ENJOYING a beer on the beach could soon become legal on the Gold Coast.

Gold Coast City Council is currently considering a report on opening up beaches for commercial use including cocktail bars, umbrellas for hire and deliverable food.

Council officers have completed an internal report on the commercialisation of the sand, which is expected to be presented to a council meeting on October 22.

Business leaders have championed the move saying it would further define the Glitter Strip’s identity and attract worldwide attention.

An exclusive Gold Coast Bulletin survey earlier this year revealed Gold Coasters were overwhelmingly in favour of some commercial enterprises.

Topping the list were: open-air cinema, using beach space to host more major events, hiring umbrellas, hiring chairs, holding exercise classes and ­allowing dining.

The report to be tabled is expected to include the delivery of pre-purchased food, corporate events, entertainment, promotional events and beach equipment.

Local entrepreneur and owner of Cross Promotions, Billy Cross said opening the beaches up for tasteful dining experiences would be a boon.

“Why are we not already doing this?” he said.

“We need to look at the long term, tourism is being marketed on a worldwide scale – we need restaurants and bars on the beach. Imagine the experience – the photos of it alone would show us off in landmark style.”

Commercial general manager for Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and Skypoint Paul Callander said tourists would flock to beaches offering a dining experience but the city should tread lightly with its greatest asset.

“Tourism is number one to the GC and food culture defines a city,” he said.

“A whole city approach would have to be taken to maximise our greatest asset without endangering it.

“You would need to work with the natural environment ... nobody wants a whole lot of concrete.”

Local surf life saving clubs would likely be one of the beneficiaries, with some councillors pushing to include limited approval for licensing certain zones to allow alcohol to be served on beaches.

Community and Cultural Services boss Bob La Castra is against beach commercialisation but said the matter would be given consideration.

“There has been a lot of talk about people being able to order food to be delivered to them on the beach and it is something council has investigated the feasibility of,” he said.

“But, at the same time, touts on the beach is wrong because people do not want to be bothered when they are on the beach.”

“The beach is sacred in that sense.”

Originally published as ‘Why are we not already doing this?’