A.J Hackett: First look at planned Gold Coast Skypark on The Spit
The company behind grand plans to build a “Skypark” on The Spit have vowed to be environmentally conscious while delivering adventure tourism as opposition against it grows. FULL DETAILS
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THE company behind grand plans to build a “Skypark” on The Spit have vowed to be environmentally conscious while delivering adventure tourism.
A.J Hackett International CEO Danny Hughes has moved to hose down concerns about potential environmental impacts of the project as community groups line up to oppose it.
The Bulletin in an exclusive report on Monday detailed how the founder of bungy jumping and godfather of adventure tourism wants to build a new tourism project on the site earmarked for a cruise ship terminal.
The thrill attraction would include a bungy tower, giant swing and zip line, along with a free to the public Southbank-style sand pool, ocean viewing tower, parks, gardens and cafes.
Mr Hughes said A.J Hackett had a strong track record of integrating with environmentally and historically significant sites.
“We have a number of sites around the world with sensitive elements in them, like Normandy where you can jump off a 130-year-old viaduct which was formerly a railway,” he said.
“We want to connect our customers with the heritage and environmental parks of the park as well as adventure tourism and these are not mutually exclusive.
“We want to harmonise it by bringing stakeholders and First Nations people together to deliver a site with a real wow factor and we only have a handful – we go for quality over quantity.”
Mayor Tom Tate is backing the proposal and urged locals to have their say.
“Gold Coast – we are Australia’s tourism capital, so I welcome another new tourism offering right here in our city,” he said.
“I believe this is worth investigating and look forward to seeing how the community engagement goes.”
But groups including the Main Beach Association, Save Our Spit and Save Our Broadwater are understood to be strongly opposed to the project.
Main Beach Association leader Sue Donovan said there were numerous reasons why Philip Park at The Spit was a totally inappropriate location for a bungy jumping operation.
“These include the 3-storey height limit, the loss of existing car parks in an area which is usually full to capacity and non compliance with the Spit Master Plan for that precinct,” Ms Donovan said.
She said a cartoon in Monday’s Bulletin summed up the view of some residents who were asking “why on earth would we want to commercialise this area of natural beauty”.
“Clearly the proponent is trying to sugar coat the pill by promising an Indigenous component to the proposal – but I doubt the surfers, beachgoers and walkers who use Philip Park as their gateway to The Spit will be convinced by their spin,” Ms Donovan said.
A Save Our Spit spokesman said the proponents should consider other commercial sites.
“As per The Spit Masterplan no further commercial activities are allowed to be built on the eastern side of The Spit, including in Philip Park,” the spokesman said.
“There is a three-storey height limit in place for the whole of The Spit, which was put in place decades ago as requested by the local community, including Friends of Federation Walk, who are the caretakers of that site.
“This proposal is not nature-based tourism by definition. There are plenty of commercial sites available for this type of activity at a market price elsewhere on the Gold Coast.”
Philip Park was named for the late Prince Philip and is expected to be the location of a future memorial to both he and his late wife, Queen Elizabeth II.
The attraction would be built on top of one of the area’s existing carparks.
The Park remains one of the most popular entry points for families to visit the city’s northern beaches.
First look: Incredible bungy adventure park plan for surprise site
THE founder of bungy jumping and godfather of adventure tourism A.J Hackett wants to build a “Skypark” on The Spit.
The New Zealand-founded company, which has attractions in China, Singapore, Russia, Cairns and France wants to build an “Indigenous and environmentally inspired” attraction at Philip Park near Sea World.
The site is earmarked under the state government’s Spit Master Plan as the location of a future cruise ship terminal.
According to plans seen by the Bulletin, Skypark Gold Coast by AJ Hackett features would include a bungy tower, giant swing and zip line, a free to the public Southbank-style sand pool, ocean viewing tower, parks, gardens and cafes.
AJ Hackett International CEO Danny Hughes will present the plans to a meeting of Main Beach and Broadwater-based community groups on Monday.
“The design and operation of Skypark would also feature Indigenous-inspired design, performance, culture heritage education and employment opportunities, authentically designed by local project Adviser and cultural heritage authority, Jabree Ltd, headed by Wesley Aird,” he said.
“We will also consult all local Indigenous groups through Yraca (advisory group), with the assistance of Council’s cultural heritage team.”
Mr Hackett popularised bungy jumping in the 1980s and 1990s, including his famous 1987 jump off the Eiffel Tower.
Under the plans, the attraction would replaced the shelved cruise ship terminal.
The company will argue that its project would be a more appropriate offering for the site than the divisive terminal project.
It has been involved in talks with the Gold Coast City Council and state government since mid-2022.
The Bulletin understands no development application will be lodged until support is gained from both levels of government and the community.
Mr Hughes said The Spit was the perfect location for a tourist attraction, which he said would be entirely open to the public and would not obstruct beach access.
“We strongly believe there’s no more beautiful and natural a location on the eastern seaboard, and we fully understand that we must earn a social license to create it,” he said.
“We’ve worked successfully with Indigenous and environment groups at our Cairns facility over many decades, and want to take that approach to a new level on The Spit.
“With a littoral rainforest being restored adjacent to Phillip Park, and Federation Walk and Oceanway being enhanced, this represents an enormous opportunity to sensitively grow a nature-based tourism hub.”
Philip Park was named for the late Prince Philip and is expected to be the location of a future memorial to both he and his late wife, Queen Elizabeth II.
The attraction would be built on top of one of the area’s existing carparks.
The Spit has been at the centre of a flurry of activity which is set to dramatically transform its southern end.
The Bulletin last week revealed more than $1.5bn of developments have already been announced or gained approval, with a further two resorts or residential projects in the tender process.
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