Balancing act for Spit
Plan aims to get mix just right
THE Spit master plan options report to be released today will strike a balance between protecting a “green peninsula” and breathing new life into its ageing commercial heart.
But the big surprise will be protecting the existing lowrise height limit north of Main Beach.
“It is proposed as a threestorey height limit for across The Spit,” a Government source said.
Fourteen months after the Government announced the master planning process, the options report is being released for public comment.
A further master planning workshop in early December will consider this information and focus on the preparation of the draft master plan proposed to be released for public comment early next year.
The options report will recommend:
• Extending the current village centre to the north and the south to include a potential Aboriginal cultural hub, and reconfiguring the fishing trawler and seafood market section.
• A new continuous boardwalk and pathway link along the Broadwater edge to the northern end.
• A substantial new opportunity for mixed-use development on the doorstep of Sea World including more accommodation and a multilevel carpark adding a piazzastyle element.
State Development Minister Cameron Dick said that as part of the master planning process, an environmental study had identified The Spit’s role as a “green oasis” for the Coast.
“Many people automatically associate the words ‘master plan’ with loss of natural habitat, but this simply isn’t the case,” Mr Dick told the Bulletin.
“The Spit master plan will look at ways to enhance existing ecosystems, leveraging green infrastructure and water-sensitive approaches to protect the environmental values of the land and sea.”
Six big-picture elements that had been identified from feedback were:
• Promoting tourism and recreation.
• Growing a green peninsula – enhancing natural attributes of The Spit.
• Making places and cultural connections.
• Opening the gateway to the world – promoting The Spit for maritime activities.
• Connecting to the city.
• Enhancing pedestrian and cycle access.