Luis Feliu
A new alliance of surfers and locals concerned about the impact of a massive cruise-ship terminal which had been proposed to be built at North Kirra, will now join the campaign against it being located at Broadwater further up the Gold Coast.
This morning, the Queensland Government is set to announce the integrated $2 billion terminal, casino and resort will be built on public land adjacent to the Broadwater.
News Ltd reported that the Broadwater Marine Project announcement giving the green light for Australia’s largest public-private partnership is to be made by deputy premier Jeff Seeney and Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate.
The announcement comes as a campaign called Save Our Southern Beaches Alliance (SOSBA) was launched at Kirra this morning.
SOSBA will take part in a rally organised by the Save Our Spit group on Sunday in support of those on the northern end of the Gold Coast opposed to the terminal being built on the Broadwater Seaway.
Billionaire developer Bob Ell and his Leda group have previously mooted ambitious plans for a $2 billion terminal at Kirra.
Both the Queensland government and new Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate have shown keen interest.
Mr Ell is also behind two of the biggest housing subdivisions approved on the east coast, at Cobaki and Kings Forest in the Tweed.
Speakers at this morning’s launch of SOSBA at North Kirra included former world surfing champion Wayne ‘Rabbit’ Bartholomew, engineer John Standing and marine scientist Deborah Duncan.
Alliance spokesman Andrew McKinnon said SOSBA preferred to see the cruise ship terminal built in Brisbane so tourists could still access the Gold Coast without impacting on the local environment.
‘SOSBA maintains the Gold Coast’s greatest assets lay within the magnificent beaches, world-class surf and pristine coastline that is a much-valued public amenity’, Mr McKinnon told Echonetdaily.
He said the proposed development was fraught with all types of environmental, visual and social risks.
‘Let’s improve the existing services, maintain business and enhance the attractions of the southern Gold Coast with its Tweed cauldron backdrop, without displacing its character,’ he said.
