First look at ambitious plan to revamp Southport Spit on Gold Coast
A much-loved but neglected slice of the Gold Coast is set to be transformed into “Central Park by the ocean” under a game-changing multi-million-dollar overhaul.
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A MUCH-loved but neglected slice of the Gold Coast is set to be transformed into “Central Park by the ocean” under a game-changing multimillion-dollar overhaul.
The Sunday Mail can reveal the blueprint for the rejuvenation of the Southport Spit including a superyacht marina, an “iconic” selfie tower, underwater sculpture garden dive site, new low-rise tourist resort accommodation and more than 130 hectares of conservation and open space over seven precincts.
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The notorious traffic snarl leading into the area will also be fixed as part of a new gateway to give tourists a “sense of arrival” with allowances made for a future Gold Coast light rail link to the area
Other public transport options will be improved with e-scooters, bikes and potentially autonomous vehicles to be catered for as well.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk described the blueprint – which follows 18-months of consultation with the community – as a game changer that was Queensland’s answer to parks like New York’s Central Park and London’s Hyde Park.
“The open space areas on The Spit will be more than eight times the size of Brisbane’s South Bank parklands, 12 times the size of the public spaces in Barangaroo, Sydney, and two-and-a-half times the size of Mt Coot-tha’s Botanic Gardens,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
“And the Gold Coast Ocean Park has something none of them have, the Broadwater and the surf.
“Our plans will make this not just a jewel of the Gold Coast but for the entire state.”
State Development Minister Cameron Dick said plans for the future of the Spit had been contested for “many, many decades”.
He said this blueprint was a “once-in-a-lifetime” plan that had been designed by the community for the community with more than 2,500 attending consultation sessions and more than 21,100 pieces of feedback received throughout the consultation period.
“It is a part of Queensland that is greatly loved but the current land use is not keeping up with the community’s love for it.
“It has lost its shine and we want to bring one of the jewels of the Gold Coast crown back to life.”
The blueprint was signed off by Cabinet last week.
The seven precincts include the Top of the Spit, Wave Break Island, Federation Walk coastal reserve, Muriel Henchman Park, the Village centre, Philip Park and the Southern gateway where the new welcome mat will be rolled out.
Curlew Island will be preserved as a curlew habitat, low-impact facilities including small-scale camping facilities will be built on nearby Wavebreak Island.
Other conservation areas like the Federation Walk coastal reserve will be improved and further protected with plans for a the establishment of a littoral rainforest and better dune protection.
Lookouts will be built above the dunes while hides will positioned throughout the reserve so visitors can birdwatch.
Services like the coast guard and volunteer marine rescue will be given new homes with existing infrastructure like the kiosk, boat ramps and the marine stadium at the top of the spit to be maintained and improved.
Walkways and cycleways will also extend the entire length of the park.
Indigenous culture will also feature with the plan including a new public area fronting the Broadwater “that includes an event space associated with an Aboriginal cultural centre and provides informal spaces for picnicking and watching the sunset”.
The blueprint states the project will “unlock the potential for 1800 new jobs and the delivery of more than 800 additional short-term accommodation rooms on The Spit”.
Ms Palaszczuk said the Government would ensure all the things Queenslanders and tourists loved about the Spit like buying prawns straight from the trawler fleet would be maintained.
The Government said the blueprint remained “agnostic” when it comes to the Gold Coast City Council’s contentious cruise ship terminal plan with a potential area zoned as parkland that will be upgraded for public use.
Exactly how much the overhaul will cost and when work could start is yet to be revealed.
The community has until the end of the month to have their final say with the project expected to be considered in this year’s Budget.
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This is a bold project for everyone, writes Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk
WE all know the Gold Coast’s special. Today’s unveiling of our vision for The Spit shows we want to make it extra special – and keep it that way.
The Commonwealth Games, the Logies, widening the M1, rail and light rail projects and the Global Tourism Hub show my government’s commitment to this exciting part of our state. And we’re not finished yet.
Getting the dream of an international-standard Ocean Park to this stage has been a triumph of teamwork with more than 21,100 pieces of feedback from groups, Gold Coast City Council and people who just love The Spit.
It preserves, protects and improves everything we love and sets it up for an even brighter future … which is what we want for all of Queensland.
I can’t wait to see this dream become a reality.
Originally published as First look at ambitious plan to revamp Southport Spit on Gold Coast
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