Opinion: Mt Coot-tha zipline is merely a monument to Lord Mayor

We’re told the controversial Mt Coot-tha zipline will bring hordes of international tourists to Brisbane, but there’s another reason City Hall is backing it so vehemently, writes Mike O’Connor.

WHEN it comes to erecting monuments, pyramids have been long-time favourites.

While they have never really caught on in Australia — unless you count the dodgy financial structures used to siphon money from trusting mum-and-dad investors — the concept of a monument is popular.

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In the case of Lord Mayor Graham Quirk, rather than a pyramid as a lasting reminder of his lord mayoralty, it will be his pet Mt Coot-tha Zipline project.

I’ve lived in this city for many a pleasant year and at no time can I recall, over a thousand beers and countless cups of coffee, anyone ever saying, “If only we had a zipline.”

The zipline has inspired fierce protests in the community.

Will the proletariat, gathered around the barbie next weekend clutching cans of XXXX Gold moan: “Great city Brisbane, but how much better it would be if we had a zipline?”

Quirk, however, is determined to have his zipline. It is, according to the council’s website, “a commitment of Lord Mayor Graham Quirk” and aims “to solidify Brisbane’s global reputation as Australia’s New World City”.

This is nonsense. Most of the world’s population has never heard of Brisbane, and we don’t have a global reputation as a New World City.

No one can ever accuse me of knocking the city of my birth, but it irritates me when politicians try and make it out to be something that it is not.

Anyone know what a New World City is? I didn’t think so. It means nothing and says nothing. The River City? Now that’s a description you can hang your marketing hat on.

Greater minds than mine, however, are at work at City Hall, and they have divined that once that zipline is up and running, Brisbane International Airport will be bursting with visitors clutching their bucket lists at the top of which in bold capitals is written “ZIP DOWN MT COOT-THA!”

The zipline project would include treetop canopy tours.

Not surprisingly, there have been those who don’t share Quirk’s airborne vision of backpackers squealing with delight as they whiz through the treetops as being synonymous with putting Brisbane on the global map.

It is worth noting that the public consultation stage for this project lasted a mere 14 days.

If you wanted to have a public consultation process that the public would tend to overlook because it was preoccupied, when would you stage it?

Two weeks before Christmas when people are at the beach, trying to entertain the kids and wondering what to buy their dear old Mum?

Let’s just say it would be a tempting option and that is exactly what the council did. Calls to have the consultation period extended to early this year when most people were back at work were rejected.

What would it have cost the council to give more people an opportunity to voice their opinions? The answer is precisely zero.

It could, however, have led to more pesky ratepayers questioning the wisdom of Supreme Leader Quirk.

Regardless, more than 7000 people signed petitions objecting to the project and more than 3600 submissions opposing it were lodged with the council compared with 400 supporting it.

Artist’s impression of the zipline project at Mt Coot-tha

The fix, however, was in from the start with the council effectively applying to itself to approve its own development plans.

The public consultation process, as it is in the creation of neighbourhood plans throughout this city, was a complete farce.

There will, of course, be enormous benefits flowing to the city from this project. According to the council, the project will provide more than $232 million worth of economic benefits to southeast Queensland over the next 30 years.

Now there’s a nice number. Not $230 million or $235 million, but $232 million. How could you possibly calculate that figure?

You can’t. It’s just another example of that well-used political strategy of thinking of a number, and then doubling it.

But wait, there’s more, with the council telling us that the project will also “promote healthy lifestyle through increased activity levels”.

Artist’s impression of the zipline arrival centre at Mt Coot-tha

Fantastic! Generously proportioned Brisbanites screaming down the zipline and miraculously shedding kilos as they do so.

What a sight that will be!

It is worth noting that the company that will operate the scheme, Zipline Australia, previously tried to build one on the Sunshine Coast, but was forced to abandon the plan in the face of community opposition

None of the councillors on the Sunshine Coast Council were possessed of Quirk’s vision and listened instead to what their ratepayers were saying. Now there’s a unique concept.

It’s an insult to the intelligence of Brisbane people to suggest that building a zipline will enhance the city’s standing in the world. Let’s put a rollercoaster on Mt Coot-tha and a ferris wheel to make certain that the world really does take note.

People will be drawn here by our subtropical ambience, the friendliness of our people, our affinity with the river, our entertainment infrastructure, and our beaches and our islands.

The zipline is being built because the Lord Mayor wants it to be built and for no other reason. I suppose it could be worse. It could have been a pyramid.

Email Mike O’Connor