Dreamworld’s plans to grow its theme parks and move into nature tourism and housing looks set to be fast-tracked by the Queensland Government.
The state government says it is chasing a call-in notice for a development application from the park operator after they received a direct request from Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.
(A call-in notice would allow the Planning Minister to take control of the approvals process, restart it and bypass lower regulatory processes.)
Planning Minister Jarrod Bleijie is asking Gold Coast Council, Dreamworld and anyone else involved with DA to submit their views within the stipulated 20 business days.
The plans seek to expand the Dreamworld and Water World theme parks with a new nature precinct featuring viewing platforms, eco-tourism cabins and boardwalks, a new hotel and tourism venues and a town centre with homes.
Bleijie says Queensland is open for business under this state government.
“In partnership with the council, the government is reducing red and green tape to fast-track more investment into Queensland’s tourism offering,” he says.
“We are getting on with the job of backing industry and local councils to supercharge job-creating investment.
“This proposed call-in notice will take into consideration the tourism benefits of this development along with the critical road infrastructure required to keep the northern Gold Coast moving.”
DREAMWORLD PLANS WELCOMED
Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell says he welcomes the proposed call-in notice since it will increase tourism investment in the state.
“This proposed investment in new tourism and eco-tourism opportunities builds strongly on our existing strengths,” he says.
MP for Theodore Mark Boothman believes the project can fix traffic congestion on Whitewater Way, “one of the worst congested roads on the Gold Coast”.
MP for Coomera Michael Crandon says he is looking forward to working with Dreamworld and its development application.
Dreamworld CEO Greg Yong thanked Bleijie and the government for “backing their strong rhetoric on Queensland being open for business”.
According to government, the theme park operator has spent more than $180 million in the last four years with more than 1000 jobs.
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