Gold Coast second casino: residents ramp up protest as State keeps sites a secret
The dispute over a planned second Gold Coast casino has got hotter with a State Government minister launching a stinging attack on protesters angry about a lack of ‘transparency’.
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THE protest against the planned second Gold Coast casino has got hotter with the State Government accusing opponents of spreading misinformation.
A resident group headed by former councillor Eddy Sarroff and backed by Southport LNP MP Rob Molhoek and veteran city councillor Dawn Crichlow are about to ramp up their campaign with a public information day.
Placards will be placed around Carey Park, the publicly owned land between Australia Fair and the Broadwater Parkland, as an information session is planned between 9am and midday on Saturday.
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But Acting Tourism Industry Development Minister Di Farmer, taking aim at LNP MPs supporting the residents, told the Bulletin: “Public information day? More like public disinformation day.
“The government has appointed an independent panel of Gold Coast business identities, chaired by John Witheriff, to lead consultation with locals. We’ll continue this process to make sure locals have the proper information and that we get the best outcome for Gold Coasters.”
A State Government spokesperson said the Global Tourism Hub had the potential to create thousands of jobs on the Coast.
“But ultimately, we won’t approve any project that doesn’t have strong support from locals,” the spokesperson said.
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Protest organiser Eddy Sarroff is planning a radio advertising blitz with community consultation for the $1 billion project about to enter its final weeks.
The LNP has revealed it failed through a Right to Information request to obtain a list of the 11 secret sites for the GTH.
Mr Sarroff told the Bulletin: “The challenge is for the government and the city council to show where else they can place the integrated resort and casino.
“There is no other site as valuable and strategic as this site, which is public land. The only site put out for all bidders is Carey Park.
“Yet the government is telling us this is a transparent process. It’s not and that’s why the locals are angry.”
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The Opposition office through an RTI had sought documents relating to an options assessment for the GTH undertaken by consultants appointed by the government.
The RTI officer refused the application because all of the documents related to exempt information which was “created for the consideration of Cabinet”.
An internal review failed with the officer satisfied the information could be reasonably expected to reveal the focus of Cabinet’s discussions.
The Opposition said it would continue to fight to have the sites revealed.
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