Cruise ship terminal stalled as master plan for The Spit gets priority

Mayor Tom Tate has asked for a cruise ship terminal to be included in The Spit master plan, but the State Government has other priorities.

THE State Government says its will focus on creating a master plan for The Spit rather than giving early passage to Mayor Tom Tate’s pet project of a cruise ship terminal.

Mayor Tate and councillors have given the State Government an ultimatum to include the terminal in the master plan, otherwise the “project should be shelved until there’s a change of government”.

Mayor Tom Tate is hoping to keep the cruise ship terminal alive with a site at Philip Park, Main Beach. Pic by David Clark

Cr Tate gave Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk the choice of Philip Park for an offshore cruise ship terminal base or Doug Jennings Park in the Gold Coast Seaway, or both.

The Premier yesterday said the project would have to be submitted through State Development and considered by the department officers.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick said the council had made a submission to the government that the cruise ship terminal should be a co-ordinated project.

“The Co-ordinator General made a decision on that and said what should happen first is there should be a master planning process for The Spit which everyone knows is a very important and special part of Queensland,” Mr Dick said.

“And also one where the community wants to have a say. That was communicated to the Mayor and I spoke directly to Tom Tate about that.

The Philip Park proposal. Picture supplied

“The Co-ordinator General, who is an independent statutory office holder, made that decision because he didn’t want to confuse the community or otherwise derail the principle approach we are that taking and the community wants which is working out the future of The Spit.

“So that’s the first step and it’s a very detailed process.”

The Government had staged a number of “pop up” sessions at shopping centres and parks for residents and that consultation would become more intensive after the Commonwealth Games, Mr Dick said.

Cr Tate was “entitled” to write to the Premier but the Government’s position was to take the process one step at a time and get the master planning right and see how other development fits in “down the track.”

The Bulletin yesterday asked the Government whether it would immediately rule out Doug Jennings Park or if it was “on the table”, and whether it agreed to set aside Philip Park.

Labor has promised Gold Coast residents that it will protect the park and northern end of The Spit.

A State Development spokesperson said the planning process for The Spit master plan could consider a range of development proposals, including a proposed cruise ship terminal.

The Gold Coast Seaway.

“However, the proposed cruise ship terminal remains subject to its own separate approvals process. This means it cannot be treated as a foregone conclusion in the master plan,” the spokesperson said.

“The proponent should provide sufficient information to the master planning team about a development proposal, to allow it to be fully considered for inclusion in any draft master plan.”

Councillors last year ticked off on $2 million being spent on “cruise ship terminal infrastructure” as council continued its research on the offshore option.

The Government’s position means the most likely path for council is to resubmit its proposal at the close of the master planning process in 2019 or wait for a change in government.