Disney-level aspirations
Stakeholders keen to jump on theme park ride
SURFERS Paradise Alliance sees the Gold Coast thriving in a similar fashion to the theme park mecca of Florida in coming decades – if the development bucks keep rolling in.
Chief executive Mike Winlaw said he was thrilled to see $145 million would be pumped into a new precinct at Sea World and a radical redevelopment of The Spit at Main Beach.
He believes ramping up development of theme park infrastructure will prove critical for the future of the region’s tourism industry.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk joined Village Roadshow Theme Parks chief executive Clark Kirby, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad, Minister for State Development Cameron Dick and Acting Mayor Donna Gates at Sea World on Saturday to unveil the massive joint undertaking.
Mr Winlaw was particularly excited about The New Atlantis at Sea World, featuring three new thrill rides and a raft of other additions, costing Village Roadshow $50 million.
He said the Gold Coast could one day mirror Florida, home of The Walt Disney World Resort, which boasts four theme parks and is one of the most visited holiday destinations in the world.
“We see our two major theme parks at the moment (Sea World and Dreamworld) – they’re continuing to invest and develop,” Mr Winlaw said.
“It’s really important. You can see what’s happened in Florida. (Theme parks) are the main attractor, if you’re looking at the family market. That’s what we need.
“We need to get the families back to the Gold Coast and continue to invest in this sort of infrastructure. It’s going to be critical to our long-term future.
“You look overseas at places like Florida – Disney World. That infrastructure just continues to grow and bring people along.”
Meanwhile, the State Government expects redevelopment of The Spit into the Gold Coast Ocean Park will see developers line up to invest.
Ms Palaszczuk said early works would include improvements to parklands and green areas, an underwater diving and snorkelling attraction, improved boating facilities and better parking.
She said a new master plan for The Spit developed with community consultation over 18 months “created a climate of certainty for businesses, triggering the private investment”.
The Spit project should be finished by 2029, Ms Palaszczuk said, but it’s not clear when construction will begin.
Mr Kirby confirmed the plans for The Spit “provided the catalyst for the big injection of capital into Sea World”, while Mr Dick said the announcement marked “certainty for local businesses and certainty for investors”.
Gold Coast City Council’s initial focus will be on tackling traffic congestion at The Spit, Ms Gates said. The council will inject $35 million to overhaul The Spit, while the State Government will put forward $60 million over four years.