Southport Spit master planning consortium appointed

South East Queensland’s John Gaskell Planning Consultants and Deicke Richards have been appointed to help prepare The Spit Master Plan.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the consortium, headed up by the two local firms, was appointed from a field of 13 responses to an Invitation to Offer that closed on 6 February.

“This significant appointment means work can now begin on the next stage of this important process, in collaboration with Gold Coast City Council and Gold Coast Waterways Authority,” Mr Dick said.

“This experienced, South East Queensland-based planning and design team bring public sector design and consultation experience to the project.

“Their successful offer demonstrated a thorough understanding of the challenges and complexities of The Spit, and put forward a team with a strong and proven capability for delivery.

“John Gaskell Planning Consultants with Deicke Richards will bring the right balance of skills and expertise, including experience in running complex ‘enquiry by design’ processes, to establish a shared vision for the long-term future of The Spit." 

More than 550 people have attended pop-up information sessions at Gold Coast shopping centres, libraries and public parks since February 17 to give their views about The Spit.  More than 200 online surveys also have been received through the project website.

“Information collected at pop-up information sessions and through online surveys will feed into a major consultation event to be held in late April, where key stakeholders can put forward their vision for the future of The Spit and contribute to setting the direction of the master planning process,” Mr Dick said.

“Some of the key themes emerging from community feedback so far are keeping the area as natural as possible, public transport and infrastructure.”

Visit https://www.qld.gov.au/southport-spit for details on the next pop-up sessions or to submit an online survey.

ENDS

Media contact: Cath Palmer, 0424 823 424