REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Saturday, July 10, 2010

A CRUISE ship terminal was back on the agenda in this exclusive unveiling of the proposed plans for the Broadwater.

The group behind the proposal believed that such a facility would draw hundreds of thousands of tourists to the Coast each year.

The cruise ship industry is forecast to be worth $3 billion to the local economy by 2020, according to a report compiled by Access Economics and based on upgraded or new facilities being built around Australia.

Plans to build a terminal at the northern end of The Spit were thrown out by the former Beattie government in 2006.

Sailing identity Rob Mundle said the project could not go ahead without extensive dredging of the Broadwater.

‘”On this note, it must be remembered that the actual sand has a commercial value, and that the long-term return and benefit for the Gold Coast far outweighs the cost of the investment in dredging,” he said.

Some of the sand dredged in the Broadwater would be used to create the boat haven islands and the rest would be sold commercially.

He said the ideas were ecologically sustainable and friendly.

This included the retention or establishment of areas of seagrass and fish breeding habitats and the extension of waterfront ecosystems so their essential functions and processes were preserved.

Engineer Peter Shepherd said the group had put in something for everyone.

“‘It is not going to please everyone but what we are trying to do is create little destinations and it is do-able,” he said. “I can’t see a downside to it – it just needs sensible talking,” said Mr Mundle.