Protest groups say terminal spend a ‘waste of money’

SEVERAL community-based groups have described the cruise ship terminal investigation as a “waste of money” and turning into farce.

Save Our Broadwater vicepresident Judy Spence and Save Our Spit vice-president Darren Crawford called on the council to make public its consultant report on the business case for the project.

“Yet again this council has chosen to discuss important items behind closed doors rather than in open session,” Mr Spence said.

“The Cruise Ship Terminal proposal is turning into a farce.

“Before the election Tom Tate promised that no ratepayer money would go into it but he has now spent $860,000 on a consultant’s report. He said it would be a day port but now it looks like the council is planning a home port.

“He promised it would cost $100 million but it seems $450 million is closer to the mark.”

Ms Spence said an agreement had yet to be brokered with the Government to use Phillip Park on The Spit.

Mr Crawford said the Port of Brisbane has advised that work on the new Brisbane mega CST would commence in early 2018 with an anticipated operating date in 2019.

“The construction of the Brisbane terminal means that any transit or home port proposed for the Gold Coast has immediately been made redundant,” he said. “The cruise industry have stated they won’t use it, 70% of Gold Coast residents don’t want it and there is not one passenger CST built anywhere in the world on a shallow sand spit facing directly into the power of the open ocean.”