Tom Tate and Donna Gates reveal their thoughts on running again in next council election

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says he hopes to run for mayor again in next year’s council election – but there is one thing that might stop him standing.

AFTER delivering an eighth budget of low rate rises, Mayor Tom Tate and Deputy Mayor Donna Gates want to stand in next year’s poll – but it will depend on their respective spouses.

The Bulletin today asked Cr Tate and Cr Gates about their intentions to run in the March poll next year as council delivered an average rate increase of just 1.68 per cent, less than a dollar a week.

“As of today I’m so humbled to be able to serve the city. My health is good,” Cr Tate replied.

“I’d say to you that I’d like to serve another term. But the final decision, of course, will be for our respective bosses back home.”

Cr Gates told the Bulletin: “I’d like to echo that – I’m still fit and healthy but my husband is a little older. I need to weigh up my options as we get a little closer.”

Mayor Tom Tate and wife Ruth. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

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Some speculation has surfaced in recent times at City Hall that both Cr Tate and Cr Gates may not contest the next election. At least three councillors are likely to retire.

“The mayor and I have great energy for this city. Nothing will stop us from powering ahead over the coming months,” Cr Gates said.

She admitted she had not spoken to the mayor about her political future.

“He’s told me I’m definitely to stay – I don’t always do what he says,” she said, pausing to laugh.

Asked if she would run for deputy again, Cr Gates replied: “Well it depends what the mayor does. I might apply for the top job, who knows.”

Deputy Mayor Donna Gates. Picture: Jerad Williams.

FIRST LOOK AT REVAMPED SUNDALE BRIDGE

Mayor Tate in his budget speech said the rate rise was the second lowest across eight previous budgets and lowest for this term of council, making the Coast “the envy of the rest of Australia”.

“At 1.68 per cent we are doing our part in keeping cost of living pressures down for our residents, keeping rates low – around the CPI,” he said.

“This equates to less than a dollar a week for the average residential home.”

But Cr Tate said the council had not forgotten its responsibilities in delivering frontline services.

Beaches and waterways spending was up by nearly 90 per cent and safety and disaster management by up to 178 per cent.

Cr Tate said capital expenditure was $548 million, a third of the city’s expenditure.

“Record spending on roads and transport will see over $280 million targeted at congestion busting works,” he said.

“This Budget rightly prioritises City Transport as our largest capital expenditure area with record spending of over $159 million – a massive increase on last year.”

An artist’s impressions of how the Sundale bridge will look after upgrade works.

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The focus of the Budget is a record spend of $540 million on capital works to deliver much improved roads after months of lobbying from concerned councillors about the city’s gridlock.

The centrepiece is $34 million to add an extra lane to the Sundale Bridge at Southport and upgrade the Waterways Ave intersection to ease congestion as The Spit is upgraded under the masterplan development.

The Mayor said he was proud to also announce that this budget delivered on paying down debt by a further $8 million and it was the eighth budget surplus in a row.

Councillor Glenn Tozer has welcomed the extra money for roads in the council budget.

WHEN COAST’S NEW FERRY SERVICE WILL LAUNCH

The budget was unanimously supported by councillors with only Southport veteran Dawn Crichlow rising to speak against it.

Cr Crichlow said her only concern was the amount of funding spent on HOTA and developing the cultural precinct.

“It’s not a new concern. Other than that I think it’s an excellent budget,” Cr Crichlow said.

The budget was welcomed by hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer, who with Helensvale’s William Owen-Jones in late April began a campaign to increase road funding.

“The budget is a great budget for roads. It lifts the road network figure by the $36 million I was asking for,” Cr Tozer said.

“This year we got a great outcome. We got an increase. The challenge now is the funding source required to deliver on our commitments over the coming years.”

Council debt is at $624 million which compares to $865 million in 2012-13.

The Coast was continuing to outperform Queensland with unemployment at 4.34 per cent, compared to the state average of 6.2 per cent.