Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate writes private letter to Queensland premier seeking backing on his Broadwater plans

MAYOR Tom Tate has written to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk asking her to back a council plan which will fast forward new tourism facilities on The Spit.

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

MAYOR Tom Tate has written to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk asking her to back a Gold Coast City Council plan to fast forward new tourism ­facilities on The Spit.

The confidential letter, provided only to councillors, could be the trigger for Cr Tate to push forward with plans for his offshore cruise ship terminal and for stakeholders to reach uniform agreement on how best to use the area.

“Your participation is important given the high proportion of state-owned land in the area and various state interests involved,” said Cr Tate’s letter on Friday.

“Subject to your favourable consideration of this request, I proposed to circulate a draft terms of reference and project brief as a matter of urgency.

“Premier, as you appreciate, the joint development of a plan for The Spit is long overdue and represents an opportunity to engage the Gold Coast community on the future of this key part of the city.

“I look forward to partnering with you to advance this opportunity.”

A spokesman for the Premier yesterday said the Government was happy to discuss the possibility of a master plan with the Gold Coast City Council.

“However, the council’s own Gold Coast City Plan — finalised earlier this year — already provides the planning framework for The Spit,” the spokesman said.

Cr Tate told the Premier the council had last month deferred a decision on Sunland’s $600 million Mariner’s Cove project until it had developed a plan for The Spit with the Government.

He said the planning was “intended to address density, height, tourism infrastructure and other planning matters”.

Councillors will this week consider a report by officers on the options for the offshore cruise ship facility, which show the preferred location is off Philip Park requiring access to crown land.

With state backing, council sources suggest city hall could move forward on planning for both the cruise ship terminal and Government’s integrated resort project with the ASF consortium south of Sea World.

“The mayor could go hard on tourism infrastructure with the state’s co-operation,” a source said.

Premier Palaszczuk late last month effectively ruled out a cruise ship terminal on the Coast, maintaining there would be no need if plans went ahead to build a $100 million port for Brisbane.

The Government has been accused of delaying a master plan for The Spit while it works with ASF on plans for its casino resort.

On whether ASF would be allowed to build above the three-storey limit, State Development said the Government and the developer would “work collaboratively with the City of Gold Coast to address the building height limits”.

On how traffic would be managed, State Development indicated the consortium must work with council to address the increased development pressures.

The Premier’s office has confirmed a letter was received last Friday and a formal response to the Mayor was being prepared.