Labor stands by vow
PREMIER Anna Palaszczuk has reiterated her opposition to a cruise ship terminal on Wavebreak Island as it was revealed the ASF consortium had poured $6.5 million into the development so far.
Ms Palaszczuk when Opposition leader at a protest rally in the Broadwater vowed Labor would protect the island from development if she won government.
Asked by the Bulletin during her return visit to the city as Premier yesterday if her position had changed, Ms Palaszczuk replied: “I haven’t spoken to my ministers formally about that.
“But everyone was very clear about my views in relation to the development of that Broadwater area, that we were against development on Wavebreak Island and I intend to keep my election promise in relation to that issue.”
When asked if she was concerned about the possibility of having to pay compensation to ASF, the Premier replied: “I’ll be talking to the Deputy Premier about any contractual arrangements there.
“Let’s be clear – people down here on the Gold Coast didn’t want to see Wavebreak Island developed. I made it very clear during the election campaign that was my commitment.”
The Bulletin understands ASF has continued to conduct community consultation and engineering studies on the Gold Coast Seaway.
An interim mid-year report to the Australian Stock Exchange, signed off by ASF directors on February 27, for the first time provides concrete evidence of the massive amount of spending so far on the integrated resort project.
But the latest update fails to acknowledge Labor’s win and what impact it could have on the project. The consortium until December 30 had spent $6.5 million on capital project costs.
“The project is currently in predevelopment f e a s i b i l i t y stage involving planning, consulting and designing activities,” the ASF report said.
“ASF is the only proponent in the GCIR project and has exclusive right to deal with the Queensland Government.”
The multi-million budget so far has been for legals and feasibility studies “prior to land acquisition”.
ASF like the other groups which put in a tender to the original Broadwater Marine project would have had to outlay $100,000 for a deposit.
But any financial security provided since to the Newman government for an integrated resort has not been made public. It is not known if that amount would be refundable.