Top Gear host Jeremy Clarkson wanted to come to the coast next week to film a new Microsoft Xbox-sponsored V8 Supercar at the Holden Driving Centre at Norwell, in a deal brokered by racing legend Mark Skaife. But Gold Coast City Council bureaucrats put the brakes on the show, watched by an estimated 350 million people in 170 countries, when they failed to relax noise restrictions in time. The council snub has angered driving centre boss Paul Morris, who said the Coast had lost the chance for 'Priceless publicity' It is an unbelievable lost opportunity," Mr Morris, a racing car driver and team owner said.
Talking about the world's biggest TV show and the council, which is always banging on about how the Gold Coast is open for business, can't even facilitate it. Clarkson was going to drive the car himself. It's bureaucracy gone mad. The pen-pushers are strangling this town with red tape." Mr Morris said the driving centre, despite being located in the northern gold coast canefields, operated under strict noise restrictions because of surrounding homes.He had applied for a temporary relaxation but was told it could not be done in time to meet Top Gear's tight scheduling demands.
Mr Morris said the Council' should have moved heaven and earth to attract the show. The guy cutting cane next door makes more noise with his harvester than the V8 car. Deputy Mayor and Norwell area councillor Donna Gates said the council had been given only 24 hours notice to approve the noise relaxation. Top Gear obviously has a really big viewing audience and it would have been great promotion for the city.