16-04-2025
Aussie community 'embarrassed' by 'absolute mess' left at beachfront park ahead of Easter
A proud Aussie community has been left embarrassed at the 'absolute mess' created near one of the nation's most popular beaches. Pictures shared to social media show the grassy area up from the Gold Coast's famous Burleigh Heads has been turned into a field of mud following a two-day surf event.
Local woman Cindy Amey walks up the hill at 6:00am every morning, and she was left 'shocked' by what she saw this week. With so many tourists in town for the Easter holidays, she's worried what they'll think of her suburb.
'I just couldn't believe what I was seeing, it's horrific. The grass up there had been looking so good, they'd even relaid turf up there recently,' she told Yahoo News.
'Families go up there, and the view is fantastic. It's a good place to go and have a picnic, but you couldn't do that now, it's embarrassing. If I arrived here on holidays and that was on my doorstep, I'd be wondering what's going on?'
Another woman Lisa Evans said on Facebook that she feared no one would be able to use the park for months. "Locals [are] throughly irritated and disappointed by the use & abuse of the park time and time again," she wrote.
Deep tyre tracks and puddles of water can be seen across the hilltop, and many have complained the area had begun to smell like a bog. 'It's got that creek-like sewer smell,' one resident told Yahoo.
Dozens of Gold Coast locals have shared their frustration at the 'trashing' of the hill on social media. 'This is a disgrace. There have been hundreds of events on Burleigh Hill over the years… Never has the hill been left in such a state as this,' one person wrote. 'A once beautiful area enjoyed by families, especially over Easter, is now just a mud bath,' another added. 'Just horrible,' someone else lamented.
But others weren't phased by the state of the park, with some confident a sprinkling of seeds and a few weeks of sunshine would see the grass restored. 'It will be as good as ever in a few weeks. I think people and tourists expect this in a heavy downfall of rain,' one person said.
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Yahoo News has made several attempts to speak with Surfing Australia, which hosted the Boardriders Battle at Burleigh Heads on April 12 and 13. But it did not respond before publication.
Gold Coast City Council told Yahoo News its officers will inspect the site for any damage once the organisers have finished packing up at the end of the week. There's another surf event planned next week, so full repairs aren't expected until that has concluded after Easter.
Event organisers are responsible for all costs associated with rectifying any damage as a result of the event, including grass restoration,' it said in a statement.
'Minor repairs will be conducted where possible prior to the World Surf League event beginning set up early next week. Full repairs will be conducted following the conclusion of the surf events.'
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