BULLETIN VIEW P82
Minister says State is ‘open-minded’ about Spit future
STATE Development Minister Cameron Dick tells reporter Paul Weston why the Government had to take a stand on The Spit, and how to reach consensus between greens and developers during the most extensive masterplanning process ever staged on the Gold Coast.
Gold Coast Bulletin: Are you concerned there could be either an environmental or developer bias and confident that you are going to hit a middle ground here of opinion?
Cameron Dick: Yes, I’m confident that we can, that we can work through those issues. We’re aligning with the Gold Coast City Plan, which provides limits in relation to the height of development. And we will ensure that part of The Spit north of Sea World is preserved as public space.
GCB: Do you think you should have opened up the entire Spit, including the northern section, and said: “OK, let’s just look at the entire area, let’s look at the three-storey height limit, let’s just open up everything to complete debate”?
CD: No. There were very strong views expressed in February and March this year that that part of The Spit should be preserved. I genuinely believe that’s the consensus of the community. I’ve stood right in that middle point there, I’ve gone on the oceanside. You look south and see the great urban development of the Gold Coast and the great economic engine. Then you look north at this beautiful pristine land – that’s the middle point. You can do both. You can do sustainable development south of Sea World but north of that the community wants that kept for community purposes. I think that balance is right.
GCB: How does this process of the masterplan impact on the council’s proposed cruise ship terminal? Could it reach a conclusion that rules out a development like that in Philip Park?
CD: What I’ve said previously and consistently, the State Government neither supports nor opposes the cruise ship terminal. But what the masterplan is quite properly considering is the transport infrastructure and other planning implications should a cruise ship terminal proceed. Another important point to make is we’re not trying to run this from Brisbane. I have no interest in wanting to run it. The truth is it’s State land. We have to lead the project.
GCB: How do you feel about the criticism that the Government is Brisbane-centric in its view?
CD: Look, I think we’re trying all to work together for a THE Spit is a much-loved area of the Gold Coast and it raises passions and stirs robust debate for good reason.
The Palaszczuk Government is working on a community-led masterplan to guide its development for the next 50 years, and we are considering a wide range of views from Gold Coast residents and beyond. It’s important we get it right.
We are committed to working with the Gold Coast community to make this a masterplan that unlocks opportunities for job creation through tourism, entertainment and recreation.
Whilst the merits of a cruise ship terminal are not included in the masterplanning process, the planning and infrastructure implications for The Spit, should the CST proceed, are being considered.
That is a prudent and sensible course of action.
As I have said publicly, the Queensland Government neither supports nor opposes the development of a cruise ship terminal. That project will rise or fall on its own merits once the masterplan is complete.
So why is the State Government driving The Spit masterplan process? The simple answer is we’re leading it because it’s State land, but we are doing this in conjunction with the Gold Coast City Council and the Gold Coast Waterways Authority. The mayor and I have signed a memorandum of understanding to provide balance in the decisionmaking process.
It’s our responsibility to make sure we facilitate a community-led process that will revitalise The Spit and increase its value as a precious community asset for generations to come.
That’s why we want to ensure the masterplan will include all the things locals and others love about the
future for the Gold Coast. Our Government wants to play a critical role in that. The Gold Coast is Queensland’s next world city. The Commonwealth Games demonstrated that. We’re all looking at how we can support the development and growth of the Gold Coast as an international city.
GCB: So the city elders saying the Government should keep out of it, you’re saying basically, “we’ve got Crown land there and we have to work out the best way the community wants to use that land”.
CD: Yes. We can’t avoid our responsibilities as a government because it is State land. That’s why we’re running this long process of engagement. area today, and what they want to see in the future.
We know The Spit’s unique natural environment, unspoilt beaches and green space are particularly valued, and we’ve committed to ensuring any future development is sustainable.
And the masterplanning process is already well advanced thanks to thousands of great ideas contributed by the local community.
Our process is inclusive and is tapping into the general community, Indigenous representatives, business, community and environment groups, professional
institutions, the development industry, user groups and others. We want to hear everyone’s voice in this process.
We’ve held pop-up sessions, masterplanning workshops, online surveys and conducted social media engagement and have received nearly 3000 pieces of feedback since the project began — and we want more.
We’ve been workshopping options for the future of The Spit with representatives from the Gold Coast community and in the coming months we will be releasing masterplanning options, so members of the broader community can have their say on it.
If you haven’t already, please take this opportunity to have your say on the future prosperity of the area. Let’s continue the discussion about the future of The Spit to ensure we get it right for the Gold Coast of today, and the Gold Coast of the future.
Cameron Dick is minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning
It’s not us coming with our idea and saying this is it. We’re open minded about the future.
GCB: How do you react to the critics who say the process is all about appeasing the greens, which will ensure that Deputy Premier Jackie Trad will get to keep her marginal Brisbane seat up there?
CD: I don’t think that’s fair criticism. We are working with a very broad range of groups on the Coast, that includes business, it includes indigenous leaders, it includes environmental groups, it can involve community organisations and average everyday Gold Coasters. We are not listening to any one voice over another. We listen to all voices.