Gold Coast Hinterland cableway: Controversial ‘skyrail’ tourism development back on agenda

Mayor Tom Tate has revealed fresh details of plans for a cableway to the hinterland, saying he hoped tourists would soon be able to catch a ride to the top of Mt Tamborine. Here’s what we know so far.

A route has already been planned to take tourists to Mt Tamborine on a cableway, while early talks have been held with First Nations representatives on the project, Mayor Tom Tate has revealed.

Mayor Tate this week revived hopes that a cableway could be built to boost eco-tourism on the Gold Coast, saying it was something he hoped to work with LNP leader David Crisafulli on if he becomes Premier after next week’s state election.

Mayor Tate said potential routes had already been mapped out, when speaking in Southport on Thursday after a breakfast with business leaders in which he stressed the need to diversify the city’s economy,

“The next stop as I say is that conversation and a presentation will be before council. You know this is a democracy, eight hands up in the air and we’ll catch a ride up the top to Mr Tamborine,” he said.

“I do (have a route in mind). I’d rather let council learn about it at first, but you know, everyone knows I always have plan B, so let’s see what happens.”

A Skyrail rainforest cableway gondola sails above the rainforest canopy on the Macalister Range National Park at Smithfield near Cairns. Picture: Brendan Radke.

Mayor Tate said he expected the project would be funded jointly by council and state, with approval being sought from First Nations people.

“The first box to tick is really the First Nations Indigenous people. Get their advice, what they think of it,” he said.

“If we can even get them to get on board, and perhaps (include an) education centre with native bush tucker, wildlife and also Indigenous history up on top then I can’t see why they can’t be part of this journey.

“And if we tick that box, then we go to the next box. The idea is to map it out with the state government and I’m more than happy to propose a joint funding scenario.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate speaks to media in Southport on Thursday. Picture: Keith Woods.

Mayor Tate said early discussions with First Nations leaders had been positive so far.

The renewed push for the cableway comes amid a concerted effort to supercharge the struggling tourism sector which is yet to fully recover from Covid. A Bulletin report in August showed a sharp decline in international visitors passing through Gold Coast Airport.

An International Visitor Survey from Tourism Research Australia also showed the city lagging behind other parts of Australia in the battle to lure overseas tourists back.

Experts spoken to by the Bulletin said eco-tourism experiences were highly valued by visitors from overseas and could provide a significant boost to the Gold Coast’s tourism economy.

Previous proposals for a cableway on the Gold Coast, including a 1998 proposal for a line between Mudgeeraba and Springbrook, have failed to get off the ground amid sustained campaigns of opposition from locals.

WHAT KEY FIGURES THINK OF CABLEWAY

The renewed push by Mayor Tom Tate for a Gold Coast hinterland cableway has caused a wave of political opposition from candidates in the state election, while tourism leaders are backing the project.

The gondola to Springbrook, which has been floated several times in the past 30 years, is on a short-list of tourism attractions which council wants to look at to bolster its $45bn economy.

Mr Tate this week floated the project again and said he was confident of finding a willing partner in David Crisafulli if the LNP form government on October 26.

“If LNP gets in, [the cableway] will be one of the projects I look forward to working with David Crisafulli on, to go ‘This is about broadening our economy, broadening our tourism, and let’s unlock the green behind the gold’,” he said.

“What I love about this is that it has two additional parts, it allows people with mobility issues or the elderly to absolutely get onto the skyrail and enjoy the subtropical rainforest that they can’t walk down.”

He’s been backed by one of Australia’s peak industry figures, Transport and Tourism Forum (TTF) boss Margy Osmond who said broadening the city’s offerings was critical in an increasingly competitive market.

“The global trend is that holidays should include experiences and that is what makes them unique and memorable,” she said.

“Anything which enhances the tourism tapestry of the Gold Coast and increases both the style and variety of offerings from the boutique to the big crowds is a great thing.

“It’s a very forward-facing view to broaden the appeal of the Gold Coast.”

However many political candidates say they can’t support the concept.

The Greens candidates in each Coast seat along with two independents are opposed to the $170 million project in the Springbrook national park.

The Greens in a response to a Community Alliance survey said the party was “opposed to the privatisation of public land and assets, especially where this is done with no transparency and accountability to local residents”.

Currumbin independent candidate Kath Down said she was opposed due “fire risk and damage to local heritage landscape”.

Mermaid Beach Libertarian Party candidate Cathy Osborne was also opposed. Labor in Government have previously outlined their concerns, given there is no proponent.

The LNP in a statement on behalf of its MPs and Gaven candidate Bianca Stone, told Community Alliance: “The LNP will not sell public land like beaches and national parks.

“We will look for appropriate opportunities to work with the private sector to create new employment tourism jobs so we can showcase to the world just how great our state is.

“Places like New Zealand and Tasmania have already demonstrated how this can be achieved in a sustainable way.”

In July 2022 the state Labor government refused to join the council in an agreement to proceed with funding early planning on the cableway.

Premier Steven Miles, who was then Deputy Premier, and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon who had the environment portfolio, outlined their concerns in emails to Mayor after he sought State involvement in the project.

Mr Miles told the Mayor: “Given there is no proposal before the Queensland government to consider at this point, it would be premature for the Queensland government to enter a Memorandum of Understanding.”

He made it clear that the proposal did not meet the objectives of a program of works under State Development which “help deliver on the government’s commitments”.

The council intended for a co-ordinated project to be lodged after a proponent was selected.

The Co-ordinator General considered an environmental impact assessment on the Naturelink cableway project in 2020, which was refused, Mr Miles added.

This was due to “increased fire hazard, environmental impacts to flora and fauna in a national park and potential threat to World Heritage values”.

In an email to hinterland councillor Glenn Tozer, Ms Scanlon, at the time, said there was no detailed proposal on the project other than the council’s pre-feasibility study.

She said a cableway alignment showing its route through the national park was needed as a focus for an environmental impact study.

Ms Scanlon said she was “happy” to work with the council to explore eco-tourism opportunities.

“However, a new cableway project would need to detail how any future proposal would differ from the last,” she said.

City lifestyle committee chair Glenn Tozer said the council had resolved to consult First Nations groups regarding the Cableway concept, before taking further steps.

“I understand that process is running its course and it’s probably premature to pre-empt what those First Nations groups might say about the concept,” he said.

“The Mayor’s personal views about a cableway, that do seem to emerge without notice from time to time, probably should not supersede the outcome of a resolution of Council to consult First Nations group, including the registered Native Title claimant, Danggan Balun Aboriginal Corporation.

“I’d hate to think those sort of comments from the Mayor applied unwarranted pressure on groups as they shape their feedback to us in good faith.

“From my personal perspective, I’m focused on other projects to help drive the hinterland tourism economy forward. There’ll be news on that front very soon.”

‘Let’s unlock it’: Controversial ‘skyrail’ to be revived

One of the Gold Coast’s most controversial and divisive projects – a $170m cableway in the Hinterland – is back on the agenda, with Mayor Tom Tate declaring it key to the revival of the city’s tourism sector.

The gondola to Springbrook, which has been floated several times in the past 30 years, is on a short-list of tourism attractions which council wants to look at to bolster its $45bn economy.

And Mr Tate is confident of a willing partner in David Crisafulli if the LNP form government on October 26.

Mr Tate said, on Tuesday, that he would look forward to working with Mr Crisafulli on the proposed cableway in the World Heritage-listed Springbrook National Park.

“If LNP gets in, [the cableway] will be one of the projects I look forward to working with David Crisafulli on, to go ‘This is about broadening our economy, broadening our tourism, and let’s unlock the green behind the gold’,” he said.

“What I love about this is that it has two additional parts, it allows people with mobility issues or the elderly to absolutely get onto the skyrail and enjoy the subtropical rainforest that they can’t walk down.

Gold Coast mayor Tom Tate. Picture, John Gass

“The other part is that it’s our plan B for disaster management, we all know the Springbrook road when disaster hits, it’s out for not a month or two but a year or two.

“So the skyrail, will be able to take food, water and carry out evacuations, we’ll activate that as part of our Disaster Management Transport strategy so that part of fits in nicely.”

The renewed push for the cableway comes amid a concerted effort to supercharge the struggling tourism sector which is yet to fully recover from Covid.

A Bulletin report in August showed a sharp decline in international visitors passing through Gold Coast Airport, highlighting the loss of direct international connections outside Australia and New Zealand.

Tourism Research Australia’s International Visitor Survey shows the city generated $1.131 billion in expenditure from internationals in the 12 months to the end of March.

That was down $228 million on pre-pandemic figures recorded at the same time five years ago – a 16.7 per cent decline.

Only Melbourne fared worse in dollar terms, with international visitor expenditure in the Victorian capital down $727 million – a nine per cent drop on 2019.

Ray Stevens at Springbrook in 1999.

LNP MP Ray Stevens was part of the Naturelink proposal which pitched a cableway between Mudgeeraba and Springbrook in 1998.

It was scuttled by the Beattie Government in the lead-up to the 2001 state election. Various other proposals have been pitched in the past 20 years, with the last serious pitch made in late 2014 during the former Newman Government’s final months in power.

Mr Tate has long championed the project but got little interest from the Labor state government despite council setting aside funding.

Well known Gold Coast businessmen came together in 2014 to propose building Skyride from Neranwood to Springbrook – Pictured was consortium members Bruce Mathison and Terry Jackman Picture: David Clark

A council economic outlook report published on Monday revealed the Gold Coast has Australia’s fastest-growing economy.

Mr Tate underlined several areas through which the city could broaden the tourism sector – including environment, sports, events and entertainment, arts and culture and improved accessibility.

“(We went want to have tourism) from the depths of our ocean (Wonder Reef) to the tops of our mountains (walking trails, cableway for mobility and glamping),” he said.

Mr Tate also said warned the rapid economic growth would put increasing pressure on the city.

Protesters opposed to the cableway in 2000.

“It is anticipated that the growth for the [next] four years will be 10.7 per cent

“With good growth also means challenges for council, it means our infrastructure; we’ve got to keep up with ore people who are going to move here.

“It’s predicted that we’re going to have up to one million people living here by 2040,” he said.

Mr Tate also said affordable housing and rentals had to be “front and centre” for the state government moving forward.

“We will do our part to absolutely get those approvals in place and so that there’s no delay.

“The idea is that if you’re building a building, have 20 per cent of that building there available [at] affordable [prices].

“I would say Gold Coasters who can’t afford rich houses, pepper them across our city. I don’t want to create a suburb [only] for affordable house, that then becomes a ghetto,” he said.