Thousands hit beach for Easter

Mackenzie Ravn   |  March 30th, 2013

Crowds flocked to Surfers Paradise beach yesterday. Pic: Mike Batterham

THE Gold Coast City Council has fulfilled its promise to fix Surfers Paradise beach before the Easter weekend, with thousands of people turning out to enjoy a perfect day at the iconic tourist strip yesterday.

Mayor Tom Tate promised to have the famous coastline back in business by Easter, ordering 20,000 cubic metres of sand to be dumped on the kilometre-long stretch.

A Gold Coast City Council spokeswoman said said staff had been working around the clock to ensure beaches were in top condition for the traditionally busy long weekend.

"Council crews have been working long shifts, six days a week on the beach clean-up since Australia Day, as well as beach reprofiling works," she said.

"Improved weather conditions over the past few days have assisted council crews with beach maintenance works, especially on the northern Gold Coast."

During the work 70 beach access points had to be regraded and reopened and seven lifeguard towers were relocated because of severe erosion.

Beachgoer Michelle Nam was down at Surfers Paradise beach yesterday morning and said while the beach was not completely back to normal, it had been improved.

"It's definitely better but it doesn't look completely fixed and I wouldn't say it's perfect," she said.

Acting chief lifeguard Chris Maynard said the improved beaches and perfect weather made for a busy Good Friday.

"It definitely was a busy morning with good crowds and conditions have been a little unstable with the swell picking up overnight," he said.

Mr Maynard said he expected a similar turnout at the beaches today with some northern beaches expected to be closed until mid-morning due to the high tides.

"In the morning the northern beaches, Miami through to Main Beach, there isn't much room on the high tide, but any beaches south between North Burleigh to Coolangatta should be fine," he said.

Weatherzone meteorologist Josh Fisher said beachgoers could expect similar conditions for most of today and tomorrow , with the possibility of short-lived showers.

"(Today) we will have isolated showers sticking around but you should still be able to get outside and have a barbecue," he said.

"For Sunday it will be mostly cloudy at the start of the day, with rain coming from the west in the afternoon which could be heavy at times."

BEST SPOTS:

1. North Burleigh

2. Coolangatta

3. Surfers Paradise

4. Kirra

5. Currumbin

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Bad weather turns Easter tourists away

Lucy Ardern   |  March 27th, 2013

Easter bookings are down following damaging storms on the Gold Coast. Pic: Kit Wise

DEVASTATING beach erosion and persistent bad weather is hammering Easter tourism, with bookings at some Gold Coast caravan parks down by 50 per cent for the approaching long weekend.

Operators fear occupancy could hit the lowest levels in years and are slashing prices by up to 25 per cent to milk a boost from the last school holidays before winter.

But holidaymakers appeared to be sitting back and waiting to see what the weather would be like before making the commitment to pack their families up and head to the Coast.

Southport Tourist Park senior employee Lizzie Spanos described Easter bookings as "pathetic" and said the park was currently only about 30 per cent full.

"It is not like it was in the good old days," she said.

"People are thinking long and hard about every single thing they are spending money on."

Dreamtime Caravan Park manager Joy Ross said she was hoping the phone would start ringing during the next few days with people wanting to book into the Upper Coomera park.

"It is certainly quiet compared to normal," she said.

"I would say it is down by about 50 per cent.

"I hope people are waiting because of the weather and they will still come."

Nobby Beach Holiday Village manager Caroline Worth said there was still plenty of room in the park, compared to previous years and that bad weather since the start of the year appeared to be the biggest reason.

"We are still hoping to see bookings pick up and would encourage anyone to come that is thinking about camping over Easter," she said.

"Easter is usually our busiest time of the year, so we are keen to see things turn around."

Eric Fairall, who is involved in the management of Treasure Island Caravan Park at Biggera Waters, said people had been "shell-shocked" by the bad weather.

"It seems people are leaving bookings until the last minute," he said.

"There has been a noticeable slump and we are hoping we can pick up the slack."

Online travel experience booking site Experience Oz released figures yesterday showing a 23 per cent drop in pre-bookings for the Gold Coast, compared to the year before because of bad weather and beach erosion.

"Tourists are finding it too risky to visit," Experience Oz general manager Clint Gudenswager said.

But Gold Coast Tourism CEO Martin Winter said hotel and apartment complexes were reporting an improvement in bookings as Easter approached.

"Across most areas the gap is closing, though some sectors, such as the tourist parks, are finding it harder to overcome the consumer concern around weather and their holiday booking," he said.

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Speed camera in action for Easter break

Staff writers   |  March 27th, 2013

The new cameras on the Smith St overpass will go online tonight.

THE new speed cameras on the M1 at Gaven will be turned on at midnight tonight - just in time to catch Gold Coasters heading off for the Easter break.

A row of five cameras was installed on the reverse side of the Smith Street overpass at Gaven months ago, recording the speed of every northbound car. Until now police have not issued fines for motorists caught by the cameras speeding.

Police Minister Jack Dempsey said the cameras would go "live" tonight when he launched this year's Easter Road Safety campaign today.

The blitz will see police out in force across the state to crack down on drivers disobeying the road rules, with a focus on the Fatal Five - speeding, drink or drug driving, not wearing a seatbelt, inattention and fatigue.

"This year's road toll has already reached a worrying high of 70 - 15 more deaths on Queensland roads compared to the same time last year,'' Mr Dempsey said.

"This is unacceptable and I put a challenge out to all drivers in the coming days to make the Easter break fatality free."

Mr Dempsey said the location of the new camera has a history of speed related crashes.

"The cameras will operate in all lanes heading north along the M1 at Gaven, including the Smith Street onramp merging lane," he said.

He hopes the new camera will encourage drivers to slow down in the area and consequently save lives.

"Over time, speed limit compliance at Queensland's fixed speed camera locations has improved, therefore reducing speed-related crash risks," he said.

Police Commissioner Ian Stewart said the Easter road campaign will run for a month in the lead up to and during the Easter school holidays.

"Traditionally road users are at a higher risk over Easter due to the volume of traffic on the roads. The highest risk is when people are leaving for holiday destinations and returning home," Commissioner Stewart said.

"What should be a happy and relaxing time of year can quickly become a nightmare for families and loved ones affected by road trauma.''

The Gaven speed cameras come after another bank of cameras, also hidden on the reverse side of an overpass, were installed on the northbound lanes of the M1 at Logan in 2011, which has raised millions of dollars in revenue.

Once the Gaven cameras are online unwary drivers could be caught speeding twice within 25 minutes.

Police were unable to provide figures on how many speeding motorists had been detected but not fined by the Smith Street cameras during the trial period.

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An eggs-cellent way to enjoy Easter

Milena Stojceska   |  March 26th, 2013

Pastry sous chef Stephen Little with the 60kg choc creation. Pic: Jerad Williams

SOME of the city's best chocolatiers have created a 60kg giant egg and an "army" of chocolate animals in time for Easter.

The Surfers Paradise Marriott Resort & Spa has ordered more than 150kg of chocolate and 600kg of seafood for the long weekend, mainly for the Good Friday "Seafood Inspirations" feast in Citrique.

Chocolate fondue will be flowing at the special Easter buffet alongside handmade hot cross macaroons and 100 chocolate Easter characters, which took a dedicated team of eight, led by maitre chocolatier Surath Perera, a week to make.

Meanwhile, the Marriott's pastry sous chef Stephen Little has been busy working on the 60kg masterpiece -- worth about $500 -- which stands about 1m high in the hotel lobby.

The egg took three gurus a total of 11 hours to create, needing at least 12 thick layers of dark and white chocolate.

"We needed to make it as thick as possible, but obviously we still needed to be able to move it so it couldn't be too heavy," he said. "At least with chocolate if it breaks, we just melt the chocolate and then start again."

Parkwood mum Jane O'Connor said the family would be checking out the resort's special events, but had to keep an eye on how much chocolate the kids could eat.

"They get pretty hyped up, we do try to give them rations of chocolate otherwise they will be up until 1am," she said.

For those who want to learn a few tricks of the trade, Mr Perera will showcase his skills at demonstration on Friday night.

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Official: Jeep reveals annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari concepts [UPDATE]

Jeep® and Mopar Reveal Six New Concept Vehicles for 47th Annual Moab Easter Jeep Safari

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept is most extreme Grand Cherokee ever with 35-inch tires and EcoDiesel V-6 power

Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon features 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 power and prototype beadlock wheels and Stinger off-road bumper

Jeep Wrangler Stitch is a light-weight follow-up to the diehard enthusiasts' favorite Wrangler Pork Chop

Jeep Sand Trooper II builds on the extreme off-road capabilities of the original Sand Trooper with 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 and Mopar Portal axles and Shorty off-road bumper

Jeep Wrangler Flattop features 37-inch tires and go-anywhere hardware in a sophisticated package

Jeep Wrangler Slim combines affordable extreme weekend fun with everyday road use featuring Mopar prototype 2-inch lift kit and prototype on-road beadlock wheels

Vehicles showcase new Jeep Performance Parts portfolio created by Mopar's Off-road division

March 20, 2013 , Auburn Hills, Mich. - Jeep® and Mopar will be showcasing a range of extremes at this year's annual Easter Jeep Safari in Moab, Utah. Now in its 47th year and taking place March 23-31, the Easter Jeep Safari will be attended by thousands of die-hard off-road enthusiasts looking to enjoy a week of wheeling on some of the country's most famous and challenging trails.

"Off-road enthusiasts will be pleasantly surprised by the range of Jeep models we're bringing to this year's Easter Jeep Safari," said Mike Manley, President and CEO – Jeep Brand, Chrysler Group LLC. "We go to this extremely popular event in Moab each year to showcase the latest production vehicles from Jeep, as well as a host of new customization and personalization ideas. In doing so, we connect with and receive a tremendous amount of feedback from our most loyal customers."

Jeep and Mopar sprinkled production and prototype Jeep Performance Parts on this year's collection of concept vehicles. Jeep Performance Parts are specifically designed, built and quality-tested to meet strict Jeep specifications, 4x4 capability, craftsmanship and versatility to help transform stock rides into even more capable trail performers.

"We created our new Jeep Performance Parts portfolio for extreme off-road Jeep fanatics," said Pietro Gorlier, President and CEO of Mopar, Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand. "Jeep owners who are passionate about customization, performance and personalization will have a long menu of Jeep Performance Parts from which to choose."

Since 2002, Jeep and Mopar have teamed to create nearly 40 unique concept vehicles for enthusiasts who attend the popular Easter Jeep Safari.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept

The recently introduced new 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee EcoDiesel V-6 has instantly delighted off-road enthusiasts across North America. With the introduction of the 2014 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept, Jeep designers have taken the most awarded SUV ever and created the most extreme Grand Cherokee yet. Powered by the new clean EcoDiesel engine, this Grand Cherokee has mountains of low-end torque to power over any obstacle. From its blood-orange paint, to its massive 35-inch off-road tires, there's no mistaking this Grand Cherokee and its off-road prowess.

The 2014 Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept – the third Grand Cherokee created for Easter Jeep since 2011 - features 35-inch Mickey Thompson off-road tires on Wrangler Rubicon 17-inch aluminum wheels, enlarged wheel openings with custom fender flares, custom front and rear skid plates, dual rear tow hooks and modified Mopar rock rails.

Custom design cues include a Grand Cherokee SRT hood, SRT front and rear fascias that have been modified for extra ground clearance, a black front grille, a matte black roof and one-off custom roof rails. The body is finished in a vibrant, non-metallic blood-orange hue that also manages to draw attention to the larger wheel openings and off-road tires.

Mopar slush mats and rear cargo liner enhance Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk Concept's interior.

Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon

The Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon features a gray exterior and a little extra firepower with a 6.4-liter HEMI V-8 crate engine from Mopar. The 470 horsepower engine is mated to a five-speed automatic transmission and Dana 60 front and rear axles with 4.10 gearing. The axles are suspended by a 4.5-inch prototype long-arm lift kit and roll on Jeep Performance Parts prototype forged eight-lug beadlock wheels with 39-inch off-road tires.

The Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon includes a number of Mopar applications externally, including front and rear half-door and window kits, front and rear off-road modified "Stinger" bumpers, Warn winch, high-clearance flat fenders, rock rails, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 10th Anniversary hood, prototype LED headlamps, a canvas soft top, swing-away rear tire carrier and body-color rear corner guards, taillamp guards, locking fuel door, and a Jeep Performance Parts badge.

The interior of the Jeep Wrangler Mopar Recon includes Mopar slush mats, black door-sill guards, a locking below-floor storage box, side sun visors, grab handles, trailside winch kit and a custom seat made from Navy blankets and Navy camouflage material.

Jeep Wrangler Stitch

One of the past Easter Jeep Safari concepts still loved today by enthusiasts is the light weight Pork Chop. For this year's Safari, Jeep has created its first follow-up vehicle with the new Jeep Wrangler Stitch. Based on the 2013 Wrangler Rubicon, the Stitch has been lightened to a parse 3,000-lb. curb weight, giving it a power-to-weight ratio similar to that of the Jeep Grand Cherokee SRT.

Jeep designers shaved weight where ever possible: the frame, axles, body and interior. The audio system and all heating and air conditioning components have been removed. The front seats are taken from the new 2013 SRT Viper and the rear seats have been removed. Sections of the body have been cut out, the doors have been removed, and the hood is a custom carbon fiber version of the one found on the Jeep Wrangler 10th Anniversary Rubicon. The standard roll cage has been replaced with a chrome moly unit, and the Full-Traction lower control arms, floor pan and GenRight fuel tank are made of aluminum. Even the frame and axles were modified to remove weight.

Off-road hardware consists of a Mopar cold-air intake and Mopar exhaust kit, Mickey Thompson 35-inch off-road tires on lightweight 17-inch aluminum wheels, custom DynaTrac Pro Rock 44 axles with 4.88 gears and ARB front and rear lockers, King shocks with pneumatic bump stops and Tom Woods drive shafts .

Unique design details include a windshield that has been chopped two inches, a clear yellow vinyl soft top, black leather SRT Viper seats and center console with a yellow instrument panel and seat backs, Truck-Lite LED headlamps and the previously mentioned carbon fiber hood. The black body panels are wrapped in a unique, see-through silver architectural fabric that hides the cut panels at some angles, and makes them visible at others.

Jeep Wrangler Sand Trooper II from Mopar

After the popular Sand Trooper made its debut at SEMA in 2012, Mopar upped the ante with the Sand Trooper II to get it ready to take on Moab. The Sand Trooper II features a legendary 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 to give it 375 horsepower and 400 ft.-lb. of torque. A five-speed automatic transmission sends the HEMI power to Mopar eight-lug front and rear Portal axles for added ground clearance. Jeep Performance Parts prototype forged beadlock wheels carry 40-inch off-road tires, giving Sand Trooper II its menacing stance.

Mopar exterior enhancements include a satin black grille, hood lock, front and rear half-door and window kits, front and rear off-road "Shorty" modified bumpers, Warn winch, Mopar flat fenders, rock rails, a vented hood, LED off-road lights and headlamps, Rubicon 10th Anniversary swing away rear tire carrier, trailer-tow hitch receiver, black taillamp guards and locking fuel door, and a Jeep Performance Parts badge.

The interior features a rear back-up camera display, Mopar slush mats, black door-sill guards, under-seat and center-console locking storage, locking below-floor storage box, trunk storage box, side sun visors, grab handles, Trailside winch kit and leather seats.

Jeep Wrangler Flattop

The Jeep Wrangler Flattop is a paradox of sorts. Its highly styled and refined body and interior completely belies its phenomenal off-road capability. Jeep designers took special care to give the Wrangler Flattop an upscale appearance inside and out, but bolted some of the most hard-core off-road gear available to Flattop's chassis.

Featuring a custom one-piece, windowless hard top, the body is finished in a metallic sandstone with copper and brown accents. The top and windshield were chopped two inches, and the b-pillar was removed creating a massive opening from front to rear. The door and hood hinges, tow hooks, grille slats and headlamp surrounds are finished in a copper tone, and the bumpers, side rails, side mirrors and hood decal are dark brown. The bumpers are customized versions from the Wrangle Rubicon 10th Anniversary model, as is the hood. Custom high line fender flares, Truck-Lite LED headlamps, LED rear taillamps and side markers, a massive Warn Zeon winch and TeraFlex spare tire carrier round off the exterior enhancements.

The interior features dark saddle Katzkin leather seating, copper accents on the steering wheel spokes, vent rings and passenger grab handle and Mopar slush mats.

Under Flattop's rich exterior is some serious off-road gear such as a Mopar cold-air intake, Mopar exhaust kit, aluminum five-spoke wheels that carry 37-inch Mickey Thompson off-road tires, the DynaTrac Pro Rock 44 front and Dana 60 rear axles feature ARB air lockers and TeraFlex sway bars, and Full-Traction control arms. All of this is hardware is bolted to King shocks with pneumatic bump stops.

Jeep Wrangler Slim

The Jeep Wrangler Slim offers maximum performance that is significantly lighter in weight. The Rock Lobster color exterior of the two-door Jeep Wrangler Slim features full doors and a hard top. Powered by a 3.6-liter V-6, the Jeep Wrangler Slim has a 3:73 anti-spin axle. Rolling on prototype 17-inch Jeep Performance Parts forged beadlock wheels with Rock Lobster beauty rings, the Jeep Wrangler Slim features a special 10th Anniversary Rubicon front bumper, which complements the rear bumper, and is the lightest weight rear bumper that Mopar offers. The Jeep Wrangler Slim also sports lightweight rock rails, black grille, black hood decal, LED headlights, locking gas cap and Rubicon tires.

The black interior features leather seat covers and a CB radio, as well as Mopar all-weather slush mats and a hard-top headliner.

Jeep Performance Parts on the Jeep Wrangler Slim include a prototype Mopar 2-inch lift kit. A Mopar cold-air intake is also featured on the Jeep Wrangler Slim.

Jeep Brand

Built on more than 70 years of legendary heritage, Jeep is the authentic SUV brand with class-leading capability, craftsmanship and versatility for people who seek extraordinary journeys. The Jeep brand delivers an open invitation to live life to the fullest by offering a full line of vehicles that continue to provide owners with a sense of security to handle any journey with confidence.

The Jeep vehicle lineup includes Compass, Grand Cherokee, Patriot, Wrangler and Wrangler Unlimited. To meet consumer demand around the world, all Jeep models are sold outside North America – and all are available in right-hand drive versions and with gasoline and diesel powertrain options. Chrysler Group LLC sells and services vehicles in approximately 130 countries around the world.

Mopar Brand

Mopar is Chrysler Group LLC's service, parts and customer-care brand and distributes 280,000 parts and accessories. With the creation of the Chrysler Group and Fiat S.p.A. partnership, Mopar is extending its global reach, integrating service, parts and customer-care operations in order to enhance dealer and customer support worldwide. Combined with Fiat S.p.A., Mopar's global portfolio includes more than 500,000 parts and accessories which are distributed in more than 130 countries. Mopar is the source for all genuine parts and accessories for Chrysler Group and Fiat S.p.A. brands.

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