Survey’s clear message on peninsula

THE three-storey height limit should be preserved on The Spit and no further development should occur on the peninsula.

That’s the position of more than 1200 people surveyed by the Gold Coast Bulletin as part of its Golden Age campaign, who say The Spit must be preserved.

The online survey, taken earlier this month, shows:

• 36 per cent of those surveyed want no development on The Spit.

• 27 per cent want the threestorey height limit set out in the City Plan to be adhered to.

• 17 per cent support a 10storey limit while 11 per cent back unlimited height restrictions similar to those enjoyed in Surfers Paradise and Broadbeach.

However, 59 per cent of those surveyed also supported a portion of The Spit being used for mix-use.

Save Our Broadwater president Alan Rickard said the survey results were similar to those his group had received when it performed its own community consultation.

“The Spit is the most valuable piece of real estate on the Gold Coast and we support what the City Plan sets out – a three-storey height limit,” he said. “When performing our survey we were taken aback by the depths of passion of the people we surveyed and some were even aggressive in expressing their views.

“So many people said to us, this is the way we it is and this is the way it should be.

“It was surprising the number of people who were not from the Gold Coast who were in support of it and we cannot help but feel this is what made the State Government take a step back on the ASF development.”

Friends of Federation Walk president Lyn Wright said the results of the Gold Coast Bulletin’s survey reflected community support.

“All the reports are the same – everyone is saying don’t change it – and these results certainly reflect what people are wanting,” she said.

“I just wish there was more money to get it up to scratch and get it to the right level.”

Save Our Spit Alliance president Dr Steven Gration said the results were “heartening”.

“The results are certainly in the zone of reflecting the wider community voice and it is heartening that people can see the value of The Spit as a social safety valve, as a visual amenity which breaks up the high-density skyline,” he said.

“I think the public and community are a lot more informed these days about the economic value and the jobs which are created and the social value of open spaces.

“It is perhaps the only beach where you can go surfing and look back to see sand and green vegetation rather than construction or buildings.”