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The Queensland Government is selling a prime waterfront development site at Southport Spit with the aim of securing a developer to revitalise the Carter’s Basin precinct, currently home to the city’s local fishing fleet.
The sale process, which has been mooted since the government released its Spit Master Plan in 2019, will seek expressions of interest to create a new tourism-oriented development for the Gold Coast.
It also comes amid an emerging stoush between the developers of two luxury marine projects nearby – the $300 million Mantaray Marina and Residences project and the $480 million Mariner’s Cove redevelopment earmarked for a 150-room Ritz-Carlton Hotel and a superyacht marine precinct.
Mantaray, which is backed by pubs baron Bruce Mathieson and developer Tim Gordon, is being developed on a site acquired from the state government on the southern border of Mariner’s Cove.
The developers are appealing the approval of the Ritz-Carlton development, a joint venture between the Pelligra Group and Giannarelli Group, on the basis that a rooftop bar would disrupt residents of Mantaray.
The Carter’s Basin site, nestled between The Imperial Palace and Sea World, is envisioned to include a new commercial marina to cater for the existing fishing fleet and marine tourism businesses, some of which are being forced to move from nearby Mariner’s Cove which is earmarked for a $480 million redevelopment that will include a 150-room Ritz-Carlton Hotel and a superyacht marine precinct.
The state government says the Carter’s Basin site, which has about 7,000sqm of leasable land in addition to a 20,000sqm seabed lease, will continue to accommodate the commercial fishing fleet.
The site has been home to the Gold Coast Fishing Co-Operative since 1970 and Peter’s Fish Market which has been operating on the site for more than 30 years.
The Peter’s Fish Market business has secured a place in any new development through a deed of development which includes plans for a new two-storey premises overlooking the Broadwater.
“We’re delighted to see Peter’s Fish Market take up the opportunity to develop and expand their operations in this much-loved Gold Coast location,” says Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.
“It is also pleasing to see progress by the State towards the redevelopment of Carter’s Basin precinct and that local fishing operators will continue to operate at this location.”
Queensland’s Minister for State Development and Infrastructure, Grace Grace, says The Spit offers ‘immense opportunities’ as a tourism destination.
“We’re now seizing this opportunity and want to partner with industry to support marine tourism ventures on the Gold Coast,” says Grace.
“This is an opportunity for a world-class commercial marina with more berths, along with a seafood and marine tourism hub.
“I’m also very pleased that under our plan, Carter’s Basin will continue to be the home to the local fishing fleet.
“The land neighbouring the site will also be home to an even bigger and better Peter’s Fish Market, which has been trading at the Spit for more than 30 years.
“This will be a thorough and rigorous tender process and we’ll work closely with Council to ensure we get the market’s very best proposals, helping to realise the outcomes in the master plan.”
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