The Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast could become even bigger if a proposed call-in notice for a development at the site gets the go-ahead.<\/p>\n
Queensland’s Deputy Premier and Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie announced the proposed call-in on Monday, after a “direct request” from Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.<\/p>\n
Dreamworld’s development application was initially lodged with the Gold Coast City Council (GCCC) but its councillors were split on the benefits of the project, which stalled it in the planning phase.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The proposed call-in would take decision-making powers away from the council and put them in the hands of Mr Bleijie.<\/p>\n
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Jarrod Bleijie says there are benefits for the state in Dreamworld’s proposed development. (ABC News: Lucas Hill)<\/p>\n
“It means that, as planning minister, I have taken over the direction of the approval process for this actual development,” Mr Bleijie said.<\/p>\n
“It also means that Dreamworld and the Gold Coast City Council have 20 business days to convince me as to why I should call in this development.”<\/p>\n
Mr Bleijie said while he was yet to make a decision he had already seen “many state interests at the heart of the development” and described it as an “exciting opportunity”.<\/p>\n
Hotel and housing<\/p>\n
Dreamworld chief executive Greg Yong said the first priority of the development application was a “world-class family hotel” adjacent to the existing theme park.<\/p>\n
“Theme park hotels are just a tremendous investment, they do very, very well,” Mr Yong said.<\/p>\n
“We’ve got Dreamworld here but [there are] other theme parks right around the local area as well that will drive that [hotel].<\/p>\n
“There’s very little hotel accommodation between the northern Gold Coast and Brisbane and \u2026 we’ve got the Olympics coming and a 30,000-room shortfall in hotel accommodation.”<\/p>\n
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Greg Yong says Dreamword’s first priority is a family hotel. (ABC Gold Coast: Jennifer Huxley)<\/p>\n
Mr Yong said developing eco-tourism and nature-based tourism spaces into the expanded Dreamworld site was the organisation’s next priority, followed by a residential housing development.<\/p>\n
“We see some really significant opportunities with the residential crisis that is going on here in south-east Queensland and to help in \u2026 fixing it,” he said.<\/p>\n
Mr Yong could not give exact details on how many homes would be built as part of the proposed development, but said Dreamworld’s hope was for “hundreds, if not over 1,000.”<\/p>\n
“What we’re very mindful of is that [the proposed housing development] is very close to heavy rail, so we see very little in terms of impact on the traffic situation,” he said.<\/p>\n
Good news and bad news<\/p>\n