Tamborine Mountain could join Gold Coast City Council after secret negotiations to ditch Scenic Rim Regional Council

IT’S known for its hang gliding, beautiful views and quaint cafes, but this sleepy Hinterland suburb is ready to ditch their local council — and instead merge with the Glitter Strip.

BUSINESS leaders at Tamborine Mountain are secretly negotiating for their Hinterland town to ditch the Scenic Rim and join the Gold Coast.

In what promises to be the biggest local government shake-up in more than a decade, the Tamborine Mountain Chamber of Commerce wants its home to morph into Australia’s sixth-largest city.

It argues the town is not getting enough out of the Scenic Rim Regional Council and joining the nation’s tourism capital would boost visitor numbers.

Brittany Munt and Ryan Munt who were married in 2017, were married in a picturesque location on Mt Tamborine.

Early discussions have been held with the Gold Coast City Council.

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Tamborine Mountain Chamber of Commerce president Alison Rip said residents paid high rates and got little return or support for its tourism ventures.

“Our council is always crying poor because they have a limited amount of money for tourism and what they do have is generally spent on Eat Local Week and the Ekka,” she said.

“This is mostly agritourism whereas we are a much bigger tourism destination.

A Mount Tamborine staple: St Bernards Hotel. Picture: Jerad Williams

“The chamber is at the point where our members are saying ‘we would be better off being part of the Gold Coast’.

WITCHES FALLS COTTAGES AT MT TAMBORINE MAKE FOR MAGICAL STAY

“Our rates would be easier to deal with, we would retain our rural atmosphere and we would be better promoted as a tourism region.”

Approaches have also been made to the Palaszczuk Government and the chamber is preparing to write to Local Government Minister Stirling Hinchliffe.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said he was open to the idea.

Witches Falls Cottages at Tamborine Mountain

“We are not out to poach Tamborine into our city boundary but there is no doubt the real estate values for those on the mountain would be boosted if they attached to the Gold Coast brand,” he said.

“Merging with the Gold Coast is a matter for the Tamborine residents, Scenic Rim council and ultimately, the State Government.

“The decision ultimately rests with the State Government.”

It has been more than 10 years since the city’s boundaries changed so dramatically.

Picnickers at the hang gliding launching pad on top of Mount Tamborine. Melanie Thomas (left) and Bobby Bruce from Kirra on the Gold Coast entertained Italian visitors Silvia Gambasin and Alessia Zambelli-Titton (right) with prawn sandwiches while enjoying the awesome view. Pics Tim Marsden

In March 2008, an electoral boundary redistribution resulted in Beenleigh and Eagleby moving from the Gold Coast into Logan council.

Four years earlier, a group of prominent Surfers Paradise businessmen, led by Cr Tate who was a chamber of commerce boss, pushed for the Glitter Strip to secede and become its own independent body.

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Scenic Rim Mayor Greg Christensen is opposed to the idea and said he did not believe there was a strong appetite from the business community.

“If they feel they would be better served being part of another council area there is a process for them to go through and explore it,” he said.

“If they come forward with the relevant petition with signatures and support I will open a dialogue.

“My advice to people is this: be careful what you wish for, you just might get it.”

Tamborine Mountain moving into the Gold Coast catchment would increase the city’s population by more than 7000.

The Gold Coast Hinterland has increasingly become the focus of tourism campaigns as city leaders look to highlight and take advantage of the “green behind the gold”.

In recent months there has been a push from business and tourism leaders to revive a $50 million plan for a cableway into the Hinterland at Springbrook.