Oceanway for southern Gold Coast gets tick from city council, funding crisis looms

THE Oceanway on the southern Gold Coast will go ahead but the project still faces a funding dilemma.

Alana Welsh, Jaimi Muggeridge and Julia Miller on a section of the Oceanway.

THE Oceanway on the southern Gold Coast will go ahead but the project still faces a funding dilemma.

A super majority of Gold Coast City councillors today have supported the southern Oceanway proceeding, after backing a report to proceed with a 3.5km long landscaped pathway.

Only Robina-based city councillor Hermann Vorster voted against a motion for the section between Bilinga and Tugun to proceed after a debate at full council this afternoon.

But an amendment, successfully moved by Deputy Mayor Donna Gates, will ensure the city’s ratepayers are not faced with the total $4 million cost of the project.

Cr Gates moved that the Oceanway had the council’s support on the basis of the State Government providing 50 per cent of the funding.

The council will now move to apply for that funding but it is likely the project cannot be started until after the 2018 Commonwealth Games.