CARAVAN TO CASINO

SPECIAL REPORT: Trailer park leads race for $1b tourism hub

THE Palaszczuk Government has zeroed in on a Southport caravan park on land owned by the State and council as its preferred location for a second casino. A document concerning the project is circulating among key decision makers and names sites along the Broadwater Parklands as likely locations – with the caravan park south of Loders Creek the firm favourite.

SOUTHPORT is the State Government’s favoured location for the $1 billion Gold Coast Tourism Hub, with the most likely site being a caravan park fronting the Broadwater close to light rail.

At least five prime sites are being circled by developers who want to test the political market by having informal talks with the State Government and Gold Coast City Council.

The Government is to go to market by year’s end for Las Vegas-style entertainment facilities, including a casino.

The potential sell-off of Government land means the successful proponent will have to offer substantial community benefit like a boutique sporting stadium.

Choosing any site on the western Broadwater which impacts on the green space of the Broadwater Parklands will spark major community campaigns.

A Bulletin investigation has uncovered the following sites as starters:

The Broadwater Caravan Park south of Loders Creek. The land is owned by council and the State Government. Across the creek is the privately owned Southport Caravan Park which is on the market. The combined parcel is the largest site with Broadwater views. Across the road, on the corner of Frank St and Marine Pde, Sunland is redesigning plans for a 35-storey tower on the old KFC site.

Carey Park fronting Australia Fair. Some developers believe this is the State Development’s preferred site. Mayor Tom Tate flagged a casino in this area – much of it is a car park – in 2017 after the State Government rejected ASF’s plans for an integrated resort on The Spit. Area councillor Dawn Crichlow and a protest group successfully opposed it, citing the long-term leases for the bowls and croquet clubs. The biggest obstacle is the old sea wall running through the site, which was heritage listed in 2010, and the threat to Broadwater Parklands green space.

State Government land south of the Sea World car park. This site was previously the focus of the integrated resort development project, in which proponents ASF drew up plans for a tower. The theme park has a permit to use it as an overflow car park. Developers regard it as one of the most sought-after pieces of vacant waterfront land in the city. But the City Plan only allows for a three-storey limit making it almost impossible for investors to recoup money with a lowrise project.

The Star of the Sea north of Nerang St. The Southport historic convent building was demolished in late 2016 and the site was used as a car park during the Commonwealth Games. It was reported to become a multistorey tower development proposed by Chinese-linked developer Garuda GC. Cr Crichlow has had representatives from Asian consortiums meeting with her to discuss support for an integrated resort project there. She is opposed to the idea.

State Government light rail site on the corner of Scarborough and Queen streets, north of the tennis precinct. This was to be used for light rail infrastructure but remains vacant. Neighbouring sites include the ASF-owned block earmarked for a two-tower development, including a 66-storey super “Gold” tower. To the immediate east is Queens Park Tennis Club, Southport Bowls Club and Southport Croquet Club where Cr Crichlow remains a patron and will stop any development.

The Bulletin can confirm the global tourism hub will not be linked with a cruise ship terminal.

The Palaszczuk Government in August 2017 torpedoed a $3 billion casino resort for The Spit, dumping plans by the Chinese-backed company ASF for a five-tower integrated resort.

Mayor Tom Tate said he had uncoupled his plans for an oceanside cruise ship terminal with any future casino development.

“I don’t want to link CST with integrated resort,” he said. “That was done once. It wasn’t my idea. People thought it was. It was fair enough under the Campbell Newman Government to deliver a CST as part of the resort so as no cost to ratepayers.

“But that got entwined and been delayed. It’s now been uncoupled. The CST is our position for Philip Park and we will go full ahead with that.”

Cr Tate acknowledged the initial process for the oceanside CST would take longer and must wait another 18 months while the Government completed its master plan for The Spit.

But he believes what appears to be a “shorter game with this bid will end up being longer”.

“The minute the master plan is done I’m going to say let’s get our CST reactivated and present it to government.

“I’ve very encouraged with the Premier’s comment about

how good the cruise industry is for Brisbane. I’d say that the Gold Coast will give it critical mass. The people who go to Brisbane will absolutely go to the Gold Coast.”

Pushed on a location for the global tourism hub, the Mayor told the Bulletin: “I have my own favouritism.

“I still feel if they could do it in Southport that would ignite our CBD. And it’s next to the infrastructure of light rail and Broadwater Parklands. It makes sense to me if they look at that.

“However, I don’t want to curtail anyone’s enthusiasm if they have some other idea further north or down south. Let them present their dream and we will analyse it that way.

“When you ask me ‘where do I think’ — it’s (Southport) because I know the investment in our infrastructure has been tremendous. It will work. By the time you link the light rail to Burleigh Heads, everyone can access it easily.”

Cr Crichlow will strongly oppose any global tourism hub at Carey Park and does not want more poker machines because she believes it will “kill off” the Southport RSL and other local clubs.

As area councillor, she knows the importance of the Broadwater Parklands.

Stage 3 of the parklands development, which takes in land south of the caravan park, has been being promoted as “a significant Commonwealth Games legacy project”.

But Cr Crichlow supports one site for the tourism hub and believes it can be a success.

“I do love the site of the Broadwater Caravan Park. If we were to have one, I’d support it there,” she said.