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A proposal to bring cruising to Australia's
Gold Coast has been canned by the Queensland Government, which this week ended a
private company's two-year bid to build a cruise and casino complex on the
Broadwater. The move follows an earlier decision to ditch plans for a new cruise
terminal further north in Cairns.
The ASF China Consortium had proposed a $7.6 billion multi-use complex on the
Gold Coast's Wave Break Island incorporating the cruise facility, a casino,
hotel and residential buildings, but was met with opposition from community
groups and the state's Labor Party.
While supported by Gold Coast Council Mayor Tom Tate, Labor has always opposed
the location for the facility amid concerns about its environmental impact on
the man-made sand island, according to the Gold Coast Bulletin.
State Development and Natural Resources and Mines Minister Anthony Lynham and
Queensland's deputy premier Jackie Trad have both confirmed to the media that
the project is over.
Community group Save Our Spit, which has lobbied against the cruise terminal for
several years, welcomed the decision.
Earlier this month the Government also sunk plans for a Cairns cruise ship
terminal due to environmental and financial issues.
A draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on the proposal indicated that
dredging Trinity Inlet may have involved dumping spoil on waters near the Great
Barrier Reef, reported AAP.
Qld treasurer Curtis Pitt said the proposal was unviable as it would cost more
than $100 million, with the land-based dumping options costing around $365
million. |
