The theme park’s owners Coast Entertainment are asking Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie to “call in” the project – taking the planning decision away from council.

A call in would also mean the project’s approval could not be legally challenged.

The appeal comes after the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) and council imposed conditions on the project – first submitted for assessment in September 2023 – which Dreamworld considers to be “unworkable”.

In a June 6 vote on whether Mayor Tom Tate should write to Mr Bleijie asking him to use the call-in powers, councillors were split 7-7.

After using his casting vote to back the motion, Mr Tate sent the call-in request to Mr Bleijie on Monday.

In the council debate former Deputy Mayor Donna Gates said the City should be allowed to finish their assessment of the proposed project. She said the call-in request was a “slap in the face” to planning officers working on the application who had flagged serious infrastructure challenges.

“In my understanding we have never issued an approval where water and sewerage supply has not been guaranteed – never in the history of council,” she said.

“Someone said to me that one of the first lessons on the day of planning school – water and sewerage are number one.”

Ms Gates said she could not understand why a decision was being made on a call-in when council was due to complete its preliminary assessment by late next month.

“We haven’t even assessed or seen the bulk of the application. We haven’t had that opportunity,” she said.

This masthead understands Ms Gates met with Dreamworld on Monday in a bid to sort out the planning issues and “fast track what was necessary to get approval”.

In the plans lodged in September 2023, Coast Entertainment described the application as for a “town centre transition project” which would see the Dreamworld precinct expanded from 55.3ha to 85ha.

The plans included 13 buildings with a maximum height of about 16 storeys.

The vote at council recommending Mr Bleijie, as Planning Minister, be requested to exercise his call-in powers was called by Mr Tate in a mayoral minute.

Mr Tate was supported by Deputy Mayor Mark Hammel, Shelley Curtis, Josh Wilkinson, Glenn Tozer, Nick Marshall and Gail O’Neill.

The councillors voting against were Ms Gates, Peter Young, Naomi Fowler, Brooke Patterson, Josh Martin, Bob La Castra and Dan Doran. The split required Mr Tate to use his casting vote.

Mr Hammel, the City’s planning chair, spoke strongly in support of Mr Tate’s mayoral minute.

He cautioned councillors that council was not locked into a call-in and could make planning submissions to the State.

“This isn’t coming out of thin air. It’s being driven by the government of the day,” he said.

“If the Government goes through the normal appeal process, it will be years. And it will be a million dollars plus on ratepayers (in legal fees).”

Mr Tate said Coast Entertainment had invested more than $180 million in Dreamworld across the past five years, creating more than 1000 jobs.

He said the development aligned with the state government’s Destination 2045 plan, which positions Queensland to be a leader in eco-tourism.

Mr Tate said Mr Hammel had advised him that the development application had received state approval.

But Dreamworld considered conditions imposed by SARA and the City to be “unworkable”.

The theme park’s bosses are also believed to be concerned it could lose existing planning advantages. Under its current planning status Dreamworld can gain approval for new theme park rides without going through an extended development application to council.

“It is the applicant’s position that, in many cases, these conditions impose more onerous regulation and restrictions than currently exist,” Mr Tate said.

“The applicant has indicated that, if these conditions proceed unchanged, no further investment in the tourist park or surrounding areas would be possible. This would limit new tourism experiences in the theme park, environmental tourism opportunities and integrated accommodation options.”

In a statement to this masthead Coast Entertainment said it was seeking a call-in to “provide certainty for continued investment in Dreamworld and the northern Gold Coast”.

“Our proposal delivers significant benefits for the Gold Coast – creating tourism jobs, potentially providing critical accommodation infrastructure ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics, and supporting the Queensland Government’s Destination 2045 tourism strategy,” the statement said.

“The development has received widespread support from key industry stakeholders.

“We have invested more than $150m into Dreamworld over recent years, demonstrating our long-term commitment to the Gold Coast.

“The investment benefits all participants in the local economy from aviation, to accommodation, ground transportation, local food and beverage suppliers and many more.

“However the proposed State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) conditions will make future investment unviable.

“We remain committed to working with all stakeholders to deliver this important project for the region.”

WHAT ELSE HAS BEEN CALLED IN?

Several key Gold Coast developments have been green lit by the state government using its “call-in” powers in the past 30 years:

* In late 1994 the Goss government used its powers to approve the Harbour Town shopping centre project at Biggera Waters, taking the $300m project out of council’s hands and ensuring it would be built. It was the culmination of a seven-year saga to get the project constructed, something which was finally achieved in 1999.

* The three-tower Jewel development was unveiled in 2010 amid the city’s post-global financial crisis struggles and approved by the Gold Coast City Council in late 2011. However there were fears the project would fail to be realised when a group of wealthy Brisbane-based families lodged objections against the project in the Planning and Environment Court. With more than 2500 jobs at risk, Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney in July 2012 used his “call-in” powers to give him the sole authority to approve the project, something that could not be appealed in court.

* In 2015 then-Treasurer Jackie Trad called in the Perron Group’s multi-billion dollar Pacific View Estate project at Worongary. It had been on the drawing board since 2010 but little movement had occurred. The project was expected to go before councilin 2014 but its developer filed an appeal against the council in the Planning and Environment Court on the basis there had been a “deemed refusal” by council. Ms Trad argued it would inject $32.3bn into the economy and gave it the green light.

* In 2024 the state government called-in the $150m Arundel Hills Country Club redevelopment after the Gold Coast City Council shot it down. Then Housing Minister Meaghan Scanlon used a temporary local planning instrument (TLPI) to allow developer 3Group to create a masterplan for nearly 800 houses. However this was overturned in late 2024 after the LNP came to power.

HOW THE DREAMWORLD PLAN UNFOLDED

* In September 2023, Dreamworld lodged plans described as a “town centre transition project” which would see the park expanded from 55.3ha to 85ha. They say it will become an “all inclusive landmark”.

* The park and surrounding land would be split into four zones – the rides and existing facilities remain in a “major tourism core”, but other sections would include nature-based tourism. This would see hotels, high density residential development, function centres, restaurants and boardwalks.

* The size of the project is huge, including up to 13 buildings with a maximum height of about 16 storeys.

* Council planning officers began the major task of giving preliminary approval, with their report due to be handed down late July.

* The development application receives State approval but Dreamworld advises council and the Government that conditions drafted by the State Assessment and Referral Agency (SARA) and the City are “unworkable”.

* Meetings are held on June 3 with Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, planners from the State and City, along with Theodore MP Mark Boothman and City planning chair Mark Hammel.

* Mr Hammel later advises Mayor Tom Tate that the application should be dealt with by the Deputy Premier using his call-in powers.

* Mr Tate on June 5 writes up a mayoral minute asking council to resolve that he write to Mr Bleijie requesting he use his ministerial powers.

* Councillors at a full council meeting on June 6 are split 7-7. Darren Taylor cannot vote due to a perceived conflict of interest. Mr Tate uses his casting vote to back the recommendation.

paul.weston@news.com.au