Australia: Queensland Government to Decide on Future Cruise Ship Terminal

The Queensland Government has concluded an assessment of proposals for a cruise ship terminal on the Southport Broadwater undertaken for the Gold Coast City Council.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Jeff Seeney said the preliminary assessment found it is possible for one of two proposed projects to proceed and it would now be up to Council and the possible proponent to further progress this proposal.

“The State Government understands the potential economic benefits a cruise ship terminal could deliver to the Gold Coast and we will continue to make state land available, should the issues identified by this assessment be adequately addressed by Council and the possible proponent,” Mr Seeney said.

“In November 2012 the Queensland Government agreed to undertake a joint competitive procurement process at Council’s request, offering potential rights to develop the Broadwater Marine Project on state land including Wavebreak Island and land on the Western Foreshore of The Spit.

“That process is now complete and has concluded that one proponent’s plan has demonstrated a cruise ship terminal is a possibility that could be further developed, should the Council and the proponent choose to progress it.

“Possible proponents, the ASF Consortium and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate are now free to work together to address a number of outstanding issues highlighted during the assessment process, including the need for extensive community consultation, environmental studies and infrastructure planning.

“In summary, while the State Assessment team has identified the possibility that the ASF Consortium could deliver a cruise ship terminal, their proposal has not yet ticked all the boxes for the taxpayers of Queensland.

“That said, and despite the State Government involvement in this assessment being finalised, we are prepared to give the proponent and Council further opportunity to overcome the significant challenges identified.”

Mr Seeney said he had written to Councillor Tate detailing these issues and clarifying the State Government’s position on the potential allocation of a gaming licence to a potential cruise ship terminal operator.

“The ASF consortium is free to participate in the Queensland Government’s current Expressions of Interest process to develop two Integrated Resort Developments with associated gaming licences in regional Queensland,” he said.

“However the proponent must understand that, in this instance, a gaming licence is conditional on the prior establishment and ongoing operation of a successful cruise ship terminal – no cruise ship terminal, no casino licence.”

Mr Seeney said the State Government had also ruled out the issuing of a temporary casino licence associated with the potential construction of a cruise ship terminal on the Southport Broadwater.

“My Department and I are available to continue discussions on how outstanding issues might be addressed by either the Council or the possible proponent prior to the consideration of State land being made available.”

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Queensland Government, February 14, 2014