Exclusive: The Gold Coast’s next top bureaucrat is a tourism identity

A senior bureaucrat responsible for driving the push for new global casino resorts and eco-tourist trails is poised to replace Dale Dickson as the next council CEO.

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A SENIOR bureaucrat responsible for driving new global casino resorts and eco-tourist trails is poised to become the next Gold Coast City Council CEO.

The Bulletin can reveal the council is finalising contract negotiations with David Edwards, who worked closely with former Tourism Minister Kate Jones on the global tourism hubs planned for the Gold Coast and Cairns.

He beat Dale Dickson who has been council CEO since 2003. The vote among councillors for the position, determined in a closed session of council on Monday is understood to be 14-1 for Mr Edwards.

An announcement is expected before the end of the week.

David Edwards, the top Queensland tourism bureaucrat who is to be appointed Gold Coast City Council CEO.

Mr Edwards was the standout candidate after an nationwide advertising campaign attracted about 80 applicants.

Several sources outside council and based in George Street have confirmed the offer and indicated minor matters of the contract, worth more than $600,000 a year, were being sorted.

Mr Edwards had served as then Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney’s chief of staff in the Newman government before being promoted to director general of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation.

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Under the Labor Government, he has been the projects chief executive at the Department of Innovation and Tourism Industry Development.

A George Street source, aware Mr Edwards would be leaving the government, acknowledged his role in securing the Cairns global tourism hub (GTH) and more recently ensuring the development of the Queens Wharf casino project in Brisbane.

Dewayne Mundraby, David Edwards and Dale Mundraby at the Future Tourism lunch at the Cairns Convention Centre. Picture: Anna Rogers.

“David ran the special projects unit under tourism, and under state development previously. He is a very shrewd operator,” the Brisbane source said.

“He is very experienced when it comes to running commercial investments like the GTH. He has a lot of experience negotiating with big business, more recently in the tourism sector.”

Mr Edwards had been involved with negotiations of the proposed casino-resort planned for Southport’s Carey Park before being halted by the government, and earlier with Mr Seeney, who pushed unsuccessfully for a casino hotel development as part of a proposed cruise ship terminal at Wavebreak Island in the Broadwater.

Gold Coast City Council CEO Dale Dickson. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

But his recent focus, apart from the mega-casino development being completed on the Brisbane River, has been eco-tourism.

“He’s been involved with the far north Wangetti Trail (in Cairns),” the Brisbane source said.

The source added that Mr Edwards, apart from building commercial relationships, had strong political connections, being the son of Joh Bjelke-Petersen-era deputy premier and Liberal leader Sir Llew Edwards, the executive chair responsible for the success of Expo 88.

Sources suggest it is likely Mr Dickson, whose current contract is due to expire in September, may leave earlier as the council’s bureaucracy heads for monumental changes as several older bureaucrats consider their future.

Mayor Tom Tate at Evandale, being sworn in by CEO Dale Dickson. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

The reaction to Mr Dickson’s departure has been mixed with some businessmen and developers welcoming a fresh approach while community leaders remain concerned about the city’s growth, with high-rise development crowding coastal suburbs.

Community Alliance leader John Hicks said he hoped the new CEO would embrace consultation with resident and environmental groups.

“I hope the incoming CEO is a person who is willing to drive a much more partnership approach with wider community involvement of all stakeholders,” Mr Hicks said.

Cranes on the Gold Coast skyline.