Builder’s hopes for big project at The Spit revived

TALKS have resumed between the State Government and Brookfield Multiplex about a massive development the company wants to built on The Spit next to Sea World.

The company’s Queensland managing director, Rod McDonald, said yesterday Brookfield Multiplex had been looking for new projects on the Gold Coast since work wrapped up on the $700 million Hilton Surfers Paradise a year ago.

Mr McDonald said that although the company was talking to various developers about possible Coast projects with which it might become involved, it remained keen to develop a 5ha parcel of State Government land.

‘‘We have a long-term interest in The Spit,’’ he said.

‘‘We would like to ensure something happens there.

‘‘We have had discussions with the Government since the election.’’

Brookfield Multiplex had hoped to undertake a major residential and marina development on the land but pulled out because agreement could not be reached with the previous government on details of the plan.

The Newman Government has been approached by companies interested in developing the land,

that for which several consortiums have put forward proposals since 2006.

Mr McDonald said he hoped to bring the company’s Gold Coast workforce back to the city soon to work on a local project.

The construction team was redeployed to the $300 million Indooroopilly Shopping Centre project when the Hilton was finished.

‘‘We want to be able to bring this workforce back when we find a job on the Gold Coast,’’ Mr McDonald said.

‘‘We have because they best.’’

Work is due to finish at Indooroopilly in April 2014 and Mr retained are the these guys best of the McDonald is hoping to secure a major project on the Gold Coast long before then.

‘‘I would like to be back on the Gold Coast this afternoon,’’ he said. ‘‘The instant we find something, we will be transferring people back.’’

Mr McDonald said he believed confidence would return to the Gold Coast in six to 12 months.

Brookfield Multiplex this year is celebrating 50 years of operations in Australia and in that time has been responsible for projects worth more than $41 billion.

These include Movie World, Harbour Town Shopping Centre, the Wave building and the Gold Coast Convention Centre.