Gold Coast cruise terminal scuttled
Queensland’s seemingly anti-development Palaszczuk government has axed the proposed multi-billion-dollar cruise ship terminal in the Gold Coast Broadwater using Wavebreak Island.
State development minister Anthony Lynham said the government would keep its pre-election promise to not permit any development on Wavebreak Island after a meeting with the developer ASF Consortium yesterday [28 April].
ASF had urged the Palaszczuk government to allow the assessment process for its plans for the integrated resort development – which includes hotels, casino and cruise ship terminal – to proceed. It promised to be the largest ever development in Queensland.
Dr Lynham said the state government would consider better investment opportunities. “We are not saying no to the development — we want it to go ahead but the site was wrong,” he said.
Mayor Tom Tate said premier Annastacia Palaszczuk should allow the ASF consortium to complete its EIS and states he is ready to help lobby for the project’s future. Gold Coast councillors are urging for at least some of ASF’s cruise ship/resort development to proceed on the southern end of The Spit.
There are fears that ASF’s development could move from the Gold Coast, costing the city billions of dollars in investment and substantial employment opportunities.
Surfers Paradise MP and deputy opposition leader John-Paul Langbroek said, “It is also a really bad message to send to investors who have spent millions on this project. It is not an image you want at a time when states are competing for investment.”
AccomNews is not affiliated with any government agency, body or political party. We are an independently owned, family-operated magazine.
