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QuoteTransformation for Surfers transit centre



HIGH-END shopping and gourmet food outlets will soon be a regular sight in central Surfers Paradise as part of a multimillion-dollar upgrade of the Glitter Strip's transit centre.

Work has begun to transform the council-owned Beach Road facility into a Ferry Road Markets-style facility in a bid to attract locals and tourists to the tourism centre.

The interior fit-out of the "Grand Market" is expected to cost more than $2 million and will be completed by Christmas.

It will be followed by a redevelopment of the building's facade to include a "motorised louvre system developed in the US" a large-scale retractable blind system

Area councillor Lex Bell said the building's new direction was long overdue.

"Commercial ventures have not been successful in this building to date and these shops will hopefully bring a wide variety of people back to Surfers Paradise and give it something different," he said.

"It will include a mixture of high-quality cheese shops, coffee ships, fruit and vegetables and perhaps even a delicatessen.

"Surfers Paradise will get a huge boost and hopefully give the area a facelift."

It comes on the back of a $1.8 million upgrade which finished last year and gave segments of the building a new coat of paint.

Surfers Paradise Alliance chief executive Mike Windlaw said he supported the work.

Cautiously optimistic.  GCCC has a habit of mucking this kind of thing up.