Spit Master Plan reveals unique new tourist attraction for the Coast

A new tourist attraction plans to give the city’s theme parks a run for their money with the facility flagged as a major new contender for the Gold Coast’s economy.

THOSE behind an Aboriginal cultural centre proposed for The Spit aim to give theme parks a run for their money with plans for dynamic live performances and wild dolphin shows.

The facility has been flagged as a major new tourism contender for the Gold Coast by Moondawera Incorporated, which represents the local indigenous community.

Moondawera bosses hope the state-of-the-art centre will turbocharge indigenous tourism for the city.

The centre has been listed as part of The Spit draft masterplan, which was released to the public in March.

The proposed Aboriginal Centre as part of the Spit Masterplan.

Max Dillon from Moondawera Inc said his family had been working to establish an indigenous centre on the Spit for 30 years and this was “the closest (they’ve) ever come” to it becoming a reality.

“The Spit is traditionally a place we’ve all hunted and gathered, looked after and maintained,” he said.

“For us it’s to create a legacy where culture is practised and fluent.”

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The centre will be designed as a “one-stop-shop for tourists”, showcasing indigenous stories and culture from around Australia in rotating exhibitions.

It will be run by a consortium which is also planning more ambitious entertainment from hosting indigenous fashion week to re-enacting first contact with Captain Cook’s ship.

New aerial images show the progress of the master plan.

“The culture centres we’ve seen in the past have almost all but failed because of location and also the inability to expand and offer that drawcard for tourists, so we’re mainly looking to become a tourist attraction and be very competitive with what’s here on the Coast,” Mr Dillon said.

“The things we’re looking at offering are fairly unique — there’s indigenous chef cook-offs and live high-impact theatre entertainment, it’s almost death-defying in a way that’s never been done before.

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“We’re even looking at hosting an indigenous surf competition if the cruise ship terminal doesn’t go ahead.”

There are also plans for a live dolphin show, featuring wild dolphins from the area.

“We communicate by slapping the water and the dolphins work with us to push fish in to our nets, then we reward them by sharing our fish with them,” Mr Dillon said.

“(The tradition) is very much alive but it’s not a daily event these days.

The plan is currently being finalised.

“It started on the Gold Coast and we taught it to others in the southeast, but this is one of the first times it would be done in a tourist setting.”

Construction between Sea World and Palazzo Versace could begin within two years if the master plan is approved.

A Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning spokesman said the master plan was currently being finalised with public feedback.

“The Aboriginal cultural centre proposed in the draft master plan would allow visitors to learn about and experience the association of local indigenous people with The Spit and its broader setting,” the spokesman said.