Forget the cableway because the Gold Coast must first fix crime and traffic gridlock

All the post-poll focus is on tourism and a high-flying cableway. But that’s not top the wishlist of the city business lobby. Paul Weston has the inside word

All the post-poll focus is on tourism and a high flying cableway. What is the talk on the ground? Have we all forgotten our business leaders want affordable housing and less crime?

In the lead-up to last month’s State election, the Central Chamber of Commerce hosted the only big gathering of candidates.

President Laura Younger’s introductory speech notes, at The Star breakfast, are on my desk.

“So what do we need. We need less red tape. We need reduced business taxes and we need more streamlined approval processes for developments,” she wrote.

Queensland’s Tourism and Environment Minister Andrew Powell had his first meeting, in a coup for the city, with Mayor Tom Tate on Tuesday.

The Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell holds a press conference on the Gold Coast with the Mayor of the Gold Coast Tom Tate. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Powell addressed the issue of reducing bureaucratic blockages. But much of that was about the red tape previously wrapped around the green cableway project to Springbrook.

Ms Younger in her speech did not mention a cableway. She did not refer to a cruise ship terminal either. Her focus was the tourism coalface and its broader challenges.

“We need to see more investment in education and training to address the region’s skills shortages. We need to ensure that our workers, have access to affordable housing that is close to where they work,” she told candidates and MPs.

Her focus is spot on. If you talk to cafe and restaurant owners, many of them are pulling a salary that is marginally less than their chefs.

The best ones care for their staff, their focus not just on profit. They help pay their petrol money because some employees cannot afford to live on the Coast and drive from Logan.

Ms Younger in her speech had a grounded wish list.

Laura Younger. Picture: Portia Large.

The City’s growing population needed more healthcare services. Our schools and universities must be better equipped so the resources are there to “educate the next generation of leaders”.

More support was needed for marketing to boost domestic and international visitors.

“We need to feel safe in our businesses, and we need an increase in law enforcement with a higher police presence to ensure that businesses feel safe in their premises,” Ms Younger said.

So there you have it - crime is not just at the top of the list for residents.

The only big item ask was improved transport links to reduce the Coast’s gridlock.

“The light rail has been a significant step forward and we must continue to expand and enhance the networks across the Coast, but particularly to the border,” Ms Younger said.

Change.org petition by residents who are opposing new plan for a cableway in the Springbrook National Park in the Gold Coast hinterland.

As reported previously, some LNP MPs were absent from the candidate meeting. So Ms Younger’s full speech is worth reporting.

In short, our hospitality workers must have access to affordable accommodation in this city, able to get cheap public transport, improve themselves through educational opportunities and after returning home from work feel their homes are a sanctuary.

A government and an Opposition along with council which ignore this plea have their heads in the clouds, and their future political ride will be more like a rollercoaster than an gondola.

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Originally published as Forget the cableway because the Gold Coast must first fix crime and traffic gridlock