Hackett leap of faith worth the discussion

ABOLD proposal by international sports company AJ Hackett to build an adventure park on The Spit is sure to generate plenty of debate and discussion. The idea, which will be unveiled publicly for the first time today, has been at the heart of conversations with state and council figures for nearly a year.

While not yet the subject of a development application, an initial proposal depicts a bungy tower, giant swing and zip line, a free to the public Southbank-style sand pool, ocean viewing tower, parks, gardens and cafes.

Most interestingly, it is earmarked for the same location as the hypercontroversial proposed cruise ship terminal which has been on ice since Covid-19 shut down the sector nearly three years ago.

While this “Skypark’ is not likely to be anywhere near as contentious as the oceanfront dock, its success is not guaranteed and would likely face opposition from green groups, particularly for its bungy tower.

The Spit is changing, with more than $1.5bn of development in the pipeline for the peninsula’s southern stretch.

The state government has already spent millions on some impressive upgrades of community infrastructure to the north. Adventure tourism is a growth industry and one the Gold Coast should get a slice of.

Whether The Spit is the right place to do it is a matter for politicians and the community but the plans put forward by AJ Hackett certainly show some merit.

To have a quality operator of its calibre looking to set up shop here on the Gold Coast is another feather in our cap and the time is right to have a conversation about what it would mean for the city.