Dear Premier Newman & Mayor Tate,
We the people of the Gold Coast & beyond ask the Newman State Government and Gold Coast City Council to:
1. STOP the integrated resorts casino/ ship terminal development proposed by ASF for the Gold Coast Broadwater immediately. We do not want the public open space and waterways of our Broadwater sold off to a foreign consortium and destroyed by high rise casino/ hotels/ apartments and a ship terminal; and
2. extend the Moreton Bay Marine Park to create a Broadwater Marine Park to protect the waterways, habitat and islands (such as Wave Break Island) & including the Northern Spit, to enable existing community recreational and sustainable commercial uses (such as diving for example) - but to prevent the recurrence of inappropriate development proposals such as those of ASF.
Why is this important?
The Broadwater is a social, environmental and economic asset to our city which locals and tourists alike use and love, and we do not want its natural beauty and character destroyed by high density urban development or a ship terminal. The development proposed will entail millions of m3 of dredging which will destroy the habitat for dugongs, dolphins. migratory birds and over 450 species of marine life in the Gold Coast Seaway. Proposals to construct a huge development for 15,000 people mid Broadwater will create a visual abomination and severely impact upon traffic, infrastructure and population in adjacent suburbs like Southport, Labrador and Runaway Bay, leading to the M1. Finally, the community loves and uses its magnificent Broadwater and islands as its boating, swimming, sailing, fishing and recreational heart. This development will destroy this freedom and privilege, and change the beautiful face of our city forever.
ASF can construct its development on private land it purchases like every other developer who invests in our city. We do not need to sell off precious public open space and waterways to attract investment. Further, the Broadwater as a shallow estuary of great environmental significance, is completely inappropriate for a ship terminal and consideration should be given both to extensive scientific research into offshore options and to optimising passenger shore visits from terminals constructed in Brisbane.