CST issue splits Main Beach

MAIN Beach is bitterly divided about a cruise ship terminal (CST) at The Spit with Mayor Tom Tate’s favourite project emerging as the hottest poll issue for coastal suburbs.

The Bulletin this week reported that the Main Beach Progress Association supported boutique cruise ships being allowed to enter the Broadwater and dock at the planned Southport superyacht facilities, or at the Seaway off Doug Jennings Park.

The CST will be debated when the Bulletin stages its first free poll forum, for Division 10 and Division 12 candidates, at Kurrawa Surf Life Saving Club on Tuesday from 6pm to 8pm.

The council is spending more than $1 million on further studies for its preferred site at Philip Park for an offshore CST which the Mayor says private enterprise can build at a cost of up to $600 million.

But the Main Beach Association (MBA), a powerful council lobby group with success in stopping ugly beachfront developments, has responded to the Progress Association stand by announcing its strong opposition to a CST.

“We don’t need to have read the unredacted PWC report to know that this project does not stack up on economic or environmental grounds,” MBA leader Sue Donovan said.

“Rather than spend another cent of ratepayer funds on this folly, council should be focusing on bringing cruise passengers down by luxury coach from the worldclass Brisbane International Cruise Terminal. The trip only takes an hour, much less than day trips from river cruise boats in Europe.”

Save Our Spit (SOSA) last month told its strong support base that mayoral candidate Mona Hecke was a long-time supporter of SOSA and had been actively campaigning against the CST.

“Save Our Broadwater will support candidates who will vote against any more council funds – our money, being spent on a cruise ship terminal,” it wrote on its Facebook page on Wednesday.

“Over $12 million of our money has been spent so far and a lot more is going to be required to fulfil Tom Tate’s agenda.”

The Queensland Independent

Co-ordinator General last year agreed to “co-ordinated status” for the CST, which requires council to submit a detailed environmental impact statement.

It means a draft terms of reference will go out for “detailed” public consultation, then the council will prepare an EIS which again faces scrutiny from residents before the Co-ordinator General makes a final decision.

Details provided by the Government show the proposed project includes a 950m jetty, a wharf with a swing basin, mooring and berthing areas and a platform to transfer luggage, passengers and supplies.

A 780m breakwater running parallel to the shore at Main Beach will need to be built to “protect the terminal and ships from ocean swell”. If successful with the bid, council’s plans include a terminal building in the park.

After the council budget in June last year, Councillor Tate said: “We will be doing a business case. The next bit is an environmental impact study. That is what the funding is for.

“We tick those two boxes then it will go to the State Government for the tick. The people on the Gold Coast want it, whether it happens in a year or two it doesn’t really matter, as long as we get it for the city.”

THIS PROJECT DOES NOT STACK UP ON ECONOMIC OR ENVIRONMENTAL GROUNDS

MBA LEADER SUE DONOVAN