How the cruise ship terminal will be delayed with the State Government focus on The Spit

The proposed cruise ship terminal was supposed to be finished by early 2022 but it faces delays.

THE State Government has told Mayor Tom Tate he could resubmit his oceanside cruise ship terminal project, but it would have to be after The Spit master plan was completed.

A letter from State Development Minister Cameron Dick to Councillor Tate in mid-April explains the State’s position on the $526 million project.

“The Co-ordinator General advised me that he made a statutory decision based on the council’s application and will, therefore, not be reconsidering his decision,” Mr Dick wrote.

“However, there is nothing to preclude council from reapplying to the Co-ordinator General following completion of the master plan.”

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State Development Minister Cameron Dick. (AAP Image/Glenn Hunt)

Consultants hired by the council had hoped a design contractor would be appointed later this year, enabling construction to start early next year and the CST completed by January 2022.

But the master plan along with councillors yet to vote on up to $10 million in business and technical studies means a delay on the project being shovel ready.

Cr Tate had sent an ultimatum to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to either tick-off on one of two locations at The Spit — at Philip Park or Doug Jennings Park — or he would park the project until after the next election.

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The government is not going to make a call on the CST after the Co-ordinator General rejected an initial approach and it is focused on the 18-month master plan.

Mr Dick has sent Cr Tate a Memorandum of Understanding so both political leaders can work together with a project team on The Spit plan.

He provided the proposed membership of the Community Reference Group which allowed for key stakeholder organisations such as the Southport Chamber of Commerce and the Gold Coast branch of the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

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Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture Glenn Hampson

The make-up of the reference groups includes 12 community organisations and covers lifesavers, Coastguard, marine rescue and business and resident groups such as the Main Beach Progress Association.

But it also includes groups such as Save Our Spit, Save Our Broadwater, Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council and Main Beach Association which have had a running battle with the council on development issues.

Councillors met in closed session this week to talk about The Spit. They recommended the Mayor write to Mr Dick to sort out “outstanding issues”.

The Bulletin understands some of those issues relate to the representatives on the reference group and who could make public commentary on the master plan.