2 hours ago, DaptoFunlandGuy said:

you stand to financially benefit from killing Koalas

*yawn* 

Every single person breathing on this planet has financially benefited from the destruction of natural habitat, and the death of animals/plants/species/ecosystems. 

Anyway, we clearly have differing viewpoints and thats totally fine with me. Unlike what seems like many people on this forum, i actually don't come here to spar with people - i'm here because i enjoy talking about theme parks with other like minded people. Yours or anyone's environmental/political/philosophical ideas and ideals are not relevant to me, nor do i have any interest in debating them or trying to persuade you to change them.

I am glad however that you and @New display name have been able to find commonality on an issue - if I've achieved one thing, it's getting you two on the same page, even if it was in opposition to me, seems we are all winners.

Think it's best i simply stick to posting the published reports regarding this development moving forward and avoid providing any personal thoughts on the matter.

 

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Environmental groups have slammed the state government's decision to fast-track Dreamworld's expansion, warning it threatens the Gold Coast's most significant koala population.

The state government is being accused of sacrificing the Gold Coast’s most significant koala population for development, by removing green tape to fast track the Dreamworld project.

Environmental campaigners GECKO and a Coomera group along with the Queensland Conversation Council are calling for the project to have an independent federal assessment.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, on Tuesday, after a previous request by the Gold Coast City Council, announced he would use rare powers to “call in” the project.

He said the decision “highlighted the significance of the proposal for Queensland’s long-term housing and tourism priorities”.

However, in his earlier call-in notice to council, he admitted there were significant environmental matters with Dreamworld planning to remove 42,285sq m of koala habitat.

Queensland Conservation Council director Dave Copeman said the decision ignores a Koala Conservation Strategy and undermines years of community advocacy for stronger habitat.

“This call-in silences the community and fast-tracks a highly controversial private development that should be subject to independent and transparent scrutiny,” he said.

“Queenslanders expect the planning system to protect nature and uphold due process, not to be overridden for commercial convenience.”

The environmental groups want the development application to be referred for federal assessment under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation (EPBC) Act.

They asked the government to release all documentation underpinning the call-in decision.

Coomera Conservation Group’s Karina Waterman said the usual environmental assessment process which allowed for scrutiny, transparency, and public input has been bypassed.

“By taking this path, the project can now avoid full environmental oversight, and with rights to object or appeal removed, our community has effectively been silenced,” she said.

“Most concerning is that this project would clear known koala habitat, in an area where our remaining wild koalas are already fighting to survive.

“Northern Gold Coast koalas are now confined to shrinking patches of bushland, boxed in by roads, fences, and housing estates. Every corridor that connects them matters.

“Our community has worked tirelessly for years to protect local koalas and green corridors. We will continue to speak up — because our koalas cannot.”

GECKO environment council’s campaign co-ordinator Sara Hicks warned that clearing would fast track extinction for Coomera koalas.

“With the cumulative local impacts, clearing habitat on this site – ironically to expand a commercial tourism operation — would be catastrophic for local koalas,” she said.

“This call-in ‘fast track’ bypasses due process and negates the government’s own regulations intended to protect threatened species.”

In its development application to council, before the call-in, Dreamworld included a koala management plan which includes having spotters on site.

An ecological report prepared by the theme park’s town planners showed there were 68 records of koalas living within two kilometres of the Coomera property.

Assessment of 39 trees at the site found nine had scratching on their canopies along with evidence on the ground of koala scats.

“A result of the proposed development is the threat of potential impact and risk to koala that may arise or be temporarily intensified,” an ecological report said.

“The applicant is highly committed to ensuring these potential threats and risks have minimal impacts on any koala individuals that may be present within the subject site.”

About 2724 trees could be removed, resulting in the loss of 37,572 sqm of mapped koala habitat

However the Gold Coast’s business community has welcomed the project.

Gold Coast North Chamber of Commerce Josephine Kadel said it would be transformative for the fast-growing region.

“We welcome progress on the Dreamworld Masterplan and supports a collaborative approach between state and local government to align infrastructure and road upgrades with future growth,” she said.

“Co-ordinated planning of this kind ensures new investment translates into lasting benefits — creating jobs, supporting businesses, and strengthening the economic resilience of the northern Gold Coast.”

https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/gold-coast/northern/dreamworld-future-of-gold-coast-theme-parks-expansion-plans/news-story/54db918c8f73b02f63d0cc2c7b165c0b

Edited October 29, 20251 yr by Brad2912

18 minutes ago, Brad2912 said:

I am glad however that you and @New display name have been able to find commonality on an issue - if I've achieved one thing, it's getting you two on the same page, even if it was in opposition to me, seems we are all winners.

Thank you.

@DaptoFunlandGuyand I are best friends now and tomorrow we are going on our first date.  All these years of fighting and it turned out @DaptoFunlandGuyhad a secret crush on me.

Edited October 29, 20251 yr by New display name

Who said it was secret?

I wish I could get back all the brain cells I lost reading this utterly pointless back and forth but alas, no. 'Tis the folly of this purgatory-like website...

Thanks for your input also.

I don't really have time to dig through the proposal, but is CEH wanting to develop the land themselves or sell the land for development?  I know they're just requesting re-zoning and this isn't a solid development plan.

If it's the former, I would hope they've considered things like future expansion of the park (even just the wildlife park) or a potential second-gate, given there is likely to be a boost in tourism around the Olympics (possibly sustained if it's as successful as Sydney). This is definitely a 10-15 year outlook, but presumably the park will still be around then.

If it's the latter, I would be concerned that will crimp the long-term value of the park if they ever want to sell to a bigger player that would want to consider expansion.  They're deliberately land-locking themselves further beyond the previous land sale.

I also am not sure that a 'down-town' precinct is really going to be that popular given Westfield exists across the road.  Also, any residential properties are just going to create noise complaints, so you just end up with a gimped entertainment precinct, and crappy residential areas that are noisy and have crap parking.

It's just my opinion but I think that CEH are doing good things at the moment and should be preserving land or developing land in line with their core tourism/entertainment business and I'm not sure if this rezoning plan really does that.

Thought I would visit resurrect this thread as we are getting closer to final approval, the latest information in regards to the approval process as following.

In regards to the new 30 ha multipurpose land development project, the Queensland government has given coast entertainment holdings the owner of the DW and WWW theme parks until 21 February 2026, to respond to 7 simpleton issues in total.

Those seven issues raised by the Queensland government as part of the call in process requires the company to provide actions in relation to each of those issues raised.

Without going into too much details in regards to stages of reviews leading to final government approval, it looks like likely that March/April 2026 maybe the period in which the government announces approval of the land development.

Once land development has been approved, assumed to be no later than April 2026. Coast entertainment holdings will shortly thereafter, release information through the Australian stock exchange relating to joint venture and financial arrangements and agreements.

Once Coast entertainment releases that information, construction can happen shortly thereafter. The total completion of the project is scheduled for 2030 shortly prior to the Queensland Olympic Games

16 hours ago, Gold Coast Theme Park said:

Thought I would visit resurrect this thread as we are getting closer to final approval, the latest information in regards to the approval process as following.

In regards to the new 30 ha multipurpose land development project, the Queensland government has given coast entertainment holdings the owner of the DW and WWW theme parks until 21 February 2026, to respond to 7 simpleton issues in total.

Those seven issues raised by the Queensland government as part of the call in process requires the company to provide actions in relation to each of those issues raised.

Without going into too much details in regards to stages of reviews leading to final government approval, it looks like likely that March/April 2026 maybe the period in which the government announces approval of the land development.

Once land development has been approved, assumed to be no later than April 2026. Coast entertainment holdings will shortly thereafter, release information through the Australian stock exchange relating to joint venture and financial arrangements and agreements.

Once Coast entertainment releases that information, construction can happen shortly thereafter. The total completion of the project is scheduled for 2030 shortly prior to the Queensland Olympic Games

You got a link?

@Bailz I no longer need this, so you’re welcome to have it.

A decision is set to be made by Council in May

The Qld Government has now granted final approval for the development. Coast Entertainment is now undertaking a land valuation to assess the impact the approval has had on the property's value.

It’s funny watching everyone jump straight to “what are they building?” while Coast Entertainment’s first move is much less exciting and are seeing how much this approval has boosted the balance sheet, my belief is, they will answer the big question: “How much can we sell, sell, sell this land for?”

Maybe, or maybe a re-valuation of their assets increases their borrowing capacity.

r/brisbane is loosing it over this https://www.reddit.com/r/brisbane/comments/1v1x17l/bleijie_approves_removal_of_105_acres_of_koala/.

Some points are quite valid and concerning, as well as straight up attacking the park

However this is the first I'm hearing of 'Dreamworld allowed to spend $2.7million of tax payers money that was meant for koala research to instead build a roller coaster'. Once again quite concerning when part of their business is animal and wildlife conservation.

Getting some mixed messages here

12 hours ago, TV15 said:

However this is the first I'm hearing of 'Dreamworld allowed to spend $2.7million of tax payers money that was meant for koala research to instead build a roller coaster'. Once again quite concerning when part of their business is animal and wildlife conservation.

It was quite the discussion on Parkz back in 2022. Essentially, Dreamworld under its prior leadership had obtained a grant which was provided by government on the basis that dreamworld was intending to build a koala research centre \ advanced eco-science facility - It was called Future Lab when it was announced in 2019.

Then COVID came along and businesses were focussed more on survival than eco tourism. The park pivoted and finally recognised that a koala facility wasn't going to help with their recovery, but a shiny new rollercoaster would. In 2022, while we were still within the late-stages of COVID recovery, the park sought permission from the government to reallocate the grant funds from building Future Lab to assist them in the costs to build Steel Taipan.

The government approved this, so they did.

What the greenies didn't get is DWF does a lot for wildlife education and conservation, and going out of business entirely tends to put an end to that good work.

@TV15 It really comes down to this: unless you live in a cave and leave the smallest possible footprint on the planet, it's hypocritical to demand that DW never develop any of its land because it contains bushland. Every suburb, shopping centre and industrial estate exists because bushland was cleared at some point.

Funny how everyone wants more koala habitat, as long as it's someone else's land. If they're that worried, bulldoze their own house and plant a gum tree.

Some of the same people will also constantly tell you coal is evil and happily fill their homes with cheap stuff made in China, much of it manufactured using Australian coal. Apparently coal is only a problem when it's here.

The outrage is selective, the logic is inconsistent, and the hypocrisy is hard to miss.

Edited July 21Jul 21 by New display name

From CEH AGM presentation. It is AI slop (i really hope whatever they build is integrated tastefully with the entrance) but should give you an idea of where this is going. Construction on the hotel/citywalk expansion is expected to start in 2028, aiming to be finished for the Olympics.

In unrelated notes Dreamworlds attendance this year is the highest its been since 2016

Edited 9 hours ago9 hr by Baconjack

How many times have we heard promises about a hotel being built, only for nothing to eventuate? Even VR hasn't managed to get its hotel off the ground and now seems to be heading in a different direction, turning Sea World Resort into a caravan park. Until Coast has the money and funding in place to actually build something, it's all just dreams and promises. I'd rather see some concrete plans than another announcement about what might happen one day.

'the illustration is a visioning tool, not a final design. The layout, cost and delivery sequence will evolve as we complete the necessary work' - Greg

I can see the vision, seems like this one has a higher chance of something being made of it

Just now, TV15 said:

I can see the vision, seems like this one has a higher chance of something being made of it

Every time Coast has looked for outside investment to get a project off the ground, it seems to have fallen over. If they can't attract outside investment, are Coast prepared to fund it?

And even if they do, will we see the same scenario as WWW, with WWW effectively propping up DW, while DW then has to prop up the hotel? My concern is that this could end up diverting money away from DW, leaving it with even less investment in new attractions and improvements.

I'm not against building hotels, but I'd much rather see the money invested in theme parks. At the end of the day, that's what brings people to the GC in the first place. I'd hate to see DW's investment in new rides and attractions take a back seat just to help prop up a hotel.

2 minutes ago, New display name said:

If they can't attract outside investment, are Coast prepared to fund it?

Their plan for it is outlined here, a few route they can take with operating it and how theyre thinkign of funding it. The AGM presentation does have a lot of the answers your after.

2 minutes ago, New display name said:

My concern is that this could end up diverting money away from DW, leaving it with even less investment in new attractions and improvements.

A concern of mine as well. There is still a lot more work to do inside the park to bring it up to the benchmark standard that they are comparing themselves against in the AGM, but management must seem to think the park is slowly nearing that level. Even them putting lipstick on a pig with the motocoaster situation...

I did read the report, but the AI presentation of their plans does make you question how serious they really are about investing in the project. Why make such a big announcement when it's still only at the baby making stage?

1 hour ago, Baconjack said:

It is AI slop

This term is degrading into being used to describe anything that is generated with AI assistance and is losing all meaning. Slop is usually mass produced content generation for engagement farming rather than things like this, though I know some in the anti-AI camp will label everything as slop without realising it's just normalising the word and robbing the impact from truly useless application of the tools.

1 hour ago, Baconjack said:

I do like how they are trying to integrate the exterior development as a type of 'citywalk' and if they actually build something like this, I think it will invigorate the park as more of a destination.

I am a bit saddened that the grand disney-esque entrance is losing prominence, especially as the approach is not 'front on' so you never truly appreciate the grandeur of the design.

1 hour ago, New display name said:

How many times have we heard promises about a hotel being built, only for nothing to eventuate? Even VR hasn't managed to get its hotel off the ground and now seems to be heading in a different direction, turning Sea World Resort into a caravan park. Until Coast has the money and funding in place to actually build something, it's all just dreams and promises. I'd rather see some concrete plans than another announcement about what might happen one day.

In case you missed it, the guy pushing the development left the company, and the company itself is now embroiled in an embezzlement scandal that is yet to be resolved. Wonderland had hotel development plans too - though it never eventuated due to a mix of planning approval hold ups and eventually the loss of funding with the ownership sale. The thing about these plans and announcements though is to excite people enough to jump on board. People invest in things they think will pay off. If everyone shits on the idea, nobody is going to invest and you're creating a self-fulfilling prophecy.

1 hour ago, New display name said:

Every time Coast has looked for outside investment to get a project off the ground, it seems to have fallen over. If they can't attract outside investment, are Coast prepared to fund it?

And even if they do, will we see the same scenario as WWW, with WWW effectively propping up DW, while DW then has to prop up the hotel? My concern is that this could end up diverting money away from DW, leaving it with even less investment in new attractions and improvements.

I'm not against building hotels, but I'd much rather see the money invested in theme parks. At the end of the day, that's what brings people to the GC in the first place. I'd hate to see DW's investment in new rides and attractions take a back seat just to help prop up a hotel.

Parks bringing people to the coast mean they need somewhere to stay. All the parks being on the northern gold coast creates a vacuum between the surfers accommodation bubble and the parks up north requiring shuttles or rental cars to transport the family. Additionally with accommodation so far away from the park, when the park closes, everyone jumps on smith street to head back for dinner.

It's pretty obvious accommodation is needed on the northern gold coast. Paradise country has high occupancy, the Big 4 at Helensvale is routinely packed out, and both major tourism operators have proposed multiple accommodation developments over decades. They all recognise the need for it - they just need the right people, and the right time.

1 hour ago, New display name said:

I did read the report, but the AI presentation of their plans does make you question how serious they really are about investing in the project. Why make such a big announcement when it's still only at the baby making stage?

I'll go with the analogy - you announce you're ready to make the baby so you can let potential sperm donors know you're interested in their services.