Gold Coast councillor Hermann Vorster ‘utterly underwhelmed’ by The Spit Master Plan

A Gold Coast councillor has given a rather blunt assessment of the upgrade.

THE upgrade of The Spit is being branded a “dog” by a city councillor critical of the rollout of works by the State Government as part of Ocean Park’s masterplan.

Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster gave the blunt assessment as councillors considered The Spit Master Plan implementation plan at a transport committee meeting yesterday.

As the committee item was about to be ticked off without debate, Cr Vorster admitted he needed to “ventilate” the issue.

Moondarewa Spit at Doug Jennings Park. Picture: David Clark.

“Over the last few months the State Government has provided some renders and information to the media to highlight what radical transformation and amenity we can expect in the public realm of The Spit,” he said.

“Just do a Google search for ‘amazing $5 million revamp for The Spit’ and you will see exactly the sorts of renders I’m talking about.

MORE NEWS

State’s border defence slammed as ‘ludicrous’

Sharks ‘in shock’ over tragic death of teammate

Final straw for Ashmore Plaza retailers

Kick in the guts for small business owners

“Again, I find myself utterly, utterly underwhelmed. What we’ve been sold is a dog as far as I’m concerned.” The council report shows the Government in November last year had funded $6.84 million for three initial projects.

They included improvements to the Seaway Promenade at the southern entrance training wall, extensive new pathways at the Moondarewa Spit and a shared pathway linking Muriel Henchman precinct to Doug Jennings Park along SeaWorld Drive.

“We are not seeing the sort of investment in infrastructure and amenity in my view that is required to make the best use of the open space here,” Cr Vorster told councillors.

The Spit Master Plan - a new aerial shot of Federation Walk.

“I really feel concerned that the so-called masterplanning process hasn’t delivered what is truly needed and our further support for and work with the State Government on it isn’t going to land us in a position where we are truly transforming it and delivering something that’s going to increase the carrying capacity for the recreational use of that space.

“So far I’ve just seen some picnic shelters and footpaths. And I don’t think that adds anything meaningful for The Spit.”

Councillor William Owen-Jones told Cr Vorster that there was “a dirty big footpath being built”, which would help The Spit.

Cr Vorster told him: “So we have a great footpath.” He added that transport connectivity continued to be a problem, with The Spit bus stopping at Sea World.