Save Our Spit

[Derek_Bullock]

Help prevent the Peter Beattie and Anna Bligh backed cruise terminal from ruining the Spit and Straddie.

The Beattie government appears to be steam rolling in a plan that risks irreversible damage to one of the most popular areas of the Gold Coast with little if any public consultation.

The following are under severe threat-:
South Stradbroke Island - one of the best surfing locations in Australia
Local diving industry with what is claimed to be the best dive location in any city in Australia The expensive ongoing dredging is considered by many experts to be devastating to the marine environment that is currently very healthyAn overwhelming majority of people just do not want to lose our public open space of the Southport Spit.

Further details on how you can protest against this at http://www.saveourspit.com/

Cheers


Derek

[Derek_Bullock]

Issues Information Actions


The Beattie Government Marina Project proposal was announced on 15th September.

This proposal is a major industrial/ commercial development on the Spit.

Main Components:

Initially a single berth for cruise liners and naval vessels on the western end of the Seaway. This would likely require extensions to the southern seawall of 300 metres, dredging of the Seaway and to a depth of 12 metres, and a turning circle of 10-metre depth in front of Wavebreak Island.

Provision of infrastructure for water, sewage and wastewater and refuelling for cruise and naval ships.

A three-storey terminal for the liners will be built on one hectare of public land known as Doug Jennings Park. This hectare does not include provision for 270 car and 42 bus parking spaces for the terminal.

A marina for 350 yachts ranging from 7 metres to 30 super yachts and facilities for the 30 commercial marine berths. In addition it is intended to have support and commercial facilities, and provision for water, sewage and fuel. This could be situated in one or two sites. One in the western section of the Spit known as the marine stadium which is currently public open space and the other in the Broadwater west of Seaworld.

A commercial/ residential development on 6 hectares of crown land south of Seaworld (6ha) and 2 hectares of crown land on the site currently occupied by Department of Transport, the Sea Cadets and the cleared site of Humphries Boatshed.

The Process: Government has now formally called for expressions of interest from the development industry.

In November the Initial Advice Statement and the Terms of Reference, i.e. the criteria, for an environmental impact assessment (EIA) were made public and the community will have until 28th November to comment on these. Once these are finalised an environmental impact assessment will take place and eventually go on public display for comment some time in 2006. It will also be referred to the Federal Government Department of Environment for assessment under the Environment Protection Biodiversity Conservation Act.

At this stage it appears the EIA will be about the concept of the marine project, but not about a specific development proposal.

Major Objections and Concerns-Save Our Spit:

Removal of public open space: The cruise liner /military terminal, parking and provision of water sewage and fuel facilities and the marina site in the marine stadium will take away substantial areas of public open space currently used and enjoyed by the growing number of residents and visitors of the Gold Coast.

A dangerous precedent for other parks: If the Government takes public open space from the community here on the Spit and use it for development then this can happen to any other area of public open space, i.e. parks and reserves, in the City.

Damage to marine life: The massive dredging of 2 million m3 from the Seaway to enable ships of 300 metres to enter and exit will destroy the diverse and healthy marine life of the Seaway and Broadwater. This is unlikely to re-establish itself as the dredging of 350,000m3 will be regular and the action of the ships screws and thrusters will maintain silted water which blocks out sunlight essential to the survival of marine plants and the marine life dependent on the plants.

Damage to businesses: The currently sustainable and financially viable dive, fishing and tourism industries which depend on the marine life in the Seaway and Broadwater will be placed at severe risk, with a resulting loss of millions of dollars to the local economy and hundreds of jobs. The economic value of the cruise terminal appears to be a paltry $4.6 million p.a and will be underwritten " from revenues generated by other elements of the project."

Damage to surf-break: The world-class surf break on South Stradbroke Island is highly likely to change due to the dredging and possible extension of the sea wall with potential loss of an important surfing venue and more overcrowding at other breaks.

Restricted access to other craft: Loss of reliable access to local and visiting boats and yachts through the Seaway. The cruise liners require two hours each to enter and exit the Seaway and no craft may come within 100metres of the dock due to security requirements. During these periods other craft may not enter or exit the Seaway. This is not just an inconvenience it is a safety issue in the event of bad weather.

Town Plan Overridden: The proposal overrides the town plan to enable the areas to become "Strategic Port Land" to build a cruise line/ military terminal and marina on the Spit public open space. Gold Coast residents have been working to protect and rehabilitate the Spit public open space for decades with little Government assistance and their commitment and concerns deserve respect.

Community social impact: Visiting naval and military vessels have a habit of bringing social problems as well as funds to spend. This will impact directly on the communities of Main Beach and Surfers Paradise who are already poorly serviced by overstretched police services.

Other issues: Pollution of waterways, air and parklands; increased traffic; loss of social and visual amenity; viability of terminal and long term consequences; potential flooding and erosion in river and canal systems.

[stevedemon]

Hi all
Ok I maybe out of line here but from my knowledge(as little as it maybe) i was told years ago that South Stradbroke Island and Wave Break Island where National Parks can someone put some light on the subject as when i went into the Council Park system last year one min it was national parks then i was lock out of the system and now can not find a thing on Wave Break nor South Stradie if it is not then why is it only Park rangers and Campers allowed on the island with a few Holiday homes and towards the top end we have tipplers but you can not purchase land on the island as for Wave Break what you take on you must take off with only limited camping area if it is the case and these two sections of land are National parks why are they hidden from public veiwing on the site of National Parks and reserves and then why is the Beattie Government breaching their own environmental impact laws either way I will be there at the meeting on the 05/02/06 with bells on

Cheers ;D ;D
Steve 8-) 8-)