worth saving

by Jeni Bone on 2 May 2011 The Marine Action Group, led by Keith Douglas, will be taking their message to the media and public on Tuesday 3 May at Tipplers Resort, at the northern end of South Stradbroke Island, where they will host a press conference announcing the engineer’s report which proves the Tavern there is structurally sound – contradicting Council opinion.

'The Council CEO and Mayor and several other Councillors haven’t wanted to listen, well now we’ll make them,' says Keith. 'They have been saying all along that the building needs to be destroyed. But what responsible Council will want to pull down a building that could cost as much as $5 million to replace? Conspiracy theories abound. We have Councillor Susie Douglas and Eddy Saroff on our side and we will show the Mayor and the public that there is life yet in Tipplers. It belongs to the boaties, tourists and locals who visited and loved it.'

According to estimates, it would cost around $480,000 plus kitchen fitout to restore the Tavern to working order. 'We are hoping to launch a not-for-profit Trust and then do a call out to the local building industry that they pitch in and get the work done.'

What is needed for this Gold Coast playground, favourite haunt of boaties, picnickers and people looking to bask in the sun and bathe in the Broadwater, is vision, says Keith.

'We want it to be preserved for the public for a whole range of activities – marine events, boating amenities, boating education, training and safety, school opportunities. There are State, Federal and even International grants for all these things. We want the public to get onboard to get Tipplers back at minimal cost to the community.'

In February last year, Marine Queensland pledged its support for the preservation of the Tipplers Resort as a significant recreational boating facility, stating: 'Marine destinations are essential community and tourism facilities within the Gold Coast region.

'Boating destinations are important community assets and are a critical part of the recreational and light commercial marine industry for the Gold Coast. They are essential for many community boating clubs, marine tourism operators and marine industry operators.'

Keith Douglas is hoping to generate enough media coverage at the Tuesday press conference to ignite broader community support for the preservation of the Resort.

More at www.marineactiongroup.com