Coronavirus Gold Coast: Tom Tate reveals plans to revive economy after COVID-19 crisis ends

In his first in-depth interview since being re-elected, Mayor Tate has laid out a bold post crisis plan – one that includes The Rolling Stones, a cruise ship terminal and fast-tracking key developments.

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate sees fast-tracked light rail and arts centre developments, his pet cruise ship terminal and The Rolling Stones as the tonic to aid economic recovery post coronavirus.

In his first in-depth interview since being re-elected for a third term last month, Cr Tate has laid out a bold post-crisis agenda, which he said would focus on easing the city through the economic devastation.

Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Adam Head

Cr Tate, who previously told the Bulletin when re-elected his first job was to rip up the existing budget, revealed he would push to:

* Bring forward and expand the third stage of the Home of the Arts at the Evandale cultural precinct. It is expected to create a large public plaza and refurbish the existing theatre;

* An economic stimulus package with incentives to begin construction projects, open businesses and develop public-private partnerships;

* Stick with his long-held cruise ship terminal dream, despite the blaze of negative publicity for the sector for its role in spreading coronavirus in Australia particularly Sydney;

* Begin talks with major events promoters to get in early and try to secure the likes of The Rolling Stones, among other big-name rock groups;

The Mayor says he has big plans to turn the economy around after COVID-19 passes. Picture: David Crosling

Cr Tate said his first and greatest priority was steering the city through the crisis and creating jobs to cushion the pandemic’s blow.

“I have had several meetings with the CEO (Dale Dickson) about fast-tracking various projects. We are going to spend the money so we may as well spend it in the near future to create jobs,” he said.

“I want to recalibrate the ability of council in our tendering process to favour local companies, especially on larger projects. There is no point in accelerating these projects if the jobs are just outsourced to people away from the Gold Coast.”

Queen at Metricon Stadium on the Gold Coast. Photograph: Jason O'Brien

The success of February’s Queen Metricon Stadium gig – one of the last major events in Australia before social distancing measures kicked in and devastated small business and tourism – impressed city leaders and event organisers with a sellout and good reviews.

Cr Tate said he wanted to capitalise on the buzz while the entertainment industry was essentially shut and try to book some of the world’s biggest artists.

“I would start booking these major acts now because nobody else is and have the next big one here, subject to health authorities being okay with it.

Ronnie Wood and Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images)

“I’m talking the likes of The Rolling Stones … these world-renowned artists should be contacted and we should be one of the first to get on the list and sign them up now.”

Cr Tate said significant money from council’s budget would go towards stimulating the economy, including his intention to freeze charges and levies in this year’s budget.

“Normally my mantra would be live within our means but this has been trumped by COVID-19 and we have to perhaps borrow so Gold Coasters are getting work and later on we can live within our means again,” he said. “People cannot even pay their rent right now, we should not even contemplate raising levies right now.”

The proposed offshore Gold Coast cruise ship terminal. Photo: Supplied

The country’s $5 billion cruise ship industry has come under fire because of its role during the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than 660 of passengers who were aboard the Ruby Princess diagnosed with coronavirus, killing 17, and allowed to dock at Sydney further spreading the virus.

This sparked calls from the Mayor’s critics to ditch his cruise terminal dream.

But a defiant Cr Tate said he had no interest in shelving it.

“When the time is right council can, with State Government, decide whether appropriate for the project to proceed and this will include an environmental impact study.

“But to not see the game through to fruition would mean we have wasted our time and effort and money. To those wanting to use COVID-19 as an excuse to stop the cruise ship terminal, I say this is shortsighted and the industry will recover.

“It will take us two to three years to get this project shovel ready and nobody knows what the industry will look like.”

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A artist impressions.

Gold Coast North Chamber of Commerce president Martin Brady praised Cr Tate’s commitment to fast-tracking infrastructure: ‘These are projects which will provide jobs during construction as well as long-term once finished and that will be great for the economy.

“New offerings will ensure we are seen positively by the global market once it reopens.”

HOTA is just one of several projects being targeted for fast-tracking to provide an immediate economic boost.

Federal and state government have cited M1 widening and light rail extension to Burleigh as two “shovel ready” projects able to be brought forward.

Work on both are due to begin by Christmas.

State Transport Minister Mark Bailey said hundreds of millions worth of projects were already underway with “much bigger ones to hit the ground running in coming months”.

It could fast-track light rail because late last year with Federal Government it hastened $1.6 billion in funding for shovel-ready projects, he said.

“The light rail and M1 upgrade between Varsity Lakes to Tugun will run for years, supporting about 1600 jobs.

City festival promoter and entrepreneur Billy Cross said the Stones was “feasible”: “That stadium can fit 40,000.

“With the downturn from his virus, once it is all over we will need to be aggressive in getting the city up and running and concerts, festivals and events will be a great start.”