Meaghan Scanlon refuses to rule out Carey Park or Broadwater Parklands for second casino

Gold Coast’s Assistant Tourism Minister Meaghan Scanlon refuses to rule out Southport’s Carey Park or spilling into Broadwater Parklands as sites for a Global Tourism Hub.

ASSISTANT Tourism Minister Meaghan Scanlon is refusing to rule out building a Global Tourism Hub on a site including Southport’s Carey Park and part of the Broadwater Parklands.

A renewed fight to protect the green spaces from development on Saturday saw a unity of strange bed fellows from either side of the political spectrum.

LNP member for Southport Rob Molhoek stood alongside former federal Greens candidate Sally Spain at an “information session” hosted by former councillor Eddy Sarroff and Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow.

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State MP Rob Molhoek is prepared to chain himself to a tree if necessary to save Carey Park from development. Picture Glenn Hampson

But despite the weekend protests, Ms Scanlon who featured heavily on signs targeting her and Tourism Minister Kate Jones would not rule out Carey Park as a possible site.

“The Minister has said time and time again that the Government has no preferred site,” she told the Bulletin.

Asked if she would rule out a GTH spilling into Broadwater Parklands, Ms Scanlon, who is also the MP for Gaven, did not reply to phone or text messages.

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Southport MP Rob Molhoek putting up placards in Carey Park.

The rally comes after an investment community source revealed in Saturday’s Bulletin that Carey Park — and a tunnel underneath the Gold Coast Highway to Broadwater Parklands — was on the radar.

The source claims State Government officials close to the GTH process told him not to worry about Carey Park being too small as “we can put the road underneath”.

An independent panel has been investigating a number of possible sites for a Global Tourism Hub but those locations remain a closely guarded secret.

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Ms Scanlon said she was surprised Mr Molhoek had become so involved in the protest.

“I see Rob Molhoek regularly at events and in parliament and he’s never taken the opportunity to have a sensible discussion about this,” she said.

Gold Coast casino placards organised by LNP MP Rob Molhoek featuring Labor's Meaghan Scanlon.

“He’s just playing games while I’m doing my job. The reality is Rob was fully supportive when the LNP wanted to build a casino on The Spit.”

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Mr Sarroff said the turnout on Saturday was small due to the weather but according to him around 200 people had stopped by during the three-hour session but the Bulletin counted much fewer.

“This is an important issue and it’s not an issue solely for the local residents of Southport, it’s a matter of principle — public parks should not be offered for sale for a commercial use,” he said.

“The community consultation ends Monday but what won’t finish is the opposition to the sale or lease of that public land,” he said.

Mr Sarroff said locals were frustrated about the lack of information as well as the threat to public land.

Mr Molhoek said he would use next week’s parliament question time to demand more answers of Tourism Minister Kate Jones.

“(The government) won’t rule the site in or out but we’re just making sure that our voice is heard and they understand that we want the park ruled out and it’s not for sale,” he said.

“Southport is not the right place to be putting a casino. We already have three or four significant community clubs, we should be supporting them.”