Broadwater cruise ship terminal proponents say facility to add $9b a year to Coast economy

A CRUISE ship terminal in the Broadwater will attract 170,000 visitors and bring in nearly $9 billion a year to the Gold Coast economy a study says.

Cruise ship, ocean liner. Generic.

A CRUISE ship terminal in the Broadwater will attract 170,000 visitors and bring in nearly $9 billion a year to the Gold Coast economy.

The first release of figures into the controversial cruise ship and integrated resort development at Wavebreak Island has also revealed:

• An 8 per cent spike in tourists by 2020.

• The generation of $8.9 billion in new tourism spending by 2028.

• An additional 477,000 overnight visitors to the Gold Coast by 2020.

• Seventy-five cruise ship visits, carrying 170,000 passengers, a year.

• Up to 12,275 new jobs on the Gold Coast and throughout the southeast region.

The projections come from an initial economic impact study commissioned by MacroPlan Dimasi, a sub-company of the $7.5 billion Broadwater proponents ASF Consortium.

MacroPlan chairman Brian Haratsis described the figures as a “pretty conservative” analysis of the project.

“This project will attract a huge number of new tourists to the Gold Coast and its emphasis

is on growing Australia’s share of the international market, not just shuffling around existing visitation,” he said.

ASF project director Allan Fife said the forecast growth would “create new tourism jobs equivalent to more than a year’s worth of growth from the total tourism industry”.

The report’s figures are based on expected visitations to hotels, service apartments and entertainment facilities earmarked for construction on Wavebreak Island.

It is not known if assessments preceded the State Government’s decision last month to restrict development on The Spit, for which ASF had earmarked a mix of yachting, retail and small accommodation facilities.

ASF Consortium’s planned Broadwater Marine Project.

Mayor Tom Tate welcomed the report, saying “it is good news for the Gold Coast and great news for Southport, which continues to struggle with high youth unemployment”.

“The greatest legacy a project like this will leave for the Coast will be more jobs and opportunities for the next generation, which is something hard to pass up.”

Several of Cr Tate’s colleagues at city hall were not as glowing of the report, describing the figures as “unlikely”.

Others have openly declared growing frustration with ASF, which has not presented new information to the council since early May.

Mudgeeraba councillor Glenn Tozer yesterday took to Facebook criticising the lack of communication between ASF and council.

“I am yet to see evidence of the claims made by ASF Consortium,” he said.

“I grow increasingly frustrated they choose to use the newspaper to communicate without appropriate detailed sources sent to those expected to make decisions, in order to scrutinise said claims.”

ASF Consortium boss Allan Fife. Picture: Tim Marsden

Last week, all Gold Coast-based state MPs voted in parliament to “only allow the proposed development on the man-made Wavebreak Island to continue if the proponent can demonstrate it has community support for the development”.

ASF is now investigating further environmental studies, with a focus on migratory birds and gaining a better understanding of the Broadwater’s dugong population.

Several community groups remain opposed to a cruise ship terminal and casino in the Broadwater and fear a redesign could lead to more intense development on Wavebreak Island.

Initial ASF sketches include a 50-storey building, marinas and hotels.

With the Spit ruled out, ASF have two possible scenarios for the Broadwater — a terminal on the south side of the Seaway or on the north-eastern edge of Wavebreak Island.