Opinion: Alice Gorman struggles to understand where the #BetterOurSpit campaign came from

SOMETIMES lately I’ve felt like I’m in a parallel universe. We’re being ‘consulted’ more than ever before and yet I feel what many of us have to say is falling on deaf ears.

ASF consortium's proposal for a Gold Coast Integrated Resort with proposed hotel, casino resort development to be built on land between Sea World and Palazzo Versace on the Gold Coast

SOMETIMES lately I’ve felt like I’m in a parallel universe.

We’re being ‘consulted’ more than ever before and yet I feel what many of us have to say is falling on deaf ears.

Amid the glossy artist drawings, glowing sales pitches and promises of a ‘better’ Gold Coast I’m struggling to tell the facts from the ‘alternate facts’.

Call it an occupational hazard but I rarely take things on face value. I’m always wondering ‘what’s really going on here’ or ‘is this possible?’

They’re two questions which have filled my head in recent weeks as my digital news feeds have become filled with bold promises from oddly-named groups such as #betterourspit.

ASF Consortium has revealed further design detail for the Gold Coast Integrated Resort — Queensland’s first ever international Beach Club.

I’d hazard a guess the mob at Better Our Spit are associated with ASF, the proponents of the integrated resort and casino proposal, because their communications are eerily similar.

Jobs, jobs, jobs is their mantra … as if the promise of jobs should eradicate all of our concerns about traffic chaos and criticisms about crazy height limits out of kilter with the city’s planning scheme.

I also struggle with the idea that our only choices at The Spit are full-blown high-rise development or unkempt parklands and illegal campers. There is so much potential between these two options.

But my biggest headshake moment this week came courtesy of an announcement spruiking the start of community consultation for a light rail route along The Spit.

ASF's Gold Coast Integrated Resort proposal

Mayor Tom Tate wants Gold Coasters to comment on four proposed routes, which take the light rail off the Gold Coast Highway, through Main Beach and up to Sea World.

The council survey is fairly light on information — there’s little context, no information regarding costings or timings, or how this route fits within other Gold Coast public transport planning.

It’s a proposal out of left field. It was even a surprise to some councillors, who only learned of the plan on Saturday at 2pm via email.

The bigger surprise was news that the Main Beach light rail routes had not been mentioned once during the City Infrastructure Committee meetings, where this kind of thing is discussed.

Cr Peter Young, who is on the committee, took to Facebook to clarify his position: “We’ve had no discussion that I can recall in the past 12 months of a proposal to pursue consultation on light rail for The Spit.”

The Gold Coast Light Rail $200 million extension to the Spit

Cr Daphne McDonald took a similar step, telling her Facebook audience that ‘I am a member of the city infrastructure committee and do not recall it being discussed. I also do not recall this being discussed at the full council meeting last week, where it is appropriate that these issues are raised and not in the media before we have been given the courtesy of discussion or report.”

What’s the big deal, you may be wondering?

Well governments operate under strict and very structured guidelines. Process is a big deal in government.

The mayor, despite appearances, is a leader in name only. He, just like the rest of the council, only has one vote.

He can put forward ideas to his fellow councillors, but ultimately the process should be that they all operate as individuals and vote in a way that’s best for their constituents. That’s how an independent council is supposed to function.

The council’s own Community Consultation Policy states that a council resolution is required prior to consultation being undertaken.

So it would appear the Main Beach light rail consultation breaches the council’s own policy.

Cynics within council and the community believe the consultation is an attempt to help developers build high-rises on land along The Spit, where the town plan dictates a three-storey height limit.

Our planning scheme also states that ‘intensified’ development and reduced car parking requirements are allowed for sites within 800m of a light rail track.

Cynics fear the surprise Main Beach light rail consultation is simply a ploy to introduce a way to deliver high-rises to this sought-after beachside land.

If I were to crystal ball gaze I’d say the strategy is to undertake the month-long community consultation. A report will be prepared for council which is likely to state community support for the idea of a light rail route to Main Beach (of course if you asked anyone on the Gold Coast if they wanted a new light rail route they’d say yes. The key is how new routes will be funded).

From there a resolution may be passed to adopt the favoured route for evaluation.

That enables council planning officers to give some weight to the idea of a ‘future’ Main Beach light rail route when assessing new development applications.

Density may be increased and car parking reduced in light of this mythical light rail.