Hi all, it's me I am back again after what will possibly be some of my last kitey sessions at the Kfc's Kiting Spot on the Goldy.
I don't think the General Public, Citizens and Rate Payers of the Gold Coast, Regular Users, Dog Walkers, Picknickers, Surfers, Fishermen or Fisherwomen, Jet Skiers, Boaters all fully understand the gravity of these Developments Proposed for the Main Beach Spit on the Gold Coast as the impression I was given from what the Planning Committee and Council Members were eluding to, in order to address and fix up the traffic and parking problems going to and from the Spit is to provide limited vehicular access in the future as the pressure to use the roads in and out will be increased to a certain extent based on conservative figures as put forward by the Developers Consultants to Council and possibly a few more that Council do not have any details on yet from the State Government and those Developments the State Government is involved with and in negotiation with (mainly ASF/Packer/Crown Casino Fully Integrated Resort/Casino/Residential Development). That the better use of Public Transport to people to and from the Spit for them to recreate seems to be something they Councillors are suggesting. There was no input or ideas to there ideas as to how Cars Towing Boats and Jet Ski's are still going to be able to access, Surfers carting there Surfboards, Fishermen/Fisherwomen with their rods and tackle, Picknickers with their barbecues, seats, tables, esky's and tribe of kids or people with their Doggies are all going cart all there gear to and from utilising suggested forms of Public Transport to access the area. It appears if these Developments are allowed to proceed, then everyone who used to access the Spit Peninsula Areas are going to have to pay to access and possibly park there vehicles maybe in a centrally located off site locations, that was not even given an inkling of mention or thought by Councillors.
Another major issue is here, Mayor Tom Tate seems to favour the idea to increase 3 lanes going out of SeaWorld Drive up to the Sundale Bridge and then demolishing the walkway on the Eastern Side of Sundale Bridge and providing 3 lanes of traffic on the Sundale Bridge heading North (Currently only 2 lanes) and 2 lanes of traffic continuing as is of current to head South over the Sundale Bridge. It appeared this would all be done at Rate Payers expense and the only thing the Developer has agreed to voluntarily assist with is contribute 45% to the coast of upgrading 2 Roundabouts. So if you can read between the lines here, certain Councillors appear to want to spend a motza of Public Money to assist in the infrastructure to fully assist the Developers Project.
Other major issues that were briefly discussed towards the end of the meeting was that Gold Coast Waterway Authority had granted conditional approval over 12 months ago to the Sunland Developments ability to reclaim land into the Broadwater as the Developer Proposed so there was no issue on Council's behalf on this matter. Another major issue that was brought up and one that the spokeswomen for the Assessment Committee said was completely against the Local Area Plan for the Spit and a major grounds why they recommend to the Planning Committee in their report tabled in this meeting to reject Sunland's Development Application was that there was little or no explanation offered by Sunland's Architects or Consultants as to why the Council should approve the Development when the Development is clearly for greater than 3 Stories of Construction Height Limit and in accordance with the requirements of the Council's own Local Area Plan for the area. There was talk of this then by some Council Officers that these rules were under review and those reviews were meant to be completed over approximately a month ago but had not at this stage and those reviews now look unlikely for at least another 12 months.
I personally get the feeling that most people I have spoken to who are for these Developments in these areas are not aware of all the implications and I admit neither am I, but I have a fair idea due to being a former Building Designer for most of my life, that they think these wonderful Developers are Building these you-beaut (debatable) Developments for and to entertain them, when all I can see is these Developments are aimed at a cash grab sell off investment apartments to Internationals, employment, entertainment and business by and aimed at Internationals and most of us normal Aussies will benefit absolutely zip from the whole thing and get excluded from access from the areas we grew to love to recreate even if it did look like a two-bob sheethouse!
For all those that are for these Developments, all I can say is be careful what you wish for as I can clearly see in my own mind this is going to have a sting in it's tail like no other and this will be a point of no return