Spit master plan considers cruise ship solution during closed doors debate

A bridge is being considered to link an oceanside cruise ship terminal on The Spit to some of the area’s most popular attractions as part of discussions about the Masterplan.

A BRIDGE is being considered to link an oceanside cruise ship terminal at Philip Park with vacant land near Sea World on the western side of the Broadwater to protect Federation Walk.

Future Jobs for Our Kids founder Lindsay Jackson is championing the solution as a deal breaker after it emerged during closed-door community feedback for The Spit master plan.

Lindsay Jackson is the face of a campaign lobbying for development at the Spit. Picture: Richard Gosling

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The retired Gold Coast businessman remains confident the proposed oceanside cruise ship terminal (CST) put forward by Mayor Tom Tate would proceed despite green groups dominating debates and surveys during the master plan process.

“They’re having a tremendous impact on the overall result. I don’t think that’s fair,” Mr Jackson said.

“I’m not in the pocket of Tom Tate and developers. I want good infrastructure so we can have jobs for our kids.”

Mr Jackson said workshop guests were asked to provide solutions if the CST was to be approved after the master plan.

“The suggestion was a bridge over the top of Federation Walk. We want to protect it. They would extend it to the (former) ASF land and Sea World.”

The Spit master plan - the options report, showing the area around Sea World.

The bridge could accommodate pedestrians and light traffic providing food and supplies to cruise ships, Mr Jackson said.

Participants were later asked to show their preferences and a majority used their vote to oppose the CST.

“We had some very good suggestions. We did get knocked down by the greenies,” Mr Jackson said.

Save Our Broadwater president Alan Rickard said increasing recognition was being given to the value of natural assets to attract tourists rather than “putting up structures”.

“Lindsay was in the minority,” Mr Rickard said. “He kept arguing his point of view. We thought because of the natural attributes, it (the CST) was inappropriate.”

Workshop attendees were told the Government was neither for or against a CST but the council insisted it needed to be discussed as part of the master plan.

Mayor Tom Tate is hoping to keep the cruise ship terminal alive with a site at Philip Park. Pic by David Clark

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“That was one of the conditions of the council coming to the party,” Mr Rickard said.

At the recent launch of the draft master plan options, Mayor Tate said the CST was “on pause” with the business case not starting until after the master plan was completed.

Mr Jackson has urged the Government to stage more pop-up sessions for the public away from the coastal strip, arguing that by having most of the sessions close to the beach could deliver a misleading result.

About 800 people have visited community sessions with the next one scheduled tomorrow at Stockland Burleigh Heads.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick said: “In less than a week we’ve spoken to more than 800 people and more than 400 surveys have been done through our online hub.

Philip Park at The Spit. Pic by David Clark

“This shows that the people of the Gold Coast really care about The Spit and want to make

sure they are involved in the future planning for this iconic area.

“Overwhelmingly people have been telling us the area needs better access to the

Broadwater and better pedestrian pathways along and across The Spit.”