News
 letter - Dead section of the Spit
Dear Max,
Thank you for your observations of the northern Spit during your recent visit.
The State governments of various persuasions have neglected the Spit for decades probably in the hope that they could then trade sections off to developers who would 'promise' to beautify the area in a trade off for the land.
As you noted, there has been destruction of trees and bush from the Sand Jetty south to Seaworld. Aproximately 8 years ago there were a series of fires deliberately lit in a southerly sequence south from the jetty to Seaworld over a period of months which conveniently stopped where Seaworld starts. Police suspected arson but could not prove it. Ironically the then GCCC CEO claimed the Spit was an eyesore and that parcels of land on the burnt sections of the Spit should be given to three or four
international hotel consortia who could also then plant up the burnt out areas! Since these fires occurred the trees
have not recovered.
We have also been informed that although casuarinas are very salt tolerant they have a life span of approx. 20 years. The original casuarinas are not indigenous to the area but were planted on the dunes by Keith Williams in the late 70's to protect his then Ski-World (now Seaworld) from storm-surge damage.
The last big battle for which SOSA was formed was to stop a cruise ship terminal being built on the northern Spit with land and the Marine Stadium being given to the terminal developer for commercial purposes such as a private marina, shops etc as payment for building the terminal. Those proposals was defeated and cancelled in 2006-07.
The Bligh government has publicly pledged to preserve the eastern Spit, Doug Jennings Park and the Marine Stadium for public use although they have not legislated for these actions as yet. They have promised funds for
Friends of Federation Walk to continue their planting form the southern end right through to the Seaway wall although b/c this is based mainly on the work community volunteers the progress will take some time.
Other community groups have begun planting projects on the roadside of the northern Spit and will move seaward as more funds and volunteers become available. However the use of recycled water (the trunk pipe runs along the Spit into the Seaway) does not yet have feeder pipes for watering the north areas as can be found on the southern end of Fed Walk until funds for pipe, gravity feed pumps etc can be sourced. These are deemed necessary for the initial health and growth of new plants indigenous to the Moreton Bay area (and also based on the many years of drought until recent months in southern Qld).
The leasing of land to commecial interests btw Seaworld and Versace Hotel and Marina Mirage and Southport Yacht Club on the west side of the Spit will supposedly be tied to funds from the winning tenderers to beautify and maintain the Spit, DJ Park and Marine Stadium but that has yet to occur. So while we are also disappointed with the past treatment of the Spit, the Gold Community made it clear they want the Spit left as a community asset in the form of public open space, they want more trees and shade on the Spit and DJ Park and a better toilet facility at the northern end but other than that they want The Spit 'to be left alone'.
Our question to State Government has been where has the $12 million a year from current lease-holders on the Spit (Mirage, Seaworld, Versace etc) gone over the last 35-40 years, certainly not on beautifying and maintaining the Spit!.
I hope this clarifies the current situaiton and thank you for your concern for the welfare of the Spit.
Best Wishes
Steve Gration
SOSA President
Dear Steve,
Thank you kindly for your very informative reply. I think you and SOSA have been doing a wonderful job and it is refreshing to see such organised actions against the development of this beautiful part of the world.
Being active environmentalists, my partner and I were devastated to see the dead section of the spit and can only hope for its revegetation one day. Perhaps if we move to this area then one day we may be able to play an active part in the preservation of The Spit, in the mean time we congratulate both you and SOSA on your valuable efforts in fighting for the preservation of this area.
Kind regards,
Max (name withheld for privacy)
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