ACCESSIBILITY & PUBLIC AMENITY
The glossy brochures and website claims
have an underpinning theme - a portrayal of
easy, free and accessible ‘public’ spaces for
all to come and enjoy. But as soon as you
look past the claims, you see the fundamental
truth. Our government is going to give away
100 hectares - around four times the size
of the current Wavebreak footprint - of our
city’s marine park, waterways and beaches.
Essentially it’s our irreplaceable and only
major central recreational park and marine
environment given to a highly questionable
foreign consortium. Let that sink in for a
second. The entire development area, which
seems to be all-consuming in relation to
its surrounds, will be under the freehold
ownership and control of a foreign entity.
As little as 10 or 15% would be set aside as
‘public space’ but it will be at the discr etion of
the new owners as to just how it is accessed.
Limited parking with exorbitant fees,
profiteering and over-regulation could just
be the beginning. Waterway restriction zones
along with vast international cruise industry
exclusion regulations will be enforced whilst
the bulk of the new island will become wholly
privatised and for the exclusive development
use of the new owners - this is like giving
away the farm to get a pot plant in return.
The proposal earmarks the central broadwater
to become a wholly privatised and exclusive
enclave for wealthy investors and property
owners, gamblers and the aristocratic top
end of town, with just a few unrealistic and
restrictive public areas remaining. It will shut
out the clean, free and accessible nature
of the current public amenity and public
ownership, essentially robbing the city and
indeed all Queenslanders of one of their best
public assets and environmental spaces. But
in the end, why would you want to visit their
city? Much of the wildlife will be forever gone
and the clean blue open waters no more.
Instead will sit a micro super city of foreignowned and high-end retail and commercial
operations, a massive private residential
development with hotel and casino towers,
manufactured faux green spaces and turbid
harbour side views.
As for the surf, one thing is absolutely
certain, it won’t be the same if this goes
ahead. Cutting through the thick murk of
the dredged waters in a shipping harbour