Sembawang: Fanning Support Sought (Australia)

The international businessman behind the proposed $4.9 billion cruise ship and integrated residential, tourism, retail, casino and entertainment project proposed for Wavebreak Island has invited twice world champion surfer Mick Fanning to work with the him to ensure local surf breaks and the environment are protected.

Sembawang of Singapore Global Project Underwriters’ President and CEO Ric Grosvenor says he would be delighted if Fanning, who is currently competing in California, joined the team behind the development in the Broadwater to provide his advice. Sembawang‟s proposed is to build a cruise ship terminal and associated development on reclaimed lands around Wavebreak Island.

This would necessitate dredging of the navigation channels and also the Gold Coast Seaway to enable cruise ships to enter the Broadwater.

Mr Grosvenor, said Sembawang wanted to work with the champion surfer to ensure the world class break at South Stradbroke is preserved by any development around Wavebreak Island or dredging of the seaway. “I have got the highest respect for Mick Fanning and I would say to him, „I am no clubby‟,” said Mr Grosvenor. “We don‟t want to remove any attractions from the Gold Coast, we want to see as many as possible and we will be working to ensure we preserve South Stradbroke by doing modelling of our own.”

Gary Lucas, from OVE Arup Engineers, who was the chief engineer on construction of the Gold Coast Seaway, Wavebreak Island and the sand-bypass system more than 20 years ago, is on board with the Sembawang proposal. Mr Grosvenor says Sembawang, with Lucas in charge, would study the South Stradbroke Island wave, examine what makes it break so perfectly and work to maintain it.

“I would welcome Mick [Fanning] to come down and work with us as we examine why it breaks the way it does and work out how Sembawang can preserve it,” says Grosvenor.

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Press Release, September 20, 2012