Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced Australia's newest, biggest and best Ocean Park is to be built on the Gold Coast.
The state government has released a blueprint to transform The Spit into a showcase and preserve it for future generations.
Almost 140 hectares of The Spit's 201 hectares is set aside for park activities. This will rival the best parks in the world, including New York's Central Park (340 hectares) and Hyde Park London (142 hectares).
"The open space areas on The Spit will be more than eight times the size of Brisbane's South Bank parklands, 12 times the size of the public spaces in Barangaroo, Sydney, and two-and-a-half times the size of Mt Coot-tha's Botanic Gardens," the Premier said.
"And the Gold Coast Ocean Park has something none of them have – the Broadwater and the surf.
"Our plans will make this not just a jewel of the Gold Coast but for the entire state."
The Spit blueprint breathes new life into a well-loved part of the Gold Coast with seven precincts that preserve and enhance the green space north of Sea World.
State Development Minister Cameron Dick said the rejuvenation of The Spit is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
"The Spit master plan has been designed by the community for the community," Mr Dick said.
"The process has brought consensus to an iconic part of the Gold Coast that has seen its share of conflict.
"The draft plan we are releasing today provides a clear pathway to an even brighter future for this much-loved public asset."
The new Ocean Park fulfils an election commitment and is the result of 18 months' consultation with community groups and Gold Coast City Council.
Queenslanders provided more than 21,100 pieces of feedback, paid 17,600 visits to the project website, and over 2500 people attended consultation sessions to have their say on the future of The Spit.
