What is council’s budget for the cruise ship terminal when it lacks State Government support

COUNCILLORS are warning against “throwing away coin” on more studies for the oceanside cruise ship terminal as they begin meeting in special budget sessions.

COUNCILLORS are warning against “throwing away coin” on more studies for the oceanside cruise ship terminal (CST) as they begin meeting in special budget sessions.

William Owen-Jones and Glenn Tozer are inviting ratepayers to discuss other potential projects.

Cr Owen-Jones posted on his Facebook page that the CST was a complex project because it would need to be built in the ocean, it required a multi-layered approval process and an estimated capital cost of almost $470 million.

WHAT THE GOLD COAST CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL WILL COST

Cr William Owen-Jones at a special budget meeting. Pic by Richard Gosling

The State Government had declined to have a co-ordinated response to the project through the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act at least until the end of The Spit master plan was completed in 2019-20, he added.

Council officers had previously recommended a further $8.4 million would need to be budgeted across three financial years in order to finish the “project development phase”.

“In my opinion, that’s an awful lot of coin that would be need to be invested in order to get something shovel ready, while still not having a clear line of support for the project from the current State Government or the State Opposition,” Cr Owen-Jones wrote.

HOW THE CST WILL BE DELAYED WITH STATE GOVERNMENT FOCUS ON SPIT

Aerial photos of the Gold Coast. The Sandpumping Jetty at the Spit

The Government and council required confirmation of port establishment processes and port authority arrangement preferences, he said.

The last recommendation of the council in March was to write to the Premier regarding the inclusion of two potential locations at Philip Park and Doug Jennings Park as part of the current master planning process.

No decision was made on funding or further works but money may be included in the Mayor’s draft budget that would be made available to councillors in early June, Cr Owen-Jones wrote.

The Bulletin understands given the complicated pathway, the CST may rely on left over funding from previous budgets to cover further studies.

“In my opinion, we are all collectively a very long way away from steaming anywhere,” Cr Owen-Jones wrote.

READ THE CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL SECRET REPORT

Councillor Glenn Tozer has invited residents to discuss potential projects other the CST. Photo: Jerad Williams

FUTURE OF THE CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL HAS BEEN REVEALED

Cr Tozer has written to residents appealing for them to put forward other projects worthy of funding.

“I remain focused on better ideas than this one to drive the city forward economically in the coming decade,” he wrote.

“In coming weeks, my list of ‘better ideas than a jetty into the open ocean’ will probably see the light of day.

“Maybe you have a better idea, that should perhaps be allocated energy and resources over the coming season, too.”

The Bulletin approached other councillors about whether they supported more funds being spent on the CST and most of them believe there needs to be first some direction from the government.

“The last council resolution in relation to the oceanside cruise ship terminal deferred any further funding decisions until we have direction from the State Government on the outcome of the Spit masterplan,” Cr Pauline Young said.

Cr Kristyn Boulton and Cr Gail O’Neill responded that they held a similar view.