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Media Releases My electorate office distributes information which is important to the Southport electorate in particular, and the Gold Coast in general. This information goes to the print and electronic media, however due to space or time constraints it doesn’t always get printed or broadcast. Through my website however, you can access all news stories which emanate from my office and thus keep up-to-date with State Government issues relating to Southport.
Gold Coast Cruise Ship Terminal Doesn't Stack Up: Bligh |
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| Posted by Administrator (admin) on Aug 21 2006 |
| Media Releases >> |
Deputy Premier Anna Bligh has scrapped plans for the proposed Gold Coast Ship Terminal after being briefed on the results of the Environmental Impact Study on the project.
Ms Bligh said the Cruise Ship Terminal - a key component of the proposed marine redevelopment of the Gold Coast Spit - would not proceed after she had received advice from the Coordinator-General which was based on the draft findings of the Environmental Impact Study by consultant, GHD.
She said the government still supported the other components of the marine redevelopment, including a superyacht facility, an upgrade of Doug Jennings Park and a preservation and protection program for Federation Walk.
"The EIS indicated two serious areas of concern - one, the economic feasibility of the project and two, navigational issues," Ms Bligh said.
"I said from the beginning when we announced investigations into the proposal last September that it would not go ahead if it did not stack up environmentally or economically.
"The advice I have received today shows it does not stack up economically so I am sticking to my word - there will be no cruise ship terminal on the Gold Coast Spit.
"The advice I've received from the Coordinator-General is that the draft EIS indicates there are very significant cost increases to the public purse in both capital works and maintenance costs for the project.
"These result in the project requiring between $20 and $30 million of public money for additional costs including capital dredging, additional road infrastructure and the need for a rock wall on Wavebreak Island.
"Government supported the project on the basis that it did not require the investment of public funds.
"Those sort of costs just do not add up to a viable project for the Gold Coast and cannot be offset by other development opportunities."
Ms Bligh said the scrapping of the project was a big loss for the coast and the state's tourism industry.
"I'm disappointed that the Gold Coast will not have the opportunity to be part of Queensland's growing cruise tourism industry.
"However, even though the Gold Coast has missed a great opportunity, it was important that we at least investigated it.
"We certainly will not be abandoning the upgrade of Doug Jennings Park to make it a friendlier for families and people who enjoy this open space and similarly the protection program for Federation Walk remains in place."
Ms Bligh said the EIS also made clear that there would be some damage to the seabed - but that it was sustainable - however it was the economics which killed the proposal.
The draft EIS also threw serious concern on the capability of cruise ships currently operating into Queensland to traverse the Seaway on a daily basis all year round.
Based on that advice, Ms Bligh ordered further testing using experienced sea captains in Malaysia - where the world's best simulator is available - which showed similar concerns.
Ms Bligh said the very fact that there were doubts cast on the area's suitability to cruise ship traffic meant the draft EIS findings immediately threw the proposal into doubt.
Last changed: [PUBLISHED_DATE] at 9:44 AM
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