Public Open Space and Liveability

True Risks of Oceanside Cruise Ship Finally Revealed

Cruise terminal tribute to Prince Philip or a promise to save the park named in his honour?
It is time for the Mayor to abandon the Oceanside cruise terminal. The terminal is totally inappropriate on the Philip Park site or anywhere in the Broadwater and Gecko Environment Council’s success, at long last, of getting the PwC Business Case Report, released in full, clearly reveals that. The Mayor and most Councillors should be held to account for failing to release all of this report, especially Appendix E which lists all the risks involved in this proposal. See wwewe.gecko.org.au for more info.

By barry, ago

The Spit and its Master Plan – January 2021

The Spit continues to be very popular with residents and visitors as a place to relax and recreate especially in the challenging year that was 2020. Its value to the Gold Coast community cannot be disputed as the public sought to enjoy our green and blue recreational areas. The commitment of so many in the community since 2003 to protecting The Spit has been justified over and over again and they will continue to watch over it during the implementation of the Master Plan and beyond. There are many positive happenings on The Spit, but still some issues that require on going advocacy and vigilance. The positives are the projects relating to the adopted Master Plan and issues relate to the cruise terminal in Phillip Park and helicopter flights.

By barry, ago

Spit Master Plan Updated

Gecko is generally pleased with the result with the exception that Philip Park is still at risk of being taken over by the cruise ship terminal. Since the completion of the Master Plan the Government has committed $60 million to its implementation over 4 years and recently announced initial expenditure of $6.8 million to improve access to the Spit.

By barry, ago

Draft Spit Masterplan Released for Public Comment

On Sunday 10th March the Premier, Anastasia Palaszczuk, and the Minister for Planning, Hon. Cameron Dick launched the draft Spit Master Plan at Muriel Henchman Park on The Spit. After 40 years of campaigning to protect The Spit public open space from unsuitable development we finally have a Plan. This Plan is now available for public comment via the government website www.qld.gov.au/thespit

By barry, ago

Off Shore Cruise Terminal (OSCT)

Council has continued to spend ratepayer funds on investigations into this proposal, despite strong community opposition to this proposal as well as all previous cruise ship proposals since 2003. The resultant reports are heavily redacted especially information regarding financial and physical risks, information the community is entitled to know about! The proposal was sent to the Co-ordinator General who declined to consider it until the Spit Master Plan process is complete in late 2019.

By barry, ago