Future of cruise ship terminal on the line

GOLD Coast councillors are expected to make a decision today on the future of the controversial cruise ship terminal.

The Economic Development and Major Projects Committee is expected to discuss the results of a feasibility study on building the jetty terminal at Philip Park on The Spit.

The study is expected to be discussed behind closed doors despite strong public interest.

Previous reports have estimated the cost of the terminal at $100 million.

In a post on his public Facebook page, councillor Peter Young dismissed those claims.

“The figure they cite for construction, $100 million, is so far out it seems they have been sadly misled,” he said.

Council sources have said the cost is closer to that of the $170 million breakwater terminal built in Costa Azul, Mexico as part of a project to ship natural gas.

Sources say the almost 300 page report is “broad” and contains a lot of “fluff”.

The cost of the project would also need to pay for an offshore dive site and transport down the more than 1km jetty.

Mudgeeraba councillor Glenn Tozer was the only councillor to vote against progressing the project last year. “I think there are a number of competing projects that the sixth largest city in Australia should be thinking about,” he said.

The committee is expected to overwhelmingly approve the report. But once the report goes to council next Tuesday, the vote is expected to be closer when all councillors have a chance to have their say.