Visit Gold Coast: Cableway and offshore dive site pitched as tourism solution
The Gold Coast wants at least $10m from the state government by mid-year to get “crucial” new tourism attractions like the cableway and a second dive site built.
Council
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THE Gold Coast wants at least $10m from the state government by mid-year to get “crucial” new tourism attractions like a cableway and dive site expansions.
Mayor Tom Tate has asked Tourism Minister Stirling Hinchliffe to delegate a significant portion of the government’s $74 million tourism investment fund south as the city looks to reinvent itself in the post-COVID era.
Councillor Tate says at least $1 million is needed to expand the city’s under-construction dive facilities, several million dollars was needed to secure a business case for the Mudgeeraba to Springbrook cableway, and revamped and expanded sporting facilities at the Runaway Bay Super Sports Centre.
The money would also be used to fund new jetties to expand the ferry system north to Runaway Bay.
Cr Tate said the Coast had a great opportunity to build new attractions during the COVID crisis with international travel not expected to resume until 2022.
Rather than ask the state government to immediately commit money to the controversial cableway concept, Cr Tate said he wanted to end 23 years of debate by commissioning a business case to determine if the project was feasible.
“COVID-19 taught us a lot about not only how we live, but what is important to us from a social and business perspective and particularly we saw our tourism hit hard and the flow-on effects,” Cr Tate said.
“COVID-19 aside, the world’s most successful tourism destinations reinvent themselves every few years because people need a reason to return, especially the key domestic family market which has been our staple for more than 50 years.”
Cr Tate said the domestic dive market would be worth tens of millions of dollars annually in coming years.
The first stage of the dive precinct is under construction and will feature a series of prefabricated metal structures which will be sunk off The Spit mid-year.
“The initial structure will be installed around June 2021, so I will be pitching for at least a further $1 million from the state government from the rebuilding Queensland Tourism Investment Fund to invest in a further underwater structure that will support the dive experience,” he said.
“It may be an underwater sculpture or series of smaller structures.
“I’ll rely on the dive industry reference group to guide us on what they feel is phase two of the precinct but securing the fund would be key.”
Mr Hinchliffe said the government would consider Cr Tate’s proposals.
“I am always happy to hear from Mayor Tom Tate about tourism initiatives and priorities for the Gold Coast,” he said.
“The Palaszczuk Government will consider all proposals for new attractions on the Gold Coast.
“Mayor Tate’s proposals for expanding ferry and heavy rail infrastructure have been referred to Transport and Main Roads for consideration.”
Tourism was worth more than $6 billion to the Gold Coast before the pandemic hit in January 2020.
The closure of international and intrastate borders cost the industry more than $3.5 billion.
Destination Gold Coast chairman Paul Donovan called for greater investment in both Hinterland attractions and an expansion of the convention centre at Broadbeach.
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Mr Donovan said the fundamentals of the industry remained strong but new funding and fresh attractions were critical to clawing back the billions of dollars lost to the COVID downturn.
“The foundation is solid but we need to do more to attract people who have been here before or those who will consider staying longer and spending more money,” he said.
“Investment is the key and we are already seeing the theme parks spend money on new rides so they are not just offering up the same old, same old.”
Professor Brendan Murphy, Secretary of the Department of Health, confirmed on Monday any international travel was unlikely in 2021 given the uncontrolled outbreaks of COVID-19.
“I think we will go most of this year with substantial border restrictions, even if we have a lot of the population vaccinated, we don’t know whether that will prevent transmission of the virus and it is likely that quarantine will continue for some time,” he said.
Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind said reinvention needed to come from the recovery.
“Our industry has been absolutely buffeted by the global circumstances which have come from COVID,” he said.
“Under these circumstances, we do need to reinvent to respond to the opportunities.
“The Gold Coast needs a strong focus on events and we can add to our attractiveness with facilities and infrastructure which will bring more visitors but set up for the international market when they return.”
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