Gold Coast Council delays report about cruise ship terminal proposed for The Spit

A REPORT being prepared by council into the proposed $450 million cruise ship terminal on The Spit. But don’t expect to see it released in the near future. Here’s when you can expect to see it.

A REPORT being prepared by council into the proposed $450 million cruise ship terminal on The Spit may not see the light of day until after the State election.

The report was due to be put before council this month but has already been put back until November.

A spokesman for Mayor Tom Tate said the delay in presenting the report was because Cr Tate was unable to attend the meeting at which it was set to be handed down.

CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL PLAN

The plans for a cruise ship terminal on the Gold Coast continue to create mixed feelings for residents.

But council sources have blamed the holdup on the departure of former Economic Development and Major Projects boss Darren Scott and said they expect the report will be delayed even further.

TERMINAL ON ROUGH SEAS

“He (Mr Scott) would have been securing that particular thing,” one source said.

“(The mayor) is just as likely to defer it again until after the state election.”

Gold Coast Bulletin front page.

Gold Coast Bulletin front page.

The report is due after councillors voted for work to begin on preliminary environmental studies into the proposed terminal, which will be located on a 6ha site at Philip Park. It was also to prepare advice for the state government.

TATE: I WILL RELEASE THE CST REPORT

It was ordered after a major feasibility study by PricewaterhouseCoopers commissioned by council found the proposed terminal would bring $4 billion into the economy over 30 years and create 3500 jobs.

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

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has said her government will consider any proposal put before it, but has already committed to spending $100 million on the Luggage Point Cruise Terminal in Brisbane.

TRUE IMPACT OF PROPOSED CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL

Mudgeeraba councillor Glenn Tozer, who has long been opposed to the proposed terminal, said it was clear more investigations needed to be done.

Gold Coast Bulletin front page.

Gold Coast Bulletin front page.

“My gut feeling is that these things are timed for a reason,” he said.

“There needs to be adequate time to deal with significant issues (seen in the feasibility study).”

It remains unclear whether ratepayers will get to see the contents of the latest report when it is eventually handed down, with Cr Tate’s spokesman saying it would be up to council to decide if the report was made public.

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