MUST BE SHIP-SHAPE FOR BEACHES

the dunes, the jetty structure, the cruise ships and Surfers Paradise skyline.

“The car park for the potential terminal can be used by visitors to the park and beach when not on ship days,” the report says.

The service access to the terminal building and jetty is on the north side, away from the passenger entrance. The terminal is set back from the dunes and must provide enough space for an oceanway pathway west of the beach.

Landscaping would provide buffers which screens views of the terminal from the beach.

The State Government, in preparing the master plan, announced the process would not determine whether a cruise ship terminal should go ahead or be stopped.

“However, the master plan has considered how to manage the anticipated effects of a potential cruise ship terminal in Philip Park in relation to its built form, access arrangements, servicing layout and infrastructure requirements,” the report says.

The master plan’s “alternative” Philip Park site is an “attractive and landscaped area” with low-key parking including a covered area for events such as Aboriginal cultural experiences.

The council budget this month funds $1.25 million for further studies on the proposed offshore cruise ship terminal. Councillors Glenn Tozer, Peter Young and Daphne McDonald voted against it.

Mayor Tom Tate, after delivering the budget, strongly rejected suggestions he had lost his passion for the project, saying the CST was “put on pause” for the master plan.

“Now what we want is a terms of reference similar to the Port of Brisbane. Why should it be any different, so give us that,” he said.

“We will be doing a business case. The next bit is an environmental impact study. That is what the funding is for.

“We tick those two boxes then it will go to the State Government for the tick. The people on the Gold Coast want it, whether it happens in a year or two it doesn’t really matter, as long as we get it for the city.”

If an environmental impact report flagged problems, the Mayor said he would be “the first person to vote it down”.