State Govt faces election stink if it squeezes Carters Basin fishing trawlers co-op

The State Government will create a stink for itself come the election if it proceeds with development squeezing out the decades-old Gold Coast trawlers selling freshies at The Spit.

A map showing the extent of the seabed lease and land available as part of redevelopment of Carter's Basin on The Spit at the Gold Coast.

For more than five decades, the trawler fleet has been at The Spit. Residents and tourists buy fresh seafood there. Why is State Labor Government not immediately securing its future?

This is one election issue Premier Steven Miles can solve quickly.

Labor cannot deliver a fast fix to cost of living, or to having more nurses and police. Those are just promises, like longer term funding for light rail or the Coomera Connector.

But by October, when you vote, you will know if fresh prawns remain at Carter’s Basin.

Or you’ll be reading about a big stink at that development site south of Sea World.

The Fishermen’s Co-op along with community groups have started a petition. They are preparing signs which read “don’t let Labor trash our trawlers”.

Gold Coast Fishermen's Co-op spokesperson Richard Hamilton.

Mr Miles knows the full story. When State Development Minister, his senior policy advisor met with the fishing co-op leaders early last month.

They complained about “an absolute mess” created by his senior Department officers.

Their focus, they say, is finding a home for displaced tourism operators at Mariners Cove, and securing a decent financial return on creating a new lease for the prime waterfront site.

Emails obtained by your columnist show the Co-op’s limited lease has meant the area became rundown, without proper reloading and refuelling facilities.

Gold Coast Fishermen’s Co-op secretary Richard Hamilton, in seeking a 24-month extension to their lease ending in April, put forward what he believed was a reasonable offer.

They pay about $20,000. At the Tweed, for a slightly larger area, their Co-op pays $30,000.

A map showing the extent of the seabed lease and land available as part of redevelopment of Carter's Basin on The Spit at the Gold Coast.

“It has the potential to be a significant Queensland and Australian tourist attraction offering an authentic seafood experience that is sustainable due to our well managed fisheries,” he said.

Community leaders are suspicious about State Development. The secrecy about the AJ Hackett bungee jump saga and now location of an Aboriginal cultural centre has them spitting chips.

Bureaucrats argue they must secure value for money for selling or leasing government land.

But how do you fit the Co-op, which needs more parking and space, into this site and accommodate the tourist boats? Is a commercial operator going to charge a low rental?

A Co-op supporter says: “These Co-op guys are not driving round in Maseratis.”

New State Development Minister Grace Grace says: “Boats selling fresh seafood to Queenslanders will not change. The tender will take into account the needs of all the stakeholders, including the fishing co-op, while balancing the financial, economic and community outcomes for all Queenslanders.”

Gold Coast Fishermen's Co-op spokesperson Richard Hamilton.

A recent Gold Coast Waterways Authority survey found the most frequent Broadwater visitors were from Upper Coomera, Helensvale and Southport. Several possibly with faded Save Our Spit stickers on the bumper bars of 1980s hatchbacks clouded by engine smoke.

Labor cannot in any way afford to retreat from The Spit Master Plan, created by marathon rounds of community consultation, which ensured a home at Carter’s Basin for the Co-op.

It will be sunk electorally by green groups - and its own northern Coast voters.

Petitioners are approaching them. A Co-op customer said. “This public asset cannot be replaced. Wake up Miles.”

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