Gold Coast development: Cruise ship terminal project put on hold until after COVID-19 crisis ends

Mayor Tom Tate has vowed to halt further funding going into his controversial $650 million offshore cruise ship terminal project. He reveals why.

MAYOR Tom Tate has vowed to halt further funding going into his controversial $650 million offshore cruise ship terminal project until the industry’s post-COVID-19 future becomes clear.

Cr Tate’s pet project, which has been a key plank of his three successful mayoral runs, will be put on the back burner, while funding earmarked for the project will instead be diverted to fast-tracking job-creating projects.

The proposed offshore Gold Coast cruise ship terminal. Photo: Supplied

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“I will recommend we pause the cruise ship terminal. With COVID-19 I want to see which direction the industry is going in, and in the meantime we can reprovision funds towards expanding our ferry terminals,” he said ahead of today’s council budget review meeting at Evandale.

“It is prudent to put the project on hold until we understand the future of the cruise industry.

“We want to get more certainty before we invest more money.

Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Mike Batterham

“We are all hanging out for a COVID-19 vaccine and to be honest with you, anyone who is giving a timeline of when it will be ready is just guessing.”

Cr Tate said he would closely watch the industry’s progress in coming months and would look to revive the project in next year’s budget if news was positive.

Australia’s cruise ship industry has been hit hard during the COVID-19 pandemic, with multiple deaths linked to passengers aboard the Ruby Princess which docked in Sydney in mid-March with several crew and tourists unwell.

Designs for the proposed Oceanside cruise ship terminal at The Spit on the Gold Coast.

Last year’s council budget provided funding of $1.25 million for further studies on the proposed offshore cruise ship terminal with councillors Glenn Tozer, Peter Young and Daphne McDonald voting against it.

The project has been in a holding pattern for more than 18 months while the State Government proceeds with the Spit Master Plan.

Late last year the Bulletin revealed the terminal, proposed for a site at Philip Park on The Spit, will be subjected to a detailed environmental impact statement after Queensland’s independent Co-ordinator General agreed to “co-ordinated status for the project”.

The proposed Oceanside cruise ship terminal’s location.

Cr Tate yesterday flagged funding which would have been earmarked for spending on the terminal project in the next financial year could go towards the fast-tracking of the third stage of the Home of the Arts at Evandale.

The mayor has previously told the Bulletin the project would be critical to the Gold Coast economy’s post-COVID-19 revival.

It is expected to include a large public plaza as well as a revamp of the existing arts centre and theatre.