Revealed: Residents to oppose council plan to extend tandem skydiving operation

A trial allowing skydiving on The Spit is recommended to continue but will spark a protest by residents.

A trial allowing skydiving on The Spit is recommended to continue but will spark a protest by residents.

Councillors at a Gold Coast City Council lifestyle committee meeting next Tuesday will vote after debating the recommendation and report by officers supportive of the tourism venture.

However, a leading community group is opposed following the fallout from one of the State’s worst aviation disasters nearby.

Two Sea World Helicopters choppers on five-minute joy flights over the Broadwater four months ago collided during an afternoon flight in a catastrophe which killed four people and injured nine.

Main Beach Association leader Sue Donovan sees two main problems with continuing the skydiving trial, after feedback from members about tourism activities planned for The Spit.

“Following the tragic helicopter collision on January 2, people are much more aware of the potential danger of helicopter activity,” Ms Donovan said.

“Secondly, Philip Park is under constant attack from commercial operators, including currently AJ Hackett. There really needs to be a line in the sand about complying with Philip Park’s designation under the Spit Masterplan.”

Map showing location for proposed skydive attraction on The Spit on the Gold Coast.

Several community groups are poised to oppose an application due at council for

the A.J Hackett thrill park which includes a bungy tower, giant swing and zip line, along with a free to the public Southbank-style sand pool, ocean viewing tower, parks, gardens and cafes.

But officers will first deal with the tandem skydive landing trial in the park’s “bathing reserve” which was to be the location for a proposed offshore cruise ship terminal.

The City in February 2021 received an application from Skydive Australia and Sea World Helicopters Pty Ltd proposing the new tourism offering.

Helicopters would depart from the Sea World Helicopter operational hub with tandem skydivers landing in a 75 metre “drop zone” on the beach.

Conditions of approval for a skydive attraction at The Spit on the Gold Coast.

A permit for a 2021-22 trial allowed a maximum of 2000 tandem skydive flights involving up to 6000 tandem skydivers.

Only 63 tandem skydive flights involving 138 tandem skydivers – equivalent to three per cent of the maximum permissible flights – were completed. No complaints were received by council or by the operators during that first trial.

A new permit was issued for a 14-month trial, to continue to August this year, where council officers this time could undertake more compliance.

“In November 2022, while conducting a proactive compliance inspection, a City Laws officer observed that only one cone had been placed to identify the ‘drop zone’,” a council officer wrote, in a report.

“The permit holder was advised that this was a breach of their permit. Further patrols were completed to ensure compliance and no further breaches were found.”

Leader of the Main Beach Association, Sue Donovan, says residents are opposed to skydiving off The Spit. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

A maximum of 2200 tandem skydive flights with up to 6600 tandem skydivers were allowed but only 36 were undertaken.

The report says council, in January, was advised of a change of operations.

“No complaints were received by the City or by the permit holder during the trial. The permit holder has temporarily postponed tandem skydive landing operations and have advised that they are uncertain as to when they will commence operating again,” the report said.

City officers in their recommendations on Tuesday will support annual temporary permits being issued until there is sufficient data to make an informed decision.

Once that data was available, officers say a local law could be amended to allow the tourism operation on a permanent basis.

Follow @PaulWestonGC