Singaporean Global Project Underwriters Limited (Sembawang) has unveiled a proposal to independently fund a $4.9 billion cruise ship, residential, marine and tourist precinct on the Gold Coast’s Broadwater.
The project, named Wavebreak, is proposed to include:
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a two- berth cruise ship terminal (vessels up to 300m in length could access the Seaway)
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a super yacht marina (12+ berths)
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a boating marina (400 berths)
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hotels (1,500 suites)
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apartments
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a casino
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education and training facilities
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public parklands (37ha)
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a bridge to Brisbane Rd
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an aquarium
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retail space
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a cultural centre
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commercial space
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a theatre
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prawn trawler moorings
The project would be one of the largest undertaken on Australia’s Eastern Seaboard.
The proposed project needs to be approved by all relevant authorities including local, state and federal governments and agencies.
Wavebreak has been under consideration since 1998. Sembawang has identified in advance likely points of debate regarding its proposal and has provided solutions for each.
Some of the measures planned include:
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A deep water anchorage to be provided for recreational boaties
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Dredging to allow access to the cruise ship terminal
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Assuming dredging responsibilities to allow access to the cruise ship terminal from the Gold Coast Seaway for 300m vessels (38m beams and 8.5m drafts)
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Repairing the damaged southern training wall in the Seaway
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Providing replacement seagrass beds for any shallow areas around Wavebreak which are disturbed
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Avoiding any disturbance to sand banks south of Wavebreak Island which have been indentified as being of significance for migratory birds
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Providing a new home for the Gold Coast trawler fleet which is at risk of being displaced by future development along The Spit
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Carrying out improvements on degraded areas of Wavebreak Island and creating public parklands which connect with the currently isolated beach on its eastern boundary
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Dredging a deep water marina at the western boundary of the proposed project which is currently a shallow sand bank that is exposed at low tide
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Ensuring the connecting bridge is of sufficient height to allow recreational and small commercial vessels to pass underneath
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Developing an appropriate property strategy which allows for the staged delivery of new product onto the market to support its recovery and long term sustainability
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Managing the visual impact of Wavebreak Island for people living on the mainland with the predominant built form being of a human scale averaging three to seven stories with a cluster of taller elements to create a visually legible location marker
Sembawang is Singapore’s largest engineering and construction firm.
