Media Watch

In the tradition of the ABC TV program Media Watch we aim to shine a spot light on the media

Media Archives 1961-2005

Local Channel Nine news gets it right
The local channel nine 5.30 pm news live up to their promotional material of a local beach boy attitude. They consistently show some beautifull footage with reporters staying out in the sun to get the right shots at our events.
After the mutiny rally (Wednesday 7th Feb 5.30 news) the reporters hinted a defensive and apologetic looking Anna Bligh may have betrayed her roots in becoming a Politician. Has she sold us down the river?

Excerpts from Media Releases - watch for the dancing figures

Premier & Trade, Peter Beattie
26/06/02
Decision on Brisbane Cruise Terminal
……………… Brisbane Cruise Terminal was expected to be completed by 2004 on the north side of the Brisbane River at Hamilton

……………Queensland receiving about $14 million per year.

……………this industry could generate up to $80 million per annum for the State
END

Premier & Trade, Peter Beattie
24/02/03
$140m ship terminal will set Qld cruising towards more tourist earnings
………….Mr Barton said ……………As part of the agreement, Multiplex will meet the cost of dredging directly associated with construction and maintenance of the terminal
END

Premier & Trade, Peter Beattie
01/10/03
Queensland Receives Boost As Cruising Destination
"Queensland only receives about $14 million of the $200 million a year that cruise shipping earns for Australia at the moment and I want to greatly expand our income from this industry to something like $80 million," said Mr Beattie.
END

Premier & Trade, Peter Beattie
21/02/04
Qld cruising for $100 million tourism revenue increase
The base-porting in Brisbane of P & O Cruises Australia's Pacific Sky will help boost Queensland's cruise ship industry by an estimated $20 million during 2004 and $80 million in 2005, Premier Peter Beattie said today.
END

Premier & Trade, Peter Beattie
20/05/04
Beattie unveils Brisbane's largest urban-renewal project
………………Mr Beattie said the riverside precinct, between the Royal Queensland Golf Club and the proposed Portside Wharf cruise terminal, included 55 hectares of Port of Brisbane Corporation-owned land.
END

State Development & Innovation, Tony McGrady

15/07/04
BRISBANE CRUISE TERMINAL ONE STEP CLOSER
………………"The Queensland Government has been working hard to finalise arrangements with Multiplex so that construction can begin to allow completion of the Cruise Terminal for the 2005-06 cruise season later next year.
END

State Development & Innovation, Tony McGrady

25/11/04 CRUISE SHIP SIMULATION STUDY
……………Minister for State Development and Innovation Tony McGrady has approved a contract for the Star Cruises Ship Simulation Centre at Port Klang, Malaysia to undertake detailed computer simulation modelling of cruise ships entering and leaving the Gold Coast Seaway.

………………"We are only simulating a terminal at the end of the Spit in keeping with our election commitment that there will be no development on either Wavebreak Island or the western foreshores of the Broadwater", Mr McGrady said.

………………The cost of the simulation contract is US $89,800 or about $120,000 Australian.
END

Premier & Trade, Peter Beattie
16/02/05
Full Steam Ahead For Brisbane Cruise Ship Terminal
………………Mr Beattie said the terminal was expected to start operations early next year and be able to host ships up to 270 metres in length, including navy vessels and super yachts.
END

Deputy Premier & Finance & State Development, Trade and Innovation, Anna Bligh

13/09/05
Townsville Ocean Terminal gets go-ahead: Bligh ……………Ms Bligh said the State Government would contribute $15 million to the Ocean Terminal,

……………Ms Bligh said the Port of Townsville, Queensland's third largest, currently handles both Australian and American military vessels on active service and R and R as well as a small number of cruise ships each year.

……………The Ocean Terminal will form part of a $1 billion masterplanned residential development for the Townsville Breakwater and the significant project will involve reclamation of land within the area.

……………Ms Bligh said the next steps for the project will include the finalisation of contractual arrangements between the State and TABCORP/Consolidated Properties Group, on-going consultation with the Townsville City Council and the community and an Environmental Impact Study for the proposed site.

………………Today's announcement follows a comprehensive investigation into the terminal's viability including a Business Case Study under the State's Value for Money Framework, which investigated various delivery options for the terminal.
END

Deputy Premier & Finance & State Development, Trade and Innovation, Anna Bligh

15/09/05
………………The State Government's total vision for The Spit - representing a balance between public space and recreational and tourism facilities - includes:

A preservation program for Doug Jennings Park and the western arm of the Marine Stadium
The provision of recreational facilities for public use HOW
A protection and enhancement program for the 93ha Federation Walk and Nature Reserve areas east of Seaworld Drive IT IS ALREADY PROTECTED
A cruise ship terminal
Construction of a marina facility for superyachts, recreational and commercial vessels at either the Marine Stadium or adjacent to Seaworld and
The development of 6.2ha of State land south of Seaworld

………………Ms Bligh said the government would allocate $100,000 annually to rejuvenate Federation Walk and the nature reserve areas, to be administered by the Gold Coast City Council.

…………… construction could start as early as 2007

……………the terminal would initially handle one ship every 10 days. could generate up to $80m a year for Queensland.

……………the Gold Coast should get its share of that action."

…………… economic potential for the area is calculated to be in the vicinity of more than $235 million over the next 20 years."

……………The Spit area is perfectly equipped to handle the world's largest cruise liners.

……………cruise vessels up to 300m in length could navigate a dredged Seaway and dock at a terminal near the end of The Spit.

…………… a more comprehensive dredging program will mean all recreational boat users will benefit from safer navigation through the Seaway," Ms Bligh said. The Bulletin

Thanks to Alice Jones for her support. We would love to see a balanced set of articles that present our viewpoint.

We have seen a number of articles that are extolling the benefits of the proposed terminal. Many of us on the coast do not see any benefit in the proposed terminal.

A recent article mentioned the places you should go and things you should do on the coast -:

Walk to the lighthouse on the Seaway
Eat a crab sandwich at the Seaway kiosk

Apparently the Seaway kiosk cannot get a renewal of its lease. The seaway may have to be widened or extended if the shipping terminal goes ahead.

Articles on favourite Gold Coast places invariably include the spit area, which is understandable and you do not have to come from another state to appreciate it - then whompa up pops an article proposing its destruction by way of the terminal. Are we waiting for the killer blow, the EIS which is so often slanted towards the developers and then the celebrations. The people that currently enjoy the spit will not be celebrating the end of their paradise we can assure you. Lets hope it does not get to that. If it gets to the stage of an Environmental Impact Study many beleive the battle is lost. Politicians love to hide behind them, as they can say we acted responsibly. Yeah right!

Please email with any articles that are suitable for this section

Letters to the Editor

The ones other papers may not publish

premier peter beattie these guys are a joke they have once again been misinformed a cruise line terminal would be fantastic for the gold coast can not wait. the spit is a barrin weed infeasted mess these guys are the same people against the seaway being bulit 20 years ago now they love it

We are happy to publish other points of view - this is a letter to be sent to Peter Beattie - this is the only pro terminal message we have received...

Reply

Natural sandhills can look messy - but many people like them that way - you can always go to a Golf Course if you want a manacured environment.

The spit area around Sea World has been consistently set alight - any attempts to plant trees is periodically ruined, many suspect this to be deliberate.

A lot of the people who actually visit the spit regularly, aren't even 20 years old.

Most of the people for the proposal don't actually visit the spit
- How do we know this?
When members of the SOS alliance collected petitions at the Spit the ratio of for the terminal to against was 1 - 1000

Why should those who actively enjoy the Spit loose it to people who have no interest except for commercial gain?

A family enjoying "The barrin weed infested mess"

FOR CRYING OUT LOAD LEAVE THE SPIT ALONE!

“Plans for huge development of Southport Spit” for a city of 8000 permanent residents called Pacific City including a “6000 ft bridge across the Broadwater” this was 1966, and they are still pushing Plan after Plan after Plan. The community said then and it says now “leave The Spit alone”.
An initiative of Council, Vision 2020 with 34 representatives across all spectrums of the community from Politics, Indigenous groups, Urban Design, Planning, Architects, Engineers, Chambers of Commerce, Griffith University, Fishing Co-Op, Marine Industry, Property Council, Environment, Conservation, Catchment groups and Progress Associations met together to express opinions on every scenario that could be presented in particular for The Spit. After months of these Reports recommendations went to GCCC to become the basis of planning for the Local Area Plan for the Southern Broadwater.
“That with respect to the progression of the Gold Coast Harbour Vision 2020 Project, Council states its position as follows: No private or commercial development on public land shall be considered on the Spit or any other Broadwater foreshore area as part of this project except development in accordance with existing Planning Scheme.” Extract Minutes of Council Meeting 288, 8th August 2003.
We should thank the Vision 2020 Community Advisory Committee for their time and ultimately for the end result of no development North of Nara.
Lyn Wright, Steve Gration
Main Beach Progress Association

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