Have your say on plan – but hurry
A JETTY stretching 1.2km into the ocean leads to an 800m rock wall, “safe swimming beach” and wharf parallel to The Spit in Mayor Tom Tate’s cruise ship terminal plan for Main Beach.
A submission for proposal, referred to the federal environment department, also includes facilities for refuelling, Customs and immigration.
The council hopes it will be a base port, available for use as an origin and destination for 150 cruise ships a year.
A two-storey terminal building on 6ha of public land, a dive platform and pedestrian walkway are also part of the project, which would be decommissioned 50 years after it launched.
Construction is scheduled to start in 2019 – the same year as Brisbane’s new Luggage Point terminal is launched – and take three years.
The public has until next Thursday to have their say on the referral, which opened for a 10-day consultation last week and will help the Government determine whether or not the project needs its approval.
A statement from the Gold Coast City Council did not say why it did not publicise the consultation period or reveal whether there was scope to extend operation beyond 50 years.
“This referral is a first step, preceding the further rigorous environmental assessments required for an oceanside terminal,” it said.
“The minister’s decision will inform the future approvals process.
“All details in relation to any specific proposal are hypothetical at this point in time.”
The study findings, including a business case recommending an option, will be reported back to the council for consideration in May.
The submission, funded under the council’s budgeted $865,000 feasibility study, has two diagrams of the project, and a 141-page report of “matters of national significance’’ for the project, to be across the road from the proposed $3 billion ASF casino resort.
To succeed, it would have to meet the conditions of nine federal and 12 state Acts.
In its proposal, the council answered a question about public and indigenous consultation undertaken by saying it had spoken to cruise ship companies and department of environment representatives.
Ships would be refilled by trucks or fuel barges from Brisbane, which would travel through Moreton Bay and nearby wetlands.
It is unclear whether fuel would also traverse Broadwater.
The council is not sure who would run port operations, but past options included Gold Coast Waterways Authority and the Port of Brisbane.
The council said “public access across Philip Park will be maintained” but would not clarify whether access to Main Beach would be impacted. the the