The Spit: ‘Time for action’ on future of resort and other developments

A key figure in the future of The Spit says the time for talk is over and that it’s “time for action” to realise the area’s full potential, including long-stalled resorts. FIND OUT MORE

The man behind The Spit’s first new development in 25 years says it is critical the door is opened to transforming the rest of the area’s tourism precinct.

Three significant sites in the southern Spit have been earmarked for new landmarks, including at least one resort, as part of the area’s masterplan.

But there have been no steps taken in recent years to make it a reality.

With a redevelopment of fishing fleet location Carter’s Basin currently in the hands of the state government, Mantaray developer Tim Gordon says now is the right time for other unrealised sites.

Aerial photographs of the southern Spit on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied

Mr Gordon, who is delivering the project with his partners, the Mathieson family, said he was “keen to see a masterplan come out of the ground” and called for steps to be taken to help make it a reality.

“The government is doing a great job bringing stakeholders together to get the vision for The Spit back on track and create the opportunity it promised,” he said.

“It’s a tough market and there’s no incentive for developers to take the risks (and) if we want to see projects advance, then introducing incentives to safeguard delivery are worth investigating.

“The plans that have been approved at the southern end of The Spit will deliver legacy tourism and employment benefits to the Gold Coast for generations and it’s important that they are delivered.

Bruce Mathieson and Tim Gordon. Picture: Supplied

“There’s been time for talk and time for planning. Now it’s time for action.”

Under the Spit masterplan, the former Golden Door gym site will become ‘Village East Resort’, a “resort-style complex with a public plaza flowing from SeaWorld Drive to the ocean and the public carpark moving south into Hollingdale Park,”

The Village Gateway site currently occupied by the Water Police is earmarked for a “mixed-use” development, with the former government taking the project to tender in 2023 but no results ever announced.

Gold Coast Spit masterplan artist impressions

The government also controls a large site just south of Sea World’s carpark.

Any project on either of those sites will be years away, given there are no proponents and the length of time required to assess a development application and secure a builder.

Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek said the government was focused on resolving the future of the Carter’s Basin area first but vowed “there will be further discussions about all aspects of the Spit masterplan, including these prospective development sites”.

Mr Langbroek said he did not want to see the crown land left to the same “degradation” seen on failed development sites in Surfers Paradise.

“It’s a bad reflection,” he said.

Minister for Education and the Arts John-Paul Langbroek Picture: Liam Kidston

“Here on The Spit, it’s literally been left to decay while the former Labor government put a lot of money into the parklands.

“I always welcomed their idea to do more here but we have never had any details and it’s now that we are in government that we can progress those, and that’s exciting.”

Mr Gordon’s $300m, three-storey luxury residential complex, the Mantaray, is rapidly rising, with construction expected to be completed by April 2026.

A $480m Ritz Carlton development has been green lit for the neighbouring Mariner’s Cove site, with developers Giannarelli and Pelligra groups planning to break ground this year.

Makris Group also has approval for the redevelopment of Marina Mirage into a hotel and shopping centre but work is also yet to begin.