Gold Coast City Council’s new CEO on the hinterland cableway, light rail and staffing
He’s one of the most powerful men in the city – now new council CEO Tim Baker has spilled on the future of the light rail, the cableway and other hot button issues.
Council
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The cableway can be built, light rail should be extended to the airport and council will expand its services rather than cutback staff.
These are the key takeaways from an exclusive first sit down interview with council CEO Tim Baker as the city’s second biggest workforce confronts change like never before.
He also revealed there would be a review into HOTA and other controlled entities like Study Gold Coast and Main Events Gold Coast to look at costs.
SPECULATION ON JOB CUTS
Bulletin: You’re doing workplace surveying, you are looking at a restructure or restructures — do you see in the future that there will be a decrease in staffing.
Tim Baker: So I don’t — but let’s go back a step. As the incoming CEO the first thing I inherited was a review which will be finished (this week) on a new five year council plan. That talks about what we are going to deliver. We’ve also done — that’s the first thing I did — was ask for a organisational wide culture survey. That is looking at how we operate as an organisation. The trend line for staff inside this organisation is up — not down. I’m telling you outright I don’t think we will have staff reduction.
B: There hadn’t been a cultural review in 10 years. Did that surprise you.
TB. Yes. I can’t comment why. I was not here. But we had 73 per cent of staff respond to that. Anyone will tell you that is an outstanding result. As soon as we able we will be communicating the results in full to all staff. You can’t ask staff to get involved and then keep that kind of thing secret. We will be asking staff to help us address any of the issues that come up in it. There is nothing more arrogant than a CEO who thinks he knows the business from the office here at Bundall. The staff on the ground knows what is going on.
GREEN LIGHT THE SPRINGBROOK CABLEWAY
B: Your background in Tasmania in environment, you’re known for being able to create a situation where it would be possible, legally to establish a cableway in the Cradle Mountain area. When you were interviewed in closed session (for the job) you mentioned your background and the cableway, and that was of interest to the councillors. Do you think it is possible that a cableway can be built in the national park to Springbrook.
TB: Right — so by way of clarifying. Yes, I was the director of Parks and Wildlife when that proposal went through. Do I think it’s possible. I think the answer to that is yes. Do I think it’s the right solution for the city. That is an answer for council. I’ve made a career of not second guessing or seeking to question the elected officials. They will have make a decision.
B: Council at the moment is investigating it, you are looking at it, at an officer level. Are you able to have input either at a meeting where you are asked questions about that or how do you see that.
TB: So there is a council resolution on the books for the city administration to come back. I understand work is going on, on that, it will be debated through the normal way through committee and full council. If asked I will answer questions. At this stage my main takeaway is there’s a lot of water under the bridge yet before you get approval.
LOVING LIGHT RAIL
B: Are you a fan of light rail. Should it go to the airport.
TB: I absolutely am. And I think it should. I had a young family (friends) staying at Main Beach with four young kids. They sent me a message saying “how amazing is light rail we wandered out to the station right outside our apartment, hurry up and get it to the airport”. I think it will be a game changer, having the capacity to link the airport to Surfers all the way up to Helensvale. Our challenge will continue to be to get the east-west connectors working to it. Once built the city will be the envy of the country.
FINDING ROOM FOR MORE PEOPLE
B: The State set the population targets for southeast Queensland. Do you think the targets are too high. If they can’t be changed, where are we going to put everybody.
TB: This is the big question. So about 300,000 people, based on the targets, we need to find a space for them. The real answer is in the north, where the majority of them will go. Are the targets too high. I’m not going to play this card very much with you today. It’s very early in my journey to answer those questions.
B: If it’s likely we are going to have keep meeting the targets, then there’s a debate about can we find greenfield sites up north, is the ratepayer and council going to spend money building roads for infrastructure, or do we look to the Coast and go higher, but that puts the liveability and the attractiveness of the region at risk.
TB: I think it’s a balancing act of both. I don’t think there’s a silver bullet for either. It would be so much easier if there was a big parcel of land we could put 300,000 people. We don’t have it. We are making amendments to the Gold Coast planning scheme to accommodate this growth. The coastline will remain popular for ever more. There will always be pressure on the city to continue to build on the coastline because of the lifestyle if offers. But you are right, everything comes with cost. We won’t get it right all the time but I can tell you we are very much aware of the issue. To be honest with you, I think in my four or five months here I’ve come to the landing that the City is doing a very good job of balancing the competing priority versus maintaining that Gold Coast way of life. But I would say, make no mistake, I’m very much aware it’s the single biggest challenge the city has.
TALKING WITH COUNCIL’S TRADITIONAL ENEMIES
B: You’ve kept a door open to some of the outspoken groups on growth and how to handle it.
TB: Yes, I have an open door policy. I’m CEO of the whole of the city not some of the city. I’ve met with the Gold Coast Alliance, who have some concerns. I’ve met with members of the indigenous community. I meet with the business community. My job is to listen to everyone.
THE 2032 OLYMPIC GAMES LEGACY
B: The Olympics present some real challenges.
TB: There’s no city in southeast Queensland better prepared than the Gold Coast running a highly successful Commonwealth Games. I know we’ve learnt a lot about those Games, especially from legacy. We’ve had an apprenticeship. We will be the largest venue owner at the Games. So that puts us in an extremely good negotiating position with the Games, and strategically in enhancing our investment. The delegation we had was so impressed we had things done.
B: You have new items like the Games Village at Robina, that’s a negotiating plank in terms of improving transport.
TB: Absolutely, you have cross roads of M1 and rail as well (connecting there).
B: There’s a political wing and the bureaucracy. Do you have goals that we need to achieve before 2032 with Coomera Connector, highway exits and tram going down to the airport.
TB: Yes, you’re right, there is a division between the two. I have been a DG in Queensland language, I know a couple of DGs up there. I can speak those languages. I’ve done the Brisbane trip, I’ve already got a good working relationship with them. We will be putting together a legacy plan for the city. That’s where those conversations are happening.
B: So from your side of the room, is southeast Queensland on the same page. There is a lot of argie bargie between politicians on the Olympics.
TB: There’s a lot of noise, there’s always going to be noise. At the officer level we are getting on incredibly well. In these gigs, you let the noise happen over there and you get on with it. There is additional funding for the Games team in the budget.
RATES AND THE TOUGHEST BUDGET
B: High supply issue, increased inflation, 4.3 per cent rate increase — this has been a challenging (council) budget.
TB: Our increase will be as low as any council in southeast Queensland. There has been a reason for that. I’ve inherited 10 to 15 years of exceptional economic management from this city. We have low debt. We are not being stung by interest rate payments. We have in my opinion the strongest balance sheet of any council in Australia. That’s a credit to (former CEO) Dale (Dickson) and the team who came before me, and the mayor the councillors. It would have been very easy in low interest rate environment to get the cheque book out and spend and spend. They haven’t and put us in the best position of any council in Australia. And I can take no credit for it because I inherited it (laughs).
HOTA AND KEEPING COSTS LOW ON CITY’S GROWING ASSETS
B: It seems like in the past decade we’ve got a lot of nice shiny new toys here. And one of the challenges now is to staff them and maintain them.
TB: There is no issue with use. I went to see the Coomera Sports Centre and the first thing the manager said to me is “we’d like to expand this, Tim”. One of the things I’ve found incredible in this job, there isn’t a burning fire in terms of our assets. When you come into these jobs, they usually say there is this bridge which must be upgraded, or sewerage treatment need to deal with it or we have problems. Our assets are in a good state.
B: Your challenge then is with the “controlled entities” — HOTA, your Major Events Gold Coast, Study Gold Coast. How do you keep a control on that spending.
TB: We spend $54m on the controlled entities. There is an emerging theme appearing here. I’ve asked council and council (in a unanimous vote) have agreed to do a comprehensive review (over the next six months) of the entities. We will look at governance, funding and KPI performance. We will do it with them. Watch this space.
MAYOR AND COUNCILLORS
B: Since your arrival, we’ve had a prayer room debate, we’ve had trolls under the Green Bridge, how have you found working with the mayor and councillors of the city.
TB: The mayor and I are getting on very well. I can say I have never worked with the politician who is more passionate about the constituency for which he represents. The councillors themselves are a broad representative group of the city — that’s what ratepayers would expect. But every time I’ve been over there and asked for something we’ve had a good debate and I’ve got a yes.
LEAVING TASMANIA
B: You were well entrenched in government in Tasmania, how did this opportunity come up and what was the reason for you relocating here.
TB: I was really happy in Tasmania, I loved Tassie. I was contacted by the recruiting company. It was probably my public sector experience, I applied and then I started to think of the role. And it’s absolutely my view that southeast Queensland is the best place to live in the world right now and the Gold Coast is the best place in southeast Queensland. It provided a great value proposition for my family, great schools and lifestyle.
B: Previously you were a visitor here, a tourist.
TB: I had, but I think that’s a common misconception. I’d been to the Gold Coast, I didn’t know the Gold Coast. It’s the first three to four months in the job that I’ve got to know the Gold Coast. I’ve absolutely fallen in love with the place.
B: I don’t think there’s too many tourists who’ve gone to Pimpama and Yatala, you’ve been there and spoken to workers. What surprised you about the north.
TB: Scale and growth. It’s incredible. The other thing is absolutely surprising is the opportunity up there — in economic growth and social reasons too. It brings sport and community together.
THE SUNS AND BECOMING A GOLD COASTER
B: You are sitting at Carrara Stadium, it is Saturday afternoon, (your team) Essendon playing the Suns.
TB: Well informed (laughs).
B: There’s 60 seconds on the clock, scores are equal, the team which wins the game goes into the semi finals, Touk Miller has ball standing in front of the post. Do you want him to kick that goal or not.
TB: Yes I do, yes I do.
B: How has that changed.
TB: Maybe I want a draw which I can’t have. I’m a Gold Coaster now. I would back the Gold Coast every time. I’ve had a couple of meetings with the chair of the Suns who has asked me not quite as well-put question. I can tell you the kids now own Gold Coast Sun jumpers and when we go out there we barrack for the Suns. They’re my first team and the Bombers are my second now.
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