Poll: public backing for Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate’s cruise ship plan

THE Gold Coast Mayor has good reason to feel confident about his proposed cruise ship terminal with widespread ­public backing in a new poll.

THE Gold Coast Mayor has good reason to feel confident about his proposed cruise ship terminal with widespread ­public backing in a new poll.

Mayor Tom Tate’s controversial pet project – which he staked his 2016 re-election campaign on – still has plenty of support on the Coast, an exclusive Reachtel poll shows.

And it could be a major factor in the state election, with LNP voters in key seats of Southport, Gaven and Bonney overwhelmingly in favour ranging from 52.1 to 53.6 per cent. Labor voter support for Cr Tate’s terminal – occupying state land at Philip Park – hovered between 32.6 and 39.3 per cent in the three key seats.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has forecast “smooth sailing” for his cruise ship terminal plan on state land - and a majority of key Gold Coast state election voters are fans. Picture: Jerad Williams

Asked if in favour of council’s proposal to build a cruise ship terminal at Philip Park on The Spit, 40.7 per cent of Southport electorate voters overall said yes.

The poll, commissioned by the Gold Coast Bulletin, shows 14.4 per cent in favour of a cruise ship terminal generally if in a different location.

Results in the Gold Coast’s Gaven and Bonney electorates were even more compelling.

In Gaven, 44.2 per cent favoured a cruise ship terminal at Philip Park, with 12.1 per cent happy to back a terminal in a different city location.

The proposed offshore Gold Coast cruise ship terminal, brainchild of Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Photo: Supplied

In Bonney, 42.4 per cent backed Cr Tate’s brainchild with 15.6 per cent in favour of a terminal in a different location.

Those against a Philip Park terminal were 32 per cent in Southport, 34.3 per cent in Gaven and 33.3 per cent in Bonney. Undecided respondeds numbered 13 per cent in Southport, 9.4 per cent in Gaven and 8.6 per cent in Bonney.

Last week, Cr Tate said it was still “smooth sailing” for his terminal plans on The Spit despite ASF’s proposed $3 billion casino development for the area being shot down.

Mayor Tate’s proposed offshore Gold Coast cruise ship terminal is still on the cards despite an Integrated Resort Development proposed for The Spit being terminated by State Government last week. Photo: Supplied

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, governing from the Gold Coast last week when she sensationally terminated ASF’s plan, said she “looks forward” to seeing Gold Coast City Council’s Oceanside cruise ship terminal business case.

“We want council to continue their work in relation to the ocean cruise ship terminal,” she said.

But Gold Coast-based Opposition LNP MP John-Paul Langbroek said after last week’s termination of the ASF project he doubted a terminal would happen under Labor.

“Eventually they would find a reason to knock that on the head,” he said

LNP’s John-Paul Langbroek doubts a cruise ship terminal will ever get the go-ahead on the Gold Coast under a Labor State Government: “Just like ASF they will say we support it in principle then knock it on the head.” Picture: Annette Dew

LNP supported a terminal as long as it stacked up environmentally, economically and had community backing, he said.

Tell us what you think at goldcoastbulletin.com.au

PANEL

REACHTEL POLL

Question: Are you in favour of the council’s proposal to build a cruise ship terminal at Philip Park at The Spit?

SOUTHPORT

Yes (40.7 per cent), Yes but different location (14.4), No, (32), Undecided (13);

SOUTHPORT (by party supporters)

Yes, LNP, (53.6 per cent), One Nation (39.5), (Labor, 32.6), Undecided (24.3), Greens (24.1), Other (24.1)

GAVEN

Yes (44.2 per cent), Yes, but different location (12.1), No (34.3), Undecided (9.4);

GAVEN (by party supporters)

Yes, LNP (53.6 per cent), One Nation (50.6), Other (42.1), Labor (36.6), Undecided (33.9), Greens (17.4)

BONNEY

Yes (42.4 per cent), Yes, but different location (15.6), No (33.3), Undecided (8.6);

BONNEY (by party supporters)

Yes, LNP (52.1 per cent), One Nation (40.7), Labor (39.3), Other (33.3), Greens (30.8), Undecided (19.6)