Developer ASF funded grassroots #betterourspit campaign

ASF Group funded a campaign that purported to be a grassroots show of support for ASF’s proposed casino-resort on The Spit.

ASF was behind a campaign that was positive toward development on The Spit

ASF Group funded a campaign that purported to be a grassroots show of support for ASF’s proposed casino-resort on The Spit.

Better Our Spit also received support from PR firm Shac Communications, a registered lobbyist for ASF.

The campaign had information stands in Australia Fair shopping centre and at the State’s public information session on the future of The Spit.

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Better Our Spit has a website and social media profiles encouraging locals to have their say on both the ASF proposal and the future of other public land in the area. The public consultation ended on Friday.

ASF consortium is proposing a hotel and casino resort development to be built on land between Sea World and Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast

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Lindsay Jackson, who has been working with the developers and to lobby for the proposal through his group Future Jobs for Our Kids, said Shac Communications was helping with promotional activities.

“What they’re trying to do is get as many people into the consultation as possible,” he said.

“They had a little stand (at the public information session) and they got a lot of flak as we all do. It’s really a hot topic issue.”

Former mayoral candidate Penny Toland accused ASF of deceiving people at the information session.

“The representation was questioned as to who funds them and it was confirmed ASF, who was prohibited from attending,” Ms Toland said.

“So we have ASF trying to manipulate the public consultation by appearing in disguise.”

Penny Toland has been critical of the campaign. Picture: Jerad Williams

A statement from the Department of State Development said it was not aware of Better Our Spit’s connection to ASF.

“At no time, before or during, the independent Consultant’s Community Consultation event was this group (or any other group) identified as lobbyist,” the statement said.

Shac Communications is headed by Simone Holzapfel, a former adviser to former Prime Minister Tony Abbott and to Mayor Tom Tate.

Her lobbyist register shows she contacted council representatives 14 times since May 2015 on behalf of ASF, and also met on behalf of the developer with Opposition MP John-Paul Langbroek and the office of then-Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney.

ASF is also proposing a beach club.

Better Our Spit spokesman Amar Alamar, who runs local business Sass Management, said ASF had provided funding for the campaign and that the website had “been made” for them.

He said he wasn’t worried about public perceptions about ASF funding their work.

“Regardless of what is or isn’t going on, the point is the development is good for the Coast and I’d like to see it go ahead,” he said.

A spokeswoman for ASF said the Better Our Spit campaign was “developed locally by local residents and local businesses”.

“The group was formed to help give a voice to the silent majority who are afraid to come forward on their own and be vocal about their support for the Gold Coast Integrated Resort, other upgrades and improvements to the remainder of The Spit,” she said.

“ASF has provided information for the website, and the website discloses this.

“The group campaign is doing what it can to encourage all Gold Coasters residents to speak up ... this includes engaging with both people that are both for and against the project.”

Simone Holzapfel said the campaign gave a voice to the ‘silent majority’

Ms Holzapfel said Better Our Spit was a united voice for “the silent majority” in favour of the ASF project and upgrade of the Spit.

“As a local, born on the Gold Coast, day-in and day-out you hear the silent majority talk of their support for the project, yet the vocal minority continue to have the loudest voice,” she said.

“The supporters of Better our Spit want this to change and they want to be heard.”

Ms Holfzapfel said people working on the campaign not been told to hide the involvement of ASF or Shac.

“The campaign was created by local residents and businesses, ASF is one supporter,” she said.

“Like Save Our Spit and Save Our Broadwater, Better Our Spit has a number of locals that provide support.”