GTH will give a lift in economy

THE red carpet is being rolled out to whichever conglomerate wins the bid to develop a proposed Global Tourism Hub on the waterfront in Cairns.

The Palaszczuk government is making it extremely easy for the successful proponent to build the project and is slashing red tape left, right and centre.

For starters the government is considering the Wharf St site, which is its preferred location for the GTH, for a State Development Area.

An SDA is an area of land declared under the State Development and Public Works Organisation Act 1971, which can promote economic development.

It will mean the developer will not have to deal with layers of government agencies nor the Cairns Regional Council.

All the processes will be handled through the Co-ordinator-General’s office.

No development application will be necessary through the council nor an environmental-impact statement.

This was never the case with the ill-fated Aquis casino project at Yorkeys Knob. But we won’t go there.

The GTH will require environmental assessment but not to the extent of an EIS.

The council and other government bodies such as Ports North will be consulted during the process.

People who have concerns about the SDA intention can have their say until February 15.

Of course, there will be those who will argue it is giving the government too much power in the approvals and there will not be enough checks and balances.

However, it will give investors far more confidence. Nick Dalton Deputy editor