Gold Coast Spit masterplan: When work will begin on development

PLANS are underway for the Gold Coast’s Spit “Ocean Park”. Here’s what state leaders say about its start time and how much the project as a whole will cost.

A LABOR State Government vision unveiled for the Gold Coast’s Spit will transform it into a tourism jewel - but a start date and total cost for realising it are unknown.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has outlined a draft master plan for The Spit’s 201-hectare park and lifestyle precinct containing almost 140 hectares of open space.

It follows 18 months of consultation and outlines a blueprint including a congestion-busting light rail connection, a new high-end low-rise resort, upgraded parklands, super yacht berths, an underwater dive garden and a cruise ship terminal option.

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The blueprint was reportedly inspired by New York’s famous Central Park.

The blueprint is roughly two thirds the size of New York’s famed Central Park - cited as inspiration for the draft plan - and eight times the size of Southbank Brisbane.

Under the draft, anticipated to create 1800 jobs and add 800 rooms to the city’s accommodation bank, it retains Spit icons such as the fishermen's Co-op the boat ramps.

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington said the draft lacked costings and a timeline: “How much will it cost and when will it be delivered?”

According to Ms Palaszczuk the project, which will be completed in stages, should be finished by 2029.

But the Government would not confirm when any physical work would begin.

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It has not been confirmed when work will begin.

“I would hope in the next five to ten years we will see this park land equivalent to the likes of Hyde Park and New York’s Central Park — of course it is a very large area,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

When asked if the State Government had an idea of how much it would all cost Ms Palaszczuk said: “Not at the moment.”

“We will be working hand-in-hand with the council, the people who are here on the Spit.”

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Minister for State Development Cameron Dick said the final round of consultation, the governance of the area and the role of commercial entities would need to be resolved before a final figure was put on the project.

“There are a number of steps that need to take place before work begins,” Minister Dick said.

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“It will have to be done in stages. It is a massive site but I know first hand the Premier is keen to get cracking.

“We will also need to work through the implementation process. That will require a financial commitment by the state and also by local government.”

“We will also look at the planning for the commercial part of this development at the Southern end of the spit.”

Mr Dick said a financial commitment would be announced as part of the state budget later this year.

The financial commitment will be announced later this year.

Gold Coast City Council development planning chairman Cameron Caldwell said council was already working on widening the Sundale Bridge, a portion of SeaWorld Drive and making changes to the roundabout in order to increase access for tourists.

For Runaway Bay man Errol Hoeta and his family the ability to deal with the congestion was vital to the enjoyment of the area.

“We come here every weekend and some days it can take up to half an hour to get off the Spit,” he said.

“I think it is a great idea to keep the Spit an open space for everyone. It is such a family friendly place,” he said.

State Government is confident little change will need to be made to the draft master plan during the public consultation process, open for the next three weeks.