"Everybody wants all the investment by government, but as long as it's not in their backyard. It's a real problem…”
The fall-out from Lennox Head’s overwhelming rejection of the WSL can be likened, I think, to a successful small business refusing the buy-out of a corporate monster, an Amazon, an Apple.
An offer too good to refuse etc.
For some, and particularly on the right side of politics, the belief that there can be something more appealing and important than money, a town wanting to retain a village feel for example, beggars belief.
When the Ballina Council voted, eight-to-two, against a WSL event at Lennox Head-Sharpes, the state’s deputy mayor, Giovanni “John” Barilaro, said the decision was a classic case of Not-In-My-Backyard (NIMBY) syndrome.
“I think this area is a NIMBY area, sorry to say it,” Mr Barilaro told the ABC. “Everybody wants all the investment by government, but as long as it’s not in their backyard. It’s a real problem…”
Merewether, a lovely and on-the-up beachside suburb of Newcastle where two million Australian dollars barely gets you near the beach, meanwhile, is shouting to the heavens at the joy, and money, the event will bring the joint.
Newcastle’s Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes told the ABC the contest is going to inject, “conservatively” at least fifteen-mill into the city, almost double the eight-mill or so that flows into Torquay each easter.
The WSL’s Andrew Stark says the Merewether CT will “get a massive audience… We’re seeing audiences of like 10 million live across our linear and digital broadcasts and along with all the post production.”
Not real sure how those figures are arrived at, although the WSL’s Instagram and TikTok numbers are pretty robust.
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Geez is the surf real good today guys, no article on Bells getting cancelled???
Newcastle is at the beginning of a life without coal exporting through its harbour and therefore must commence an economic transformation over the next 20 years. For the nsw gov the contest is a no brainer to be apart of that process.
Funny, I read that photo caption as:
“A scene from Negatron’s living room”
Which is kinda apt for how I think about our kiwi brothers
That’s how we party
nothing bad about a chick who can drive a stick
hate speech?
Not many spray against one race as much as you old fella , you should have a bit more of a think about the things you write.
I knew it was you bexy when you went after Brutus and hit on my mum
The blonde staring at Pam Grier’s assets… Priceless.
There is some sense in this.
Bec got a burner
How is it not apparent to any of these people that ELO is clearly juicing those numbers
A racist profanity tipped me over the edge.
Fuck all y’all. I’m still moving to Darwin.
I’m dry docked and am in danger of also becoming a fuckwit serial commentor.
You need to get yourself a fictional surfwear and accessories company, mate.
Keep you outta trouble.
I mean, look at me. I’m pretty much one of the captains of the industry now.
Look at the company of Top CEOs I keep eh?
Reginald Beniger, Alfie Norrise, Johnny Graphblar.
Welcome, doggy !
Fucking oath I did and I’ll say it loudly, nothing bitch like. I don’t have to read that shit on a site that publishes in Australia.
Who’d you report him to, Santa?
Yeah, got my wish.
I banned him, so I think just timing…
It was a while after the indiscretion that really got on my tits though. I can only wonder what tipped yourself over the line.
Not one thing really, it was more just that was using this platform as his personal soapbox. It was getting boring and putting others off from engaging.
Ban him again. So tiresome, so boring.
Noted. Apologies.
For those that don’t know, that Barilaro cunt is a cunt of the highest order. So glad Bex isn’t here to challenge me. What happened anyway, I know I reported his most foul comment to date. I hope it was me. Eat a dick Bexy!
A gay slur to object to a racial slur? We’re all cunts Dogs.
Fair fair, that was an honest slip up, I adore my gay brothers and sisters.
classy retort, wish there was more of that in general.
True dat my brutha. We are fairly spoiled here with some of the best balmy weather on the planet. Plus, lately excellent with weeks and weeks of pumping surf everyday. I love Hawaii, it’s my home. But it’s nice to have a change of pace, sumpin’ different, stretch the legs, you know, expand the horizon. There’s so much quiet and open space in Aotearoa. Plus our Polynesian cuzzies are Maori. Been also wanting do some fly fishing in Waikaremoana, get really baked & hike around, Osler’s meat pies, paua fritters, tasty fish n chips, frosty beer, top veggies and fruit, lots o lamb, stable economy. The dollar exchange rate isn’t what it used to be but it’s still okay.
There’s something about the air deep down there in the southern hemisphere. I don’t know if you guys really know how good you have it. Or maybe you do.
Whenever we return to our windy little city, I stop and breathe in and smell the salt air and seaweed and fill my lungs. It’s so so good.
And yes, lamb and fish&chips and good beer and wine make it all pretty good.
FTWSL
Seriously what fucking dream world to they live in – how can they generate 8 million in revenue if people cant fucking go to watch!! You cant say this is going to bring in x tourist dollars and BNB beds and restaurant bookings if you cant watch live!! Which everywhere else globally you cant do – Superbowl, tennis soccer etc
So you cant predict revenue on no visitors you dumb cunts!! Its only about a cash injection by the gov
As for 10 mill views online – fuck when has it ever got remotely close to that in the most pumping surf???
Of course i could be wrong and am in process of converting my car to sell kombucha and matcha flavoured icecream as a backup
Nothing wrong with Nimbyism, in many cases.
Develop the shit out of the coast? Nope, not here; wouldn’t want to live in that. And not anywhere that I’d want to visit.
Build a motorway flyover across a historical cricket ground. No fuckin way.
Etc etc
Even playing the rule of 3’s on these bloated calls could be considered generous.
3.3m viewers would be an epic stretch as would $5m revenue for the Newcastle area (though, cafe and parking costs maybe.. 2m there). Why not just say it’s a good thing, for the town and the Wsl instead of some ridiculous fake numbers game justification.