The Coomera Valley and Hinterland Residents Association Sponsors - SOS Alliance

Coomera Valley and Hinterland Residents Association www.coomeraresidents.com/ Association President John Wayne Association Vice President Duncan Carling-Rodgers Secretary Elizabeth Wayne Treasurer Geoff Benson Committee Sally Spain, Jacqui Carling-Rodgers, Grant Mayo.

The Coomera Valley and Hinterland Residents Association is non-profit, non-political Incorporated group of residents and associated members established over a decade ago. Although the association has it's foundation in Coomera/Oxenford area, it has always stood for the preservation of public open space, and sustainable and smart development. There is no question The Spit, The Marine Stadium and the Spit Beach is some of the last of The Gold Coast's very own public open space. On any weekend you will find vast numbers of hinterland residents venturing down from the Green behind the Gold to enjoy the beaches, launch their boats in the rivers and streams and venture out the Seaway to fish, dive, swim and jet ski all over the Broadwater. It is our basic right to enjoy all that is fun and free.

For any Government to propose a commercial development of this type, with these large scale environmental impacts placed on a regularly utilised and treasured section of Gold Coast Beach, Seaway and Parkland deserves our utmost attention. Little by little over the last fifty years The Spit has been sold off and developed. Millions of dollars in Leases have been salted away with very little returning to The Spit for improvements, upgrades and maintenance.

Just prior to long standing member Geoff Benson standing down as President in 2005, I was asked to look over the details of the proposal for a Shipping Terminal in the Seaway and make an objective assessment for the Association. There was no benefit that I could see that outweighed the negative impacts. Over the course of the last year my wife Elizabeth and I have become personally very involved in the Save Our Spit Alliance and have had access to an overwhelming number of facts and information from very learned and informed people. There is no argument in my mind that the massive degree of dredging required to enable these proposed ships to enter the Seaway, will in conjunction allow larger tidal movement both in and out. Upstream flooding potential is very likely.

It comes back to the residents again speaking up and voicing their feelings - loud and clear!

Whilst our City Council remains under investigation by the CMC and continues to maintain a spineless attitude to this State Government intrusion the concerned citizens have to unite. The strength of public opinion must prevail. We still see vast subdivisions and developments on or near Flood Plains all over the Coast. CV&HRA will continue to inform our residents and new comers to the area, of the increased risk and threat of flooding as a result of the dredging required to accommodate these massive ships. Studies have outlined that huge numbers of riverside and canal frontage resident on the Coomera and Nerang Rivers are at increased risk of flooding.

Regardless of your own politics - If we lose this battle to Save the Spit, then it sets a shocking precedent for any more of our hard fought for parkland to go under the hammer... to the highest bidder yet again. Don't think this is just a local issue! This is a State Government proposal... so is a State wide threat to all Parkland and all Public Open Space.

Our Deputy Premier Anna Bligh told us to "not get emotional over The Spit"

My memories of the Spit... How many of you can remember where the bitumen turned to sand near the Marineland, (site of where the Sheraton Mirage is now.) As a boy in the late 60's I regularly travelled to the tip of the Spit with my Uncle, Bob Hallows and his Dog 'Roofie". It was Bob's Friday afternoon knock-off ritual to jump in an old LandRover or VW and treck between the massive sand dunes and wind his way to the Bar mouth to watch the sun set. Cyclones and Sand Mining have taken their toll over these massive dunes, but the memories of my childhood are still vivid and spectacular... Just open space and beaches... we didn't need swings or slippery-dips, the beach and dunes were fun enough in those days. Our children and their children will look back and thank us for our efforts to protect these things memories are made of.

Your Faithfully
John Wayne
President CV&HRA
Here's a few points to ponder..

Loss of Public Open Space

- The shipping terminal proposed by the Government for the Spit and Seaway is to be built by The Government in partnership with private developers on your public open space.
- If this isn-t stopped it is clear that any public open space on the Gold Coast, including in Gaven, will be at risk of being taken for private development.
- Your Town Plan will give your no protection. The Government can override it whenever it likes.

Potential Flooding of Homes on the Nerang and Coomera Rivers
- The massive dredging of the Seaway, required to enable ships to enter, will substantially alter the tidal speed and flow in the Broadwater and this impact will flow into the Nerang and Coomera Rivers increasing erosion and potential flooding..
- A Gold Coast City Council Report in 2003 stated clearly that there is no margin for error and Council-s legal firm advised against any alterations to the Broadwater tidal regime.

Loss of Recreational Opportunities
- Thousands of people from the Gaven electorate use the Spit, its beaches and waterways regularly for their recreation of swimming, fishing, boating, running, walking picnicking, surfing and more.
- Much of this will be lost to you with the terminal, dock facilities and marina taking over Doug Jennings Park, the Seaway and the Marine Stadium.
- Security requirements will further restrict your access to your public open space and the Seaway.

Love to surf on 'the other side'?
- Massive dredging in the Seaway could have serious negative impacts on the waves of South Stradbroke Island.
- A surf break was lost at Kirra, due to sand pumping will Straddie be next?

Losses to local businesses
- The Government has produced a range of vague economic benefit figures to justify the shipping terminal, such as $80 million to the whole of Queensland. The Gold Coast is destined to see only $4.6 million of that.

The costs however are clear
- Dredging costs of $5 million per year. Taxpayers will be paying this bill.
- Business losses to dive and fishing industries exceed $100 million per year.
- How many jobs does this translate to?