Gold Coast cruise ship terminal debate a long-running saga

A CRUISE ship terminal for the Gold Coast? That is one well-sailed debate that’s been trawling local waters since 2001.

Gold Coast Bulletin August 19 to 20 2006 Weekend history Spit cruise plan sunk cover

THE controversial debate over whether a cruise ship terminal should be built on the Gold Coast goes back more than 15 years.

This week’s announcement that ASF Consortium will proceed with building an integrated resort and casino near Sea World is just the latest step in a debate that has battered governments and consumed years of time.

Lobbying for a terminal in the Broadwater began in 2001 when business leaders pushed the Beattie government to consider the idea in a bid to boost the economy.

The initial push was led by Southport Chamber of Commerce boss Ian Solomon and by 2002 it had gained tentative support from the government.

CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL DEAD

CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL DEBATE RESURFACES

On the eve of the 2012 council elections, Mayor Tom Tate threw his weight behind the idea of building a cruise ship terminal on The Spit.

Debate continued until 2006 when plans solidified to develop parcels of state-controlled land.

However, then-Premier Peter Beattie, a noted fan of cruises, found himself in political hot water, with a growing community campaign against the plan and an election right around the corner.

Keen to retain as many seats as possible after eight years in power, the Beattie government made the call to shut down the cruise ship terminal plans.

On August 19, 2006 Deputy Premier Anna Bligh told the Bulletin it was off the table, declaring that the financial cost to alleviate its impact on the environment was too great. “It doesn’t stack up and it was always a possibility that would happen,” she said.

“We cannot go ahead with this. I cannot justify, when we have needs for services like education, road and health, putting $30 million of public money into a cruise terminal.

“We proposed it on the basis it wouldn’t cost public money. It’s just too expensive.”

Ms Bligh, who became Premier following Mr Beattie’s retirement a year later, says she understood some voters would be suspicious with the timing of the announcement, weeks out from the election.

“What our polling showed was the community was lined up 50-50 on it, but for many people it wasn’t something they would take into account when they voted,” she said.

“People will always be cynical, but the reality is that this is just evidence that environmental impact studies are taken seriously.

“I would have preferred the timing was earlier, but the EIS was due in August and here it is.”

That seemed to be the end of it until early 2012 when, on the eve of the April 28 council elections, Mayor Tom Tate threw his weight behind the idea of building a cruise ship terminal on The Spit.

An early contender to develop a terminal on Wavebreak Island was Singapore-based Sembawang which announced a $4.9 billion plan.

However, this did not last long and Sembawang pulled out in late 2012 before the Newman government announced its plans for the Broadwater Marine Project.

Tenders were called, with ASF Consortium short-listed along with two other developers.

Ultimately ASF was the last consortium standing but as 2014 went on it came up against challenges including a grassroots campaign by protest groups, a sceptical Gold Coast City Council and the Newman government which was reluctant to approve it.

The Labor Opposition, led by Annastacia Palaszczuk visited Wavebreak Island just days before the 2015 state election and vowed to not push forward with any development on the island or northern Spit if it gained power.

And just a week later the government changed hands and the Broadwater Marine Project was suspended.

This week’s announcement is sure to remain a point of discussion and debate but if history says anything it is that development around the Broadwater remains controversial.