Gold Coast development: $2 billion cruise ship terminal and global tourism hub planned for Bilinga

A GIANT $2 billion global tourism hub will be built on one of the Gold Coast’s iconic beaches, with room for a casino, cruise ship terminal, six resorts and a new surf life saving club under an ambitious new plan. SEE THE VIDEO.

A GIANT $2 billion global tourism hub will be built on one of the Gold Coast’s iconic beaches, with room for a casino, cruise ship terminal and six resorts under a bold plan.

Developers Denis and Lester Hughes have resurrected a proposal — with a bold new option for realising the Gold Coast’s cruise ship terminal dream — for a development on Bilinga beach.

It was previously floated six years ago but opposed by Gold Coast surfing world champion Mick Fanning and the then-Newman Government. It was quietly shelved in 2013.

The proposed Gold Coast Ocean Terminal.

But now it has been revived and revamped on the back of the Palaszczuk Government preparing to go to market to create a global tourism hub on the Gold Coast.

It is being pitched as a ‘state of the art recreation, leisure and tourism project’.

Denis Hughes told the Gold Coast Bulletin the Gold Coast Ocean Terminal would inject more than $2 billion into the economy and would revitalise the southern Gold Coast.

Gold Coast Ocean Terminal

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“If the State Government is serious about creating a global tourism hub, this is the chance,” Mr Hughes said.

“Why not locate it beside the airport, and the future terminus of the light and heavy rails.

Around 15ha of parkland and public open space would be included in the development

WHY WE BACK A GLOBAL TOURISM HUB

“This new scheme protects southern surf breaks and creates new ones to ease congestion.”

Under the proposal, which the brothers hope to submit to the State Government, the development would become home to the city’s second casino and would transform the southern Gold Coast into a major tourism and transport hub.

WHY THE SPIT SHOULD BE GIVEN BACK TO THE GOLD COAST

The development would be close to the Gold Coast Airport, as seen in the foreground.

Its features would include:

• A three-vessel cruise terminal with room for ships of between 150m and 300m, with the potential for a 450m craft;

• A cargo ship berth for loading and unloading;

• An international resort and 5000 sq m casino;

• Hotel towers of between seven and 15 stories, plus serviced villas;

• Up to 14 apartment sites of up to 30 storeys;

• A central hub would be the “NK Quay”, which would be home to a transfer terminal, restaurants, museums and exhibition space;

• 2ha water pare with a giant wave pool which could host surfing competitions;

• The North Kirra Surf Club would be given a new facility which would include a beach volleyball amphitheatre, and playgrounds;

The development revives a concept first proposed in 2012.

The original project, unveiled in mid-2012, had the backing at the time of billionaire Gold Coast developer Bob Ell’s LEDA group.

Much of the opposition to the previous proposal was directed at concerns it would damage or destroy some of the city’s most iconic surf breaks, including Kirra.

However, Mr Hughes said the new proposal would leave Kirra’s break untouched and would in fact create new breaks at Bilinga.

The proposed development would create new surf breaks and reduced congestion, the developer says.

The project would undergo rigorous environmental assessment to determine its impact, he said.

It would be aimed at catering to the city’s growing love affair with superyachts, a sector that now has official State Government support, providing berths of 28 of the luxury craft as well as a 560-boat marina.

There would also be a ‘world-class’ wave and surf pool facility, a retail and restaurant precinct and a 15ha parkland.

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One of the cruise ship berths, two towers and the shipping berth.

Mayor Tom Tate, who is pursuing the Gold Coast City Council’s own plans for a $500 million offshore cruise ship terminal at The Spit, welcomed the proposal.

“It’s admirable to see people with a vision for our city continue to put their ideas, and ultimately their money, behind these concepts,” he said.

“Council is continuing its focus on the oceanside cruise ship terminal project, off Philip Park. I see this as a critical tourism and investment asset for today’s, and the next generation.

“Everyday, tens of thousands of cruise dollars pass the Gold Coast, literally. It is incumbent on me as Mayor to do everything we can to capture that market.”

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The proposed wave and surf park.