Want to help out? PLEASE SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON FACEBOOK

Remember this golden pledge from the Liberal National coalition a few years back? That was of course before they were voted in to power as the Queensland government, now led by the Campbell Newman and Jeff Seeney. What of their 'set in stone' pledge today? Don't dare ask Mr Springborg about it, it seems it never happened. It did have a lovely green stamp on it though ...

Headlines and articles in Queensland newspapers during the 1980's reveal that the National Party Member for Southport, Doug Jennings, was ostracized, threatened and intimidated by developers and his own Queensland National Party, during the Bjelke-Petersen period of State Government, for his stance against any further commercial/private development on the Crown Land on the Gold Coast Spit and Broadwater. Doug Jennings truly represented the community who elected him and consequently his efforts were celebrated by the naming of the northern Spit as ‘Doug Jennings Park' following his death in 1987.

Unfortunately, Doug died of a heart attack at the age of 57 but his legacy lives on. Since 1987, the people of the Gold Coast have continued to fight various State and Local Governments in an effort to retain the Spit and Broadwater as public open spaces for recreational and passive tourism activities. At Doug Jennings' funeral, Father Raymond Smith spoke to a packed congregation and prophetically announced that:

"The Southport Spit will probably become a monument to the greed, arrogance, negativity and lack of vision of those who seem incapable of rejoicing in God's gift" - Father Raymond Smith, April 13, 1987

Political

Suggestions that the Save Our Spit Alliance is not political are completely wrong as we have never been apolitical, quite the opposite, we are very political in that we support and promote those political parties, independent political candidates and community leaders who support our aims and objects, which are enshrined in the SOS 'Rules of the Association' since our formation in 2004. In the spirit of Doug Jennings' fight to preserve the Spit and Broadwater for the community, our Association Rules include:

To work with Gold Coast community sectors for the development of an integrated and holistic vision, and management plan for the conservation and sustainable use of the natural environment of the Spit, Broadwater, its foreshores and islands.

Conservation

To work for the conservation and rehabilitation of the public reserves and parks of the Gold Coast Spit.

To work for the maintenance of an ecologically sustainable marine environment of the Broadwater and Seaway.

To protect all native terrestrial, estuarine and marine species in the Spit, Broadwater and foreshores, and island areas, especially those of rare, threatened or endangered status or protected by an international agreement to which Australia is a signatory.

Community

To preserve for current and future generations, access and enjoyment of the public open space areas of the Spit, Broadwater and foreshores and islands as relief from the urban city areas.

To provide accessibility and facilities for diverse, low key, low impact environmental and cultural education and recreation in areas of ecological sensitivity.

To provide appropriate and minimal infrastructure for the enhanced enjoyment of Doug Jennings Park.

To work with the traditional and indigenous members of the community in conserving the cultural heritage of this area.

Education

To establish community education programs providing information and actions towards the conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable use of the area.

To develop links with educational bodies on the Gold Coast or wider area to facilitate research into the environment of the Spit, Broadwater, foreshores and islands and community education.

Economy

To encourage the development of ecologically sustainable economic enterprises in the area.

To encourage the use of sustainable practices by all economic enterprises using the area.

To encourage the phasing out of environmentally damaging practices by all users of the area.

 

The Past and Present

Consequently, during the Save Our Spit 2004 – 2006 campaigns in opposition to the then Labor State Government's 'Notional Gold Coast Marine Development Project', SOS encouraged Gold Coast voters to vote for the political parties and independent candidates who opposed the Labor Government's proposal for a takeover of 8 hectares of public parks, waterways and open space on the Spit under the guise of the 'public need' for a cruise ship terminal on the Spit.

Likewise, at the upcoming 2015 Queensland State and 2016 Gold Coast Council elections, SOS will promote and support those parties and independent candidates who oppose the Broadwater Marine Project (BMP) initiated by the Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) in association with the LNP State Government and the subsequent State Government initiated 'Integrated Resort Development' (IRD) process which is entertaining a proposal for a cruise ship terminal (unknown location as yet) and the commercial/privatisation of a minimum 85 hectares of public space, islands, beaches and waterways on the Broadwater, Spit and Wavebreak Island by the Chinese consortium, ASF Group and their Chinese Government–owned construction partners. This foreign group proposes casino(s), private apartments, high-rises, marinas, retail shops, restaurants and hotels on public parks, beaches and islands to subsidise a Gold Coast cruise ship terminal which will be 'financially unviable as a stand-alone operation' (AECgroup Business Case Report 2012).

Rumours

It has become apparent that certain State LNP political apparatchiks have recently been spreading rumours to Gold Coast Business and Tourism sectors and elements of the Gold Coast media that the Save Our Spit Alliance is 'divided' and therefore 'should not be taken seriously'. Given the clear 'aims and objects' of the SOS Alliance as stated above, suggestions that SOS is divided are at best, pure propaganda and at worst, plain lies. Those who continue to peddle these rumours are naïve if they believe their actions will destabilise or undermine the credibility of the Save Our Spit Alliance. They continue their behaviour at the risk of losing respect amongst Business and Tourism leaders, the Media and the Gold Coast Community, in addition to drastically shortening their political careers.

How did SOS become aware of these rumours? Well, strange as it may seem to some, SOS has maintained deep and long-term support from Business Leaders and Tourism Operators during our 11 years of campaigning to preserve the Spit and Broadwater for its current users, businesses and tourism operators. These supporters contacted SOS to pass on their concerns that certain political figures were attempting to undermine SOS's credibility through a rumour campaign by suggesting we are not unified in our vision for the Spit and Broadwater.

Throughout its 11 year history, the Save Our Spit Alliance has never been stronger or more unified. On this basis, several Save Our Spit members and supporters have been inspired to establish their own single-issue community action groups. SOS has had the privilege of liaising with these groups and offering support and advice where appropriate, just as these groups continue to support SOS.

With this in mind, congratulations go to the 'Save Our Broadwater' community action group which has recently recruited highly experienced committee members from Business, Political, Media and Legal backgrounds. While SOS fights from the trenches we are very pleased to have the Save Our Broadwater 'Special Forces' at our side and fighting behind the scenes with effective and innovative strategies.

SOS is excited by the plethora of community action groups that have formed and united on the Gold Coast to assist in the current fight against Mayor Tate, his current gang of Tate-8 Councillors (Caldwell, Taylor, Bell, Crichlow, Owen-Jones, Gates, La Castra, Tozer), several GCCC officers and elements of the LNP state government. We believe they have blindly obeyed Tate's commands to push through at every step Tate's false terminal agenda, despite the mountains of scientific, environmental and social impact evidence available to them to oppose it. It appears public officials have continually shown a preference for serving their own business, political or personal interests and beliefs; favouring their business mates; or kow-towing to the attempts by foreign consortia and entrepreneurs to grab Gold Coast public assets, parks and over 5 kilometres of our clean sandy beaches and foreshores.

 

Hypocrisy

Through social media, SOS has also pointed out the hypocritical behaviour of the Federal LNP member for Moncrieff, Steven Ciobo, and the State Member LNP for Surfers Paradise, John-Paul Langbroek, who both spoke out publicly against the Labor 'land grab and lack of community consultation' in reference to Labor's 2003-2007 cruise ship and privatisation plans on the Spit while Mr. Langbroek was in political opposition. Following the LNP election to State Government in 2012, Minister Langbroek and Mr. Ciobo appear to have done a huge back-flip and now support the current casino/privitisation/cruise ship proposals in their electorates that will see the give-away/lease/sale of 10 times the area of public open space originally proposed in the Labor Government's cruise terminal plans.

Steven Ciobo & John Paul Langbroek criticise the process

And despite his forceful stance against the Labor Government's ship terminal and 'land grab' proposal, while serving as Opposition Leader of the Queensland Coalition, Lawrence Springborg has said nothing on the issue since the LNP was elected to government. Yet in 2006, Minister Springborg stood on the stage beside Dr Gration at a Save Our Spit Rally stating publicly, 'We have protected the Spit for forty years, and will for another forty and beyond and beyond and beyond...'

Jeff Seeney - No Development Pledge (40 years)

Likewise, GCCC Councillor, Dawn Crichlow (a life-long member of the Queensland National Party), now suddenly supports the commercial/private takeover of Wavebreak Island and large areas of The Spit with casinos/private-apartments/hotels/high-rises/marinas and a cruise ship terminal. This stance is despite her statements during the 2004 - 2006 campaign saying that Labor's plans for the Spit terminal were just an excuse for 'commercial, retail, hotels… it's a land grab.'

Election plank 2nd Rally

Councillor Crichlow also spoke several times at Save Our Spit public rallies whilst wearing a Save Our Spit Tshirt, strongly opposing the Labor State government's cruise ship proposals for the Gold Coast but has done a complete 180 degree turn on the issue since the Tate led LNP-bloc began dominating the Gold Coast City Council and the LNP were elected to State Government in 2012. If Doug Jennings were alive to witness Crichlow's apparent betrayal of his legacy, he would no doubt be utterly disgusted with her current disregard for his efforts to preserve the Spit and Broadwater 'in perpetuity' for the Gold Coast community.

 

No Mandate

Since being elected Mayor of the Gold Coast on April 28th 2012 with only 37% of the vote, Tom Tate has continuously and falsely claimed that he had a 'mandate' to build a cruise ship terminal on the Spit. In fact, he quietly placed his crude publicly-owned terminal policy on his official campaign website just 24 hours before the election, without announcing its presence. His plan for a miniscule rate-payer funded floating terminal on the Spit (with no signs of associated development and privatisation) appeared in the local newspaper just a few hours before that on April 26th 2012. (Read the article here)

Few had knowledge of Tate's proposal and many people had already cast their postal and absentee votes without any knowledge of Tate's plans. Regardless, anything Tate said before the election bears no resemblence to the current ASF China proposal. Going by Tate's official website and campaign at the time, a vote for Tate would have presumably meant a vote to protect the Spit and Wavebreak from commercial development. Any suggestion by Tate that he was elected on a 'mandate' to build a cruise terminal is misleading.

Of note though is Geoffrey Chambers' article in the Gold Coast Bulletin which declares:

The Mayor's proposal, now in the hands of State Government and ASF China, will see the privatisation of the remaining open space on the western side of the Spit with reductions to Doug Jennings Park and Federation Walk Coastal Reserve and the privitisation of Wavebreak Island and surrounding waterways - that is over 100 hectares of public parks and foreshores, including more than 5 kilometres of public beaches. This makes a complete lie of the statements above by Tate to Chambers.

While Tate may have met with Director General, Michael Caltabiano, two weeks before the 2012 GCCC elections to expound his cruise ship idea, the Gold Coast community were not made aware of Tate's plans at the time and therefore Tate cannot claim a 'mandate' for his last minute proposal. Caltabiano was relieved of his Director General position in February 2013, amidst misconduct allegations after he hired former Arts Minister Ros Bates' son to a senior position in his department.

"I think we should leave the spit for families, fisherman and surfers ... Camp grounds and day trip facilities for wavebreak is a yes for me but fifty storey hotels will be a “no” from me." - Tom Tate election pledge from his official website in 2012 (Tom maintained this official stance on Wavebreak for many months leading up to the election, campaigning with it right through into the polls and election day)

 

The Compromise

Whilst opposing a cruise ship terminal since 2004, the Save Our Spit Alliance has maintained that if there is a demonstrated need for more marina berths, superyacht facilities, chandlery, hospitality and accommodation to service the maritime-based activities on the Gold Coast Broadwater, these developments should be contained to the two parcels of crown land south of Seaworld (approx. 7 hectares) and south of Mariners Cove (approx. 3 hectares). The provisos for potential development in these areas are:

This is the SOSA compromise position in relation to our mantra of 'No Development North of Nara' (Seaworld Hotel and Convention Centre) which includes no commercial/private development on the Marine Stadium, Doug Jennings Park, Federation Coastal Walk Reserve, Wavebreak Island or their foreshores and beaches.

 

The Future

SOSA sees the future of the Gold Coast as being driven by a diversified economy which is not solely reliant on the 'two-trick white-shoe pony' of 1980-1990's tourism and construction models which are still being promoted by the Gold Coast Mayor and sections of the tourism and development industries who are living (and dying) in the past.

Our vision is for a diverse economy which works in harmony with the natural and wildlife environments, and the recreational and tourism activities which currently exist on the blue, green and gold public open space on the Spit and Broadwater. This will create new economic and job opportunities across the wider Gold Coast, including:

1. In the lead up to and in the spirit of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, a focus on the economic drivers of Eco/Nature/Health/Sports/Fitness/Life-style tourism and recreational activities. These activities require the Spit, Broadwater and Wavebreak Island to be maintained in the most natural states possible to ensure the sustainable future of the diving, fishing, surfing, kayaking, wildlife (whale & bird watching), sports/fitness/health and boating industries which bring hundreds of millions of dollars to the Gold Coast annually. These assets and activities make the Gold Coast unique in the world because no other city has such a variety of wildlife, recreational, health/fitness/sports and passive tourism options and associated job opportunities on its doorstep.

2. The construction of suitable student accommodation and services to complement the 3 major University campuses on the Gold Coast in an effort to attract greater numbers of regional, interstate and international students to the Gold Coast with a growing reputation as the 'best campus city in the world'. And to promote the quality of the Gold Coast's public and private secondary schools and boarding facilities and other educational institutions highlighting the Gold Coast as one of Australia's leading Educational Services cities.

3. Promote and support the Gold Coast as a major Coastal Engineering; Town Planning; Marine Biology; Eco-Tourism; Performing, Writing, Film, Graphic and Visual Arts; International Business; Environmental Law; Sports Science; Fitness and Health; Medical and Dentistry training and research city by attracting the brightest national and international students, staff, teachers, lecturers and researchers to our Training and Tertiary Institutions and through the retention of our high achieving graduates as working professionals and residents of the Gold Coast.

4. Promotion and Incentives to attract Australian and International Film and Television Industry and Producers back to the Gold Coast studios and local environments (such as the Gold Coast's Spit, Broadwater, Hinterland, Moreton Bay Islands and urban centres) which provide brilliant locations and facilities for making quality Films and Television productions while providing high quality local accommodation, hospitality and other services for artists and crews. This initiative will also be an incentive for the employment of the thousands of actors, designers and technical crew who currently reside on the Gold Coast but are forced to chase work predominantly interstate or overseas.

5. The construction, upgrading and maintenance of family-friendly accommodation, public transport and other services to complement the theme parks and sports/nature/health activities available to families visiting the Gold Coast; that is, accommodation where families feel safe, can access the beach and other natural features easily and can cook and prepare family meals at their accommodation, thus contributing financially to local stores, food suppliers and small businesses. This strategy is aimed at building on the love affair Australian families have traditionally conducted with the Gold Coast over the past decades rather than obsessing with a total focus on catering only for the passing fads and fickle trends of various groups from overseas and their short term and constantly changing international tourism trends to the exclusion of the needs of Australian families and other domestic tourists. Tourism figures continually reveal that even in tough financial times, 94% of visitors to the Gold Coast are domestic Australian tourists.

6. Construction, maintenance and promotion of camping grounds, backpackers facilities and B&B's on the Gold Coast to attract long-stay visitors and tourist demographics such as the high spending Australian 'Grey Nomads' and International Backpackers. These visitors will potentially stay for months at a time (especially during the winters in the southern states) and spend in diverse areas of the Gold Coast economy including local traders, cafes, restaurants, supermarkets, night clubs, theme-parks and on adventure, sports, health, nature, wildlife and fitness tourism activities, if the appropriate facilities are made available combined with effective marketing.

7. The retention of the Broadwater, Spit, and Wavebreak Island etc as public open spaces to assist in promoting the Gold Coast as a world-class Elite Sports Team and Athletes' Training and Fitness City. The potential is already evident with several World Cup Triathlon teams basing themselves on the Gold Coast during northern hemisphere winters. In the past, British, Canadian and other national Rugby and Swimming teams have used TSS and local parks and sporting facilities during intensive training camps on the Gold Coast. Greater promotion of the open space, accommodation and sporting facilities that are available for elite national and international sports teams and individual athletes can be further expanded, especially in the lead up to and following the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.

8. The construction and establishment of Financial, Corporate and IT centres in suitable areas such as Southport (as distinct from tourism-dedicated areas like Surfers Paradise), in order to attract and establish major National and International company branches or their corporate headquarters in a city that is not gridlocked, has a reliable public transport system (bus, rail, light rail, air, cycle and walking tracks) and is not hyper-expensive for office rentals and parking spaces etc. unlike the high costs experienced in Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne. Accordingly, we should work at retaining our brightest IT and Software Development graduates from local Tertiary Institutions, thereby establishing the Gold Coast as a Smart-Financial Centre and Australia's leading 'Silicon City'. Southport and much of the greater Gold Coast also has the bonus of unencumbered views of the Broadwater, Spit, Wavebreak and Stradbroke Island and the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean, in addition to a temperate climate which promotes staff participation in fitness, health and sporting activities thus increasing worker productivity.

Continuing and Growing Opposition

This vision of an economically and environmentally diverse and sustainable Gold Coast, is one of the reasons Save Our Spit Alliance continues to oppose the political push for commercial-privatisation of up to 100 hectares of public open space, parks, foreshores, beaches and islands on the Spit, Broadwater and Wavebreak Island under the guise of needing a 'financially unviable' cruise ship terminal (CST). We oppose the destruction of beaches, marine and wildlife habitat and the consequent negation and sabotage of existing tourism and recreational activities and industries such as surfing, boating, fishing and diving by promoting activities and developments on the Spit and Broadwater which work in conjunction with the current environs and wildlife habitat rather than destroying them.

Every official report since the 1980's has revealed that the construction of a cruise ship terminal and the consequent public land grab for private-commercial purposes associated with subsidising a financially unviable CST, will lead to Economic, Environmental, Financial and Engineering disasters for the Gold Coast. This is apart from the social injustices and moral bankruptcy such projects will impose upon the Gold Coast Community (go to www.saveourspit.com to review over 200 articles, research and reports on these issues under 'Research Library').

Following the State Government's and the Tate LNP-dominated City Council's cynical and cruel disregard of the Gold Coast Community on a range of issues, the 'tsun-army' of community groups that have emerged in tandem with the strengthening of the resolve of existing groups, is testimony to the deep discontent that the residents of the Gold Coast are feeling in the lead up to the 2015 State and 2016 GCCC elections. Gold Coast-based community groups currently active include:

• Save Our Spit Alliance
• Save Our Broadwater
• Save Our Southern Beaches
• Save Our Revetment Walls
• Gold Coast Community Alliance
• Wildlife Qld – Gold Coast
• Gecko - Gold Coast and Hinterland Environment Council Association Inc.
• Surfrider Foundation
• Stop the Quarry
• Sea Shepherd – Gold Coast
• Humpbacks and Highrise
• Sarah Shark Project
• Surfers Against Ships
• Save Our Tip
• North End Boardriders
• Nerang Community Association
• Gold Coast Seagrass Watch
• Marine Action Group
• GC Dive Industry
• Main Beach Progress Association
• Friends of Federation Walk
• Surfers Beachfront Protection Association
• more ...

Demographically, these groups represent huge numbers of the Gold Coast Community across a wide range of ages, socio-economic, political, social, resident, sporting, business, tourism, educational, environmental and local-issue interests and backgrounds.

We thank the Save Our Spit Committee, our members, volunteers, subscribers, community partners, supporters and other community action groups for their continued support, passion, actions, research, donations and assistance over the duration of this long, and so far successful, community campaign against the potential sale, lease and give-away for private use and commercial constructions of the last remaining public parks, waterways, beaches and open space on the Gold Coast Spit, Broadwater and Wavebreak Island.

As the Save Our Spit Alliance celebrates its 11th year, we also approach the figure of 10,000 supporters on our Facebook page (Which we'd love for you to SHARE by CLICKING HERE) and as email subscribers to our campaign, plus many more offline members, supporters and sympathisers. The State Government, Mayor Tate (and the Tate-8 Councillors), GCCC Officers and political 'rumour mongers' have been put on notice – at the risk of losing their political futures and professional credibility, they ignore Save Our Spit Alliance, Community Groups (mentioned above) and the vast majority of the Gold Coast Community who oppose the City Of Gold Coast/ASF/State Government Broadwater Marine Project and Integrated Resort (casino) Development 'projects' on the Gold Coast Spit, Broadwater and Wavebreak Island.

Dr Steven Gration
SOSA President on behalf of Committee, Members and Supporters
July 2014

---

CALL TO ARMS!!! Get on to your local member and councillor today and let them know your views on the topic - more importantly let them know how it might effect your vote at the 2015 state and 2016 local elections! This is vital and only with ALL of your voices will we make sure that the government listens! Details below.

STATE GOVERNMENT MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT AND MINISTERS

See all ministers here - http://cabinet.qld.gov.au/ministers.aspx

Hon Campbell Newman - Premier Of Queensland
www.facebook.com/campbell.newman
thepremier@premiers.qld.gov.au
07 3224 4500
PO Box 15185
CITY EAST QLD 4002

Hon Jeffery (Jeff) Seeney - Deputy Premier Of Queensland
www.facebook.com/JeffSeeneyMP
DeputyPremier@ministerial.qld.gov.au
07 3224 4600
PO Box 15009
CITY EAST QLD 4002

Hon John Paul Langbroek - Member for Surfers Paradise
www.facebook.com/JohnPaulLangbroekMP
Surfers.Paradise@parliament.qld.gov.au
07 5538 9833
Suite 1, Level 1, Building 1
Capri on Via Roma
ISLE OF CAPRI QLD 4217
PO Box 80
ISLE OF CAPRI 4217

Hon Rob Molhoek - Member for Southport
www.facebook.com/RobMolhoekMP
Southport@parliament.qld.gov.au
07 5532 5068
Shop 2, 24 Musgrave Avenue
CHIRN PARK QLD 4215
PO Box 903
SOUTHPORT QLD 4215

Miss Verity Barton - Member for Broadwater
www.facebook.com/VerityBartonMP
Broadwater@parliament.qld.gov.au
07 5563 9010
102 Imperial Parade (Cnr Government Rd and Imperial Pde)
LABRADOR QLD 4215
PO Box 644
LABRADOR QLD 4215

Ms Rosslyn (Ros) Bates - Member for Mudgeeraba
www.facebook.com/ros.bates
Mudgeeraba@parliament.qld.gov.au
07 5569 0482
Mudgeeraba Professional Centre
Swan Lane
MUDGEERABA QLD 4213
PO Box 897
MUDGEERABA QLD 4213

Hon Janet (Jann) Stuckey - Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games - Member for Currumbin
www.facebook.com/jann.stuckey
Currumbin@parliament.qld.gov.au
07 5598 1387
Suite 1, Samuel Plaza
1045 Gold Coast Highway
PALM BEACH QLD 4221
PO Box 751
CURRUMBIN QLD 4223

Mr Raymond (Ray) Stevens - Member for Mermaid Beach
Mermaid.Beach@parliament.qld.gov.au
07 5592 0071
Shops 44 and 45, Level 1, Niecon Plaza
17 Victoria Avenue
BROADBEACH QLD 4218

Mr Michael Hart - Member of State Development, Infrastructure and Industry Committee - Member for Burleigh
www.facebook.com/michaeljhartmp
Burleigh@parliament.qld.gov.au
07 5526 6024
1 Paradise Avenue
MIAMI QLD 4220
PO Box 2093
BURLEIGH BC QLD 4220

Mr Michael Crandon - Chair of Ethics Committee, Member of Parliamentary Crime and Misconduct Committee - Member for Coomera
www.facebook.com/michael.crandon.7
Coomera@parliament.qld.gov.au
07 5514 0483
Shop 20, Hope Island Central
340 Hope Island Road
HOPE ISLAND QLD 4212
PO Box 80
OXENFORD 4210

GOLD COAST CITY COUNCILLORS

Contact details for all councillors here - www.goldcoast.qld.gov.au/council/mayor-councillor-profiles-429.html

Councillor Facebook Pages

Mayor Tom Tate - www.facebook.com/MayorTomTate
Deputy Mayor Donna Gates www.facebook.com/CrDonnaGatesDivision1
Cr Glenn Tozer www.facebook.com/pages/Glenn-TOZER-for-Mudgeeraba-Hinterland-Division-9/300557823309319
Cr William Owen-Jones www.facebook.com/WilliamOwenJonesDivision2GoldCoast
Cr Cameron Caldwell www.facebook.com/pages/Cr-Cameron-Caldwell-Division-3-Gold-Coast/528169690561801
Cr Greg Betts www.facebook.com/pages/Division-12-news-Councillor-Greg-Betts/268371713199582
Tracey Gilmore www.facebook.com/traceygilmoredivision5
Chris Robbins www.facebook.com/councillorchrisrobbins

Or you can cut and paste all the emails here (but we think a phone call or personal visit is ten-fold more effective)

advanced search tips

Other Articles

Nov 22, 2024 Hidden Beach Bar Report exposed »
Jun 17, 2024 Beach Bars - Community Reponse Required »
Jan 22, 2024 The 'forces of darkness' still active »
Jul 27, 2023 Australian Bush Medicine »
Mar 10, 2023 Council & State Attempt to Trash Spit Master Plan »
Dec 24, 2022 Drawing a Line in the Sand (Dunes) »
Mar 21, 2022 Australia's Best Beaches »
Nov 16, 2021 Foreign company given our beach for free »
Oct 14, 2021 Beach Bar Trial - All Splash No Substance »
May 6, 2021 Dunes - Nature's way of defending the coast »
Jun 26, 2020 AGM 2020 »
Jun 3, 2020 Tourism Gold Coast - part 3 »
Jan 14, 2020 Tourism Gold Coast - part 1 »
Jan 13, 2020 Tourism Gold Coast - part 2 »
Dec 16, 2019 AIR POLLUTION - Beyond the Haze »
Dec 4, 2019 Casino Report - Bias, Omission and Error »
Sep 4, 2019 THE DOG who finally caught the car! »
Mar 14, 2019 SOS analysis of draft Spit Master Plan »
Feb 22, 2019 CHINATOWN »
Sep 25, 2018 A Critical Analysis of the Second Casino Licence »
Aug 13, 2018 CST Attempt #15 Tugun Farce »
Aug 11, 2018 New 'Research Queen' to head Destination GC »
May 30, 2018 Regional Excellence Award - Winners »
May 14, 2018 Gold Coast Cruise Ship Terminal »
Apr 24, 2018 The Games are Over »
Jan 27, 2018 Spit Master Plan process has begun »
Dec 18, 2017 Spit Upgrades Launch »
Nov 24, 2017 Developer Donations Buying Favours and Influence »
Nov 22, 2017 Why we cannot trust them with Our Spit »
Nov 14, 2017 Supporting those who support us »
Oct 27, 2017 Bill for CST investigations could reach $12.5m »
Oct 7, 2017 In any other State but Queensland »
Sep 15, 2017 ABC 4 Corners probe GCCC re donations »
Aug 1, 2017 You Won - Spit Casino Cancelled »
Jul 31, 2017 SOSA AGM Monday 7th Aug »
Jul 5, 2017 Feasibility Study Costs »
Jun 6, 2017 Election promises? Not worth a cent! »
May 9, 2017 Silent Minority Exposed »
Apr 27, 2017 Collective Amnesia at CCC Hearing »
Apr 6, 2017 Light Rail loop-hole »
Mar 22, 2017 Consultation Sunday 26th 10:30 am »
Mar 10, 2017 Australian: ASF Financial Viability Woes »
Mar 8, 2017 Big Public Info Night Thurs 9th 6pm »
Feb 26, 2017 Has Lynham done secret deals with Tate? »
Feb 11, 2017 So again nothing new here Tom »
Feb 9, 2017 Survey Does Not Stack Up »
Feb 8, 2017 Warning new group compromised »
Jan 25, 2017 Napkin sketches and a dot point list »
Jan 19, 2017 Have you been consulted? »
Dec 20, 2016 Appealing Attractions - Casino ranked last »
Nov 26, 2016 Four Levels of Corruption »
Oct 8, 2016 A Murky Week in Gold Coast Politics »
Sep 6, 2016 Sunday Mail Casino Debacle »
Aug 27, 2016 Sunland Absurdity »
Aug 19, 2016 AGM Monday 22 6PM »
Jul 29, 2016 The State of Play »
Mar 17, 2016 Change is in the Air »
Feb 4, 2016 Rally in the Park Chevron Is Sunday »
Jan 31, 2016 The Elected Obfuscators Bluff »
Dec 20, 2015 A Christmas Message »
Nov 2, 2015 Peter Garrett re Cruise Ships »
Oct 15, 2015 Last chance to lodge your objection »
Oct 2, 2015 Back to the 1980s »
Sep 5, 2015 Broadwater and Spit Masterplan »
Aug 29, 2015 How to Report Potential Official Misconduct »
Jul 13, 2015 XCAT Farce Paradise Lost and more »
Jun 11, 2015 GCCC under review »
Jun 6, 2015 Another Radical Private Development »
Jun 1, 2015 My fun is more important than yours »
Apr 29, 2015 Economic Fear Campaign »
Mar 26, 2015 Reflections on the Water »
Feb 16, 2015 Project Terminal »
Feb 2, 2015 Election Result Sinks Gold Coast Terminal »
Jan 16, 2015 Tell the Truth - Public Meeting »
Dec 25, 2014 And so this is Christmas »
Dec 24, 2014 Seeney not winning friends on Coast »
Dec 19, 2014 The Numbers don't Lie »
Nov 21, 2014 Save our Spit Photographic and Art Show »
Nov 15, 2014 Senate Inquiry »
Nov 3, 2014 Grand Theft Wavebreak public rally »
Oct 23, 2014 Cronyism Exposed Again »
Oct 6, 2014 Greywater »
Sep 20, 2014 Expert Against Coast CST »
Sep 4, 2014 3 Events to attend »
Aug 30, 2014 Deputy Premiers Announcement »
Aug 23, 2014 The Hidden VDM report »
Jun 6, 2014 A call to action »
May 3, 2014 Move over Julia »
Apr 30, 2014 Just suck it up and say NO! »
Apr 25, 2014 That is not consultation »
Apr 8, 2014 Full Page Newspaper Propaganda Ads Begin »
Apr 5, 2014 Report revealed »
Apr 1, 2014 April Fools Day with flawed survey »
Mar 24, 2014 Questions our GC Councillors must ask ASF »
Mar 14, 2014 Hey small spender »
Feb 24, 2014 Surf threatened by CST »
Feb 19, 2014 Tate considers quitting »
Feb 14, 2014 Live blog with Mayor Tom Tate »
Feb 14, 2014 Gration for Mayor 2016 »
Feb 5, 2014 Currumbin under threat from dredging »
Jan 28, 2014 What is a SLAPP Suit? »
Jan 15, 2014 It's a whole of city issue »
Jan 1, 2014 Cowards Lies and China Syndrome »
Dec 30, 2013 North Kirra Cruise Ship Terminal »
Dec 30, 2013 Mick Fanning speaks out on Kirra CST »
Dec 14, 2013 Councillors unaware of Brisbane CST »
Nov 29, 2013 Grand Theft Land »
Nov 16, 2013 The Hidden Urbis Report »
Oct 24, 2013 2013 Gold Coast Media Awards »
Oct 21, 2013 State vs State vs Mate »
Oct 19, 2013 What actually happened at the vote »
Oct 18, 2013 Dear Councillor »
Sep 12, 2013 Ship visits raise concern »
Sep 6, 2013 Vote 1 Save Our Spit »
Aug 24, 2013 Mayor Plays the victim »
Aug 24, 2013 Cruise Industry Forum Cancelled »
Aug 14, 2013 Secret Study values Broadwater at $4.1 b »
Aug 10, 2013 AGM 2012-13 Sep 10 7pm »
Aug 10, 2013 CST Bidder pulls out »
Jun 23, 2013 Cruise Ship Terminal in doubt »
Jun 6, 2013 Q and A info Night »
May 29, 2013 Joel cans Terminal idea »
May 22, 2013 AECgroup Business Case Analysis »
Apr 22, 2013 CMC probe into Oceanway »
Apr 14, 2013 Secret letters and meetings »
Apr 8, 2013 CMC under LNP attack »
Apr 4, 2013 Golden myopia »
Mar 16, 2013 Green Sea Turtle May have paid Price »
Mar 9, 2013 Golden Opportunity Missed »
Mar 6, 2013 Controlled Messaging Fails »
Mar 4, 2013 Open for Business »
Mar 2, 2013 Gambling with our coastline »
Feb 17, 2013 Gold Coast Waterways Authority Appointees »
Feb 9, 2013 Expressions of Interest Broadwater Marine Project »
Feb 2, 2013 Analysis of the navigational report 2012 »
Jan 26, 2013 Survey Called into Question »
Jan 19, 2013 Light Rail court battle with Council »
Dec 18, 2012 Bob Katter makes it a Federal issue »
Dec 18, 2012 Self-interest rather than vision »
Dec 13, 2012 A history lesson »
Dec 13, 2012 Land grab confirmed by report »
Dec 12, 2012 Community Information Session 10AM Thurs 13th »
Dec 6, 2012 Selling off our public land and water! »
Dec 5, 2012 Shoals vital to quality waves at Strad »
Dec 3, 2012 A bad week and month for LNP »
Nov 29, 2012 The unethical removal of Dr Alex Douglas »
Nov 25, 2012 No one voted for this »
Nov 13, 2012 Annastacia stands up for the community »
Nov 10, 2012 Father Son »
Nov 10, 2012 The Younger Generation Get It »
Nov 6, 2012 Rally gets Australia wide attention »
Nov 3, 2012 RIP Angus »
Oct 27, 2012 Ignored Tax and Rate payer »
Oct 27, 2012 Broadwater water quality degrading »
Oct 27, 2012 In Union there is strength »
Oct 20, 2012 Leadership not spin »
Oct 16, 2012 Comparing apples with apples »
Oct 12, 2012 Not the Panacea of Gold Coast Economic Woes »
Oct 8, 2012 Divide and Conquer - Trade Off »
Oct 5, 2012 Dawny lets us down »
Oct 3, 2012 Joel Parkinson - thanks »
Oct 2, 2012 Thanks for the support Occy »
Oct 1, 2012 Free Like Me »
Oct 1, 2012 Gold Coast Bulletin backs the people »
Sep 23, 2012 Sembawang disappears into a puff of logic »
Sep 21, 2012 Thanks for the support Kelly »
Sep 19, 2012 Mick Fanning is a legend »
Sep 11, 2012 Ship Terminal Sembawang Wave Break Survey »
Sep 3, 2012 No support for Sembawang Proposal »
Sep 3, 2012 A letter to the Premier »
Aug 28, 2012 Russ Hinze changed his mind 1980 »
Aug 22, 2012 Facebook saving our spit »
Aug 21, 2012 Is the Spit Man Made? »
Aug 14, 2012 The qu is NOT where but WHY? »
Aug 2, 2012 Lose Kirra or Straddie »
Jul 27, 2012 Hello SGC Business Leaders »
Jul 23, 2012 Cruise Ship Terminal - White Elephant »
Jul 17, 2012 Dear Mr Tate »
Jul 9, 2012 City Backs Terminal - NOT »
Jun 22, 2012 Join Us »
Jun 22, 2012 Public Open Space »
Jun 12, 2012 AGM 2011-12 Thurs 21 June 7 pm »
Jun 8, 2012 Dear Mayor and Councillors »
May 31, 2012 A Casino spitting ships »
Apr 26, 2012 Not printed in the local paper »
Mar 3, 2012 Kelly Slater video helps SOSA »
Feb 22, 2012 Broadwater Community Reference Group »
Jan 16, 2012 Cruise Mishap a reminder to us »
Sep 29, 2011 Broadwater Management Plan »
Jun 11, 2011 AGM 2011 Wed 13th »
Oct 22, 2010 Cruise Ship Tourists may not spend »
Aug 31, 2010 Another Broadwater plan »
Jul 20, 2010 Gold Coast Bulletin Frenzy »
Jul 14, 2010 A supporters spit »
Apr 29, 2010 AGM 2010 Tues 18 th May »
Nov 26, 2009 Rich dumping filth in our Broadwater »
Sep 14, 2009 ITU World Triathlon great for Gold Coast »
Sep 1, 2009 letter - Dead section of the Spit »
May 25, 2009 President has a SPIT »
May 13, 2009 AGM 2009 Wed May 27th 6-8 pm »
Apr 24, 2009 Medico supports SOSA »
Apr 1, 2009 Tides of Change - Have your say »
Mar 17, 2009 Navigational Study No Secret »
Feb 25, 2009 News Beatups »
Jan 11, 2009 Safely sharing the seaway »
Oct 24, 2008 Catalyst - invasive species by boat »
Oct 4, 2008 Save Our Spit Stickers Available »
Sep 22, 2008 Government Architect Mr Philip Follent »
Sep 10, 2008 Straddie saved from Receding Hairline »
Sep 4, 2008 Terminal Politicians »
Jul 4, 2008 Terminal terminated so Move On »
May 28, 2008 The Good, The Bad & the Ugly »
May 14, 2008 Oceanway Pathway debacle »
May 14, 2008 GCCC Bulldozes Spit Dunes »
Apr 19, 2008 Celebrate a few victories »
Mar 16, 2008 Domestic visitors spend $3 b on Gold Coast »
Mar 11, 2008 Council Election 2008 »
Jan 8, 2008 Christmas Greeting 2007 »
Jan 2, 2008 Letter to John Mickell MP »
Nov 21, 2007 Friends of Federation Walk new website »
Sep 26, 2007 Paul Lucas pushing Marine Simulator »
Aug 6, 2007 Developers on notice re Local Area Plan »
Aug 4, 2007 Protection for the Gold Coast Spit at last! »
Aug 4, 2007 Premier Beattie Saves Our Spit »
Jul 18, 2007 Spit Training Centre Threat »
May 18, 2007 Lessons from Los Angeles »
Apr 25, 2007 Another Storm for the Spit »
Apr 16, 2007 State Government Threatens Spit… Again »
Apr 13, 2007 Gold Medal Winner and the Spit »
Mar 27, 2007 Sean's letter »
Feb 23, 2007 Sea World Ferris Wheel Fiasco »
Jan 29, 2007 Reignited Protests »
Jan 19, 2007 Financial Review Article - Millionnaire Greenies »
Nov 17, 2006 Beach Spirit Award Winners - The Spit »
Nov 14, 2006 Cruise liner dumps oil in Paradise »
Nov 11, 2006 Developer 'Vision' Not 20:20, say Spitfighters »
Nov 9, 2006 Government plans for future Spit vision: Bligh »
Oct 13, 2006 What a difference 48 hours makes »
Sep 10, 2006 Government Speak »
Sep 10, 2006 Boating Industry views »
Aug 28, 2006 Super Yachts OK- in the Right Place »
Aug 11, 2006 The SpitFight Goes To Canberra »
Aug 5, 2006 Gold Coast Bully - Taken to Task »
Jul 14, 2006 Natural tourism drawcard threatened - Alan Midwood »
Jun 25, 2006 Greatest City Dive at Risk »
Jun 22, 2006 Whales Spotted in Proposed Terminal Site »
Jun 13, 2006 Our letters sent to Peter Beattie via Peter Lawlor »
Jun 11, 2006 Peta-Kaye Croft ignores her constituents on SOS »
Jun 1, 2006 Letter to Gold Coast Bulletin - I am not a Green »
May 31, 2006 A letter to Anna Bligh from Gecko »
May 31, 2006 Spitfighters Fight Back - Life Weekly article »
May 27, 2006 Sailing into murky waters »
May 20, 2006 Life Weekly Magazine article »
May 10, 2006 Gold Coast City Marina - Exposed »
May 3, 2006 Athletes fight to Save their training ground »
Apr 22, 2006 Notional Shipping Terminal Confirms Public Losses »
Apr 21, 2006 Save Our Spit- from Strength to Strength »
Apr 21, 2006 Overseas Cruise Ship Campaigners »
Apr 2, 2006 Gaven - Ominous warning to the Beattie Government »
Mar 30, 2006 What the Gaven by-Election Candidates said »
Mar 23, 2006 Gaven by-Election Media Release »
Mar 19, 2006 Peter Beattie meets SOSA at Robina »
Mar 12, 2006 An historical journey »
Mar 5, 2006 Surf cola »
Mar 5, 2006 Storm surf breaks across Seaway »
Feb 21, 2006 Labor 'greed' on tunnel fiasco - sounds familiar »
Feb 19, 2006 Surf Rage »
Feb 17, 2006 Surfrider - media release »
Feb 13, 2006 Gold Coast - too good for a shipping terminal »
Feb 13, 2006 Peter Beattie and co's dancing figures »
Feb 8, 2006 Master Mariner questions sanity of proposal »
Feb 5, 2006 Surfers promise to wipe out Labor »
Feb 5, 2006 Councillor Susie Douglas's inspiring rally speech »
Feb 3, 2006 Letters to the 'Bully' »
Jan 25, 2006 Surfrider says »
Jan 24, 2006 Pro Terminal threaten to attend rally »
Jan 12, 2006 Public Rally Feb 5th 12 noon »
Jan 11, 2006 Anna Bligh confirms it's not a done deal »
Jan 9, 2006 Who Murdered Mundaka - is Straddie next? »
Dec 21, 2005 MP's Ciobo and Langbroek not happy »
Dec 16, 2005 Ms Levy's band of do-gooders »
Nov 28, 2005 A new Picture - future Spit »
Nov 23, 2005 Anna Bligh and misinformation »
Nov 11, 2005 Bulletin gone quiet »
Nov 5, 2005 Surfrider Foundation's support »
Nov 5, 2005 US Forces get the nod »
Nov 1, 2005 The Global War on Tourism »
Oct 25, 2005 Are Cruise Ships getting too big? »
Oct 14, 2005 Meeting Tuesday 18th October SOS »
Oct 13, 2005 Brad Farmers Message - Letter to the editor »
Oct 11, 2005 A very personal attachment to the Spit »
Oct 10, 2005 Map - SOS opposition to Government Plans »
Oct 7, 2005 Increased Cancer Risk From LA Port Complex Fumes »
Oct 6, 2005 From Strength to Strength in our campaign »
Sep 28, 2005 Venice Sinking under cruise ships »
Sep 21, 2005 Thats not reality but this is »
Sep 18, 2005 EIS rubber stamp? »
Sep 5, 2005 Letter to Bulletin »
Aug 29, 2005 Excerpts: »
Aug 28, 2005 Plans for lakes of effluent on Straddie !!! »
Aug 23, 2005 Not Exactly The Love Boat - New Book »
Aug 3, 2005 Premier sinking Gold Coast dive industry »
Aug 2, 2005 Thumbs up for Councillor Susie Douglas »
Aug 1, 2005 World Class Waves at Risk »
Jul 18, 2005 New Stickers Available »
Jul 18, 2005 Save our spit campaign highlights »
Jul 18, 2005 People and Parks Day Sunday 31st July »
Apr 20, 2005 Trinity Lutheran College Cruise Ship Debate »