The Gold Coast City Council is considering whether to designate a proposed cruise ship terminal as a home or transit port.
A recent heavily redacted feasibility report found that a transit terminal would only make 60 cents for every $1 spent, compared to a $3 to $4 return as a home port.
Acting Mayor Donna Gates told the Gold Coast Bulletin it was still early in the decision process about the terminal.
“I think the evidence was there a home port would have a better return but that decision hasn’t been made yet,” she said.
“I was surprised the home port was the best option.”
In this week’s budget the council put aside $2.5 million to further explore the future of a cruise ship terminal.
“What excites me about the possibility (of a cruise ship terminal) is that the industry is growing so rapidly,” said Cr. Gates.
The 286 page redacted report was released at the same time Mayor Tom Tate takes a self-funded cruise through the Mediterranean to learn more about the industry.
