Theme park’s bold expansion could be a dream or transport planning nightmare

Theme park Dreamworld has unveiled big plans – but they come with some big potential headaches. Here’s how the planning battle is playing out.

A Dreamworld mini-town project in the north is the Gold Coast’s next biggest development battle. So many unresolved issues. The project is divisive, and here is why.

The theme park’s owners Coast Entertainment want Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie to “call-in” their project – council would no longer plan it, nor could it be legally challenged.

The Dreamworld precinct would be expanded from 55.3ha to 85ha, with 13 buildings up to 16 storeys.

Sources suggest the call-in is not so much with council but the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) setting conditions. In the theme park now, it can now build with few barriers.

A meeting was held with Mr Bjeijie, as Planning Minister, City planning chair Mark Hammel and Theodore MP Mark Boothman. It was agreed council would vote on the call-in.

With councillors split 7-7, Mayor Tom Tate used his casting vote. The area councillor, Donna Gates, was not at the earlier meeting. She has since been briefed by Dreamworld.

What are her thoughts? Because it appears the State want her on board to green light this.

Entry to Dreamworld. Picture: Nigel Hallett.

“At the outset, we all love Dreamworld and want to encourage ongoing investment in the park’s development and our tourism sector. But we also need to respect the environment, the horrible road network at the location and that no ability to connect to water and sewer has been identified,” she told your columnist.

Here are the issues – the City supports both residential and commercial aspects of the project, but there is no transport plan report yet.

“I understand there is also a raft of additional reports requested from the consultant that are yet to be provided,” the former Deputy Mayor says.

Donna Gates is weighing up everyone’s interests and concerns on the Dreamworld expansion project. Picture: Portia Large.

“In my view, I’d hate to think that a Development Permit would be approved by the State prior to the provision of reports identifying the impacts of the proposed development and, thereafter, the resulting requirements being determined.

“But, equally, I understand Dreamworld’s huge investment in our city, the jobs provided for 1000 residents, the food and beverage suppliers who benefit from Dreamworld’s operations, the airlines, the accommodation properties and so it goes – so expansion should be welcomed.”

So we are at a standstill, like the traffic on Foxwell Road at the entry to Exit 54, where there are 52,000 vehicles daily and will be more once the Coomera Connector is finished.

Map showing the proposed expansion of Dreamworld.

Donna Gates is renowned and respected for her planning nous at committee meetings.

“The requested reports regarding traffic impacts, transport access and services provision are necessary and, until provided, I don’t personally believe the application can be resolved by any level of government,” she says.

“I’ve represented northern Gold Coast for a long time and have always done my best, primarily for the people who elect me, but also with business and economic benefit front of mind.”

Her hope is the outstanding issues can be resolved. If there’s a call-in, she cautions the State must consult widely and get all the reports.

After light rail stage four, this is the first test for this government on community consultation.

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Originally published as Theme park’s bold expansion could be a dream or transport planning nightmare