Gold Coast cableway: Controversial project to be fast-tracked after meeting with Environment Minister

One of the Gold Coast’s most controversial projects is being fast-tracked after a high-level meeting between Mayor Tom Tate, the state’s new Tourism Minister and city visitor economy leaders.

The controversial Gold Coast cableway will be fast-tracked, with city leaders set to vote on it and a short-list of five key tourism projects to supercharge the city’s economy.

Mayor Tom Tate, met on Tuesday with new state Tourism and Environment Minister Andrew Powell and other industry leaders where they discussed opportunities to restore the sector to its pre-Covid glory.

Among the five concepts will be a cableway and creating glamping and ramping up use of Tipplers on South Stradbroke Island.

Mr Tate said he wanted to strike while the iron was hot in order to capitalise on the goodwill from the new government.

The cableway project will be brought to a vote

“Our political will is to enlarge our tourism industry beyond that of sand, surf and fun and people already know the wonderful theme parks and all that but what we have is wonderful subtropical rainforest, walking tracks and the potential skyrail.

‘We have been working hard in the past 12 months in anticipation of working with the state government and the December council meeting we will put these five projects to councillors a vote of endorsement and then we can take it to the state.

“My wish is that it be a local government-led project because that gives the confidence of other operators that they are working hard for it.

“We will test the market and I am confident we will be the focus of future natural tourism in Australia.”

Cableways have previously been proposed for Springbrook but have faced strong opposition from environmental groups.

Mr Tate has previously suggested other locations will be looked at.

The Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell. Picture: Nigel Hallett

Mr Powell said he would work to remove red and green tape roadblocks preventing tourism projects from proceding

“The cableway is exactly the kind of project that we want to work with the city of gold coast and other partners around the state,” he said.

“That’s exactly why the premier has put these two portfolios together.

“I’ll be blunt, I’ll have to look back over the process and find out exactly what those roadblocks have, been, look at the red and green tape which have held up projects like the cableway and then working our way through them so we can got to the proponents the mayor’s talking about with the confidence to say here is the project, we’re ready for you to invest, the approvals are all there.”

The Minister said the government was focused on nature-based tourism and said a cruise ship terminal was “not on his radar”.

“It is exciting to hear of the projects that the city of Gold Coast have already been working on. The premier hast asked me, by putting those two portfolios together to ensure the state is a willing and able partner with partners like the Gold Coast Council to potentially deliver on those projects,” he said.

“We are leading up to the 2032 Olympics and we have this golden runway and then I hope we can embed a legacy tourism decade to get people to want to come to Queensland.

“We have beaches, great beaches and we have theme parks but what people are looking for is experiences.”

Council CEO Tim Baker, Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn, New Environment and Tourism Minister Andrew Powell, Mayor of the Gold Coast Tom Tate, Patricia O’Callaghan and Paul Donovan. Picture: Nigel Hallett

The Gold Coast meeting was among the first of Mr Powell since being sworn in to the portfolios last week.

Among those who attended the meeting with Mr Tate, Mr Powell, Experience Gold Coast CEO John Warn, Incoming tourism Director General Patricia O’Callaghan, Council CEO Tim Baker and Former tourism boss Paul Donovan.

Mr Warn said the meeting had been “very positive”.

“Everyone on the Gold Coast should be very excited (the new minister) has come to our destination first and had a really productive meeting with the key industry representatives,” he said.

“He is very keen to partner with the city, he understands the importance of the Gold Coast for Queensland and that we are gateway to the state.

“It is very positive news, very encouraging signs the new government is coming down and being present on the Gold Coast so early and having a positive conversation.”