What the Gold Coast cruise ship terminal will cost as council officers prepare future course

RATEPAYERS will be looking at a start-up bill of more than eight figures just to prepare a case for the cruise ship terminal if councillors give it the green light.

RATEPAYERS will be looking at a start-up bill of more than $10 million just to prepare a case for the cruise ship terminal if councillors give it the green light.

The Gold Coast Bulletin last night obtained an officer’s report which led to councillors this week giving the State Government an ultimatum to include the project in The Spit master plan process.

The documents, for the first time, explore four possible future options including council itself managing the port and its services.

COUNCIL DELAYS CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL REPORT

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

Council sources suggest that despite figures of $400 million being touted, the ultimate cost for an offshore cruise ship terminal at Philip Park on The Spit could reach $650 million.

The report reveals council has spent $2.5 million through the 2016-17 and 2017-18 budget process to develop the project.

Officers recommended an “additional budget — estimated $8.4 million — to complete the project development phase, the design and approval work to take the project to final investment phase”.

TRUE IMPACT OF CST

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

“This would require general loans of $8.4 million to be repaid over 10 years. Repayments will be $900,000 per annum,” the report said.

Part of that project development phase will be to determine how much a private sector financier “would be willing to take on demand risk”.

FLASHBACK: BATTLE FOR THE SPIT

The location for the offshore option south of the jetty. Picture by Grahame Long.

FLASHBACK: WAVEBREAK ISLAND PLAN

But the report notes that the way forward for the project depends on the consent of land owners, with the State Government required to allocate land on The Spit.

A council source told the Gold Coast Bulletin: “The recommendation was let’s send this up to the Government. If there is support, we will spend the money. If the Government says no, it will be shelved”.

Cruise ship terminal gallery

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But the council source confirmed Coast ratepayers could be looking at another $8 million spend on research and the possibility of a project costing up to $650 million if the Government supports it.

The officer’s report shows the council would be able to make a final investment decision on the project by July 2021.

“It is recommended that the city writes to the State Government and requests the establishment of an OCST Project Control Group,” the officer’s report said.

The group would include council officers and those from key agencies including the Department of Main Roads and Natural Resources.

Mayor Tom Tate outside council chambers gave an ultimatum to the State Government. Photo: Steve Holland

Cr Tate emerged from the briefing on the officer’s report at full council calling on the Government to tick off on the Philip Park and Doug Jennings Park options or both as part of the master plan, buoyed that the project was economically viable.

“If they don’t, well come forward and say we don’t want it so we don’t spend ratepayers’ funds,” he said.

But the Government said it was focused on a creating a master plan first rather than giving early passage to the CST.