Surfers back Fanning after Gold Coast’s Mayor comment

Surfers back Fanning after Tate comment

The Gold Coast surfing fraternity has turned on Mayor Tom Tate after he “arrogantly” dismissed the opinion of one of Australia’s greatest sporting champions.

Mick Fanning at South Straddy. Photo: andrewshield.com.au.

Earlier this week Cr Tate wrote off comments from two-time world champion surfer Mick Fanning opposing a cruise ship terminal.

The mayor said he would listen to people with qualifications and to “the people that mattered”.

Gold Coast surfing champions Mark Richardson and Andrew McKinnon have lashed out.

Mr Richardson, a former Australian champion, scoffed at Cr Tate’s claims that he would find other high-profile surfers to back plans for a Gold Coast terminal.

“I don’t think you’ll find any surfers that will be on Tom Tate’s side about that,” he said.

“Every surfer will be standing behind Mick Fanning, you can pretty much guarantee that. I can’t believe those comments. It’s absolutely ludicrous.”

Mr Richardson said his brother-in-law and fellow champion surfer Joel Parkinson would back Fanning.

“We think it’s a joke. Mr Tate is underestimating surfers’ value.”

Mr McKinnon said putting a cruise ship terminal at The Spit was “environmental vandalism”.

Read more, here.

Source: goldcoast.com.au