Future Gold Coast 2022: How to buy tickets to snapshot of 2032
City leaders have warned the Gold Coast faces a “real risk” of the light rail extension to the airport not being completed by the 2032 Olympic Games. Here’s how it can be solved.
Future Gold Coast
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CITY leaders have warned the Gold Coast faces a “real risk” of the light rail extension to the airport not being completed by the 2032 Olympic Games.
Discussions around the future of the tram line were among several topics canvased on Thursday at the Gold Coast Bulletin’s Future Gold Coast roundtable.
City planning boss Councillor Cameron Caldwell was among those saying Stage 4, running from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta, must begin in 2025 to ensure the multi-billion dollar tram network is completed in time for the arrival of the world’s biggest sporting event.
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Cr Caldwell said it was critical for light rail construction to be come “business as usual”.
“In order for us to deliver light rail to the Gold Coast Airport before the Olympic Games, construction must immediately begin once Stage 3 is completed in 2025,” he said.
“It is extremely regrettable that there has been no light rail construction in our city since 2017 and that kind of delay has jeopardised the delivery of what is critical and city building infrastructure.”
Deputy Mayor Donna Gates said greater infrastructure was needed to cope with the city’s growing population.
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“We also need to consider the heavily rail … it is key to our region’s economic growth that we have a seamless transport across this region,” she said.
Queensland Airports CEO Amelia Evans said greater public transport was essential.
“Connectivity is a given and we cannot service the numbers we will have if we do not have this connectivity,” she avid.
“We need to push hard to get it.”
The roundtable brought together key figures representing the city’s biggest industries and employers including Lewis Land Group, Destination Gold Coast, Star Entertainment Group, and Village Roadshow Theme Parks.
Harcourts Coastal is also a major Future Gold Coast sponsor.
The Demographics Group co-founder Simon Kuestenmacher, who will deliver the Future Gold Coast keynote address on November 30, delivered an assessment of the opportunities facing the city while Urbis Group director Kate Meyrick provided a snapshot of what must be delivered in coming decades.
The Bulletin will next week launch its Future Gold Coast series, looking at how the city can best take advantage of the 2032 Games to ensure a better future.
Future snapshot: How the Gold Coast will change within 10 years
Our city is about to take a deep dive into exploring its future. The Bulletin will launch a series of in-depth stories and analysis as part of its Future Gold Coast campaign. What will happen in the run to the 2032 Olympics?
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Firstly, we need to see the event as more than just a big bang Christmas-New year celebration.
The worst outcome will be the Olympics becomes a one-off infrastructure games.
You know where we say “we got light rail extensions, M1 upgrades, new sporting facilities and a hospital – we beat the hell out of Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast”.
We must dive further. From early discussions with presenters, the Future forum promises a lot more than talking up wins on road upgrades and high-rises for the property market.
We asked for data on who is moving here. We hope to gain statistics on who visits and why.
Aside from preparing for the Games, this will help Gold Coast City Council plan ahead in the longer term.
Every day we hear the targets – our population of 630,000 will reach one million by 2040.
What the Future series will reveal is our city’s narrative is changing.
Are we still “God’s waiting room”? Or are we attracting younger people and families from down south who want to work here? What does the 60-something generation, mixing part-time work and pleasure, want to spend their money on?
All of this is critical information for our strong small business and tourism base.
Do they stick to the old tired formula of catering for oldies who want to play out their life on a luxury private golf course?
Or do our newer residents want to spend their money on a beach bar? Or is their preference to hike through the hinterland where there are so few eco-tourism opportunities?
We can reveal Covid has flipped the narrative. Golf shoes replaced by hiking boots, perhaps.
Then it is back to you to have your say on the direction the Gold Coast should take.
Your columnist asked a business and tourism leader who offered this priority list:
■ Light rail to Coolangatta with the Airport to contribute to the cost as a the major benefactor.
■ Expand the existing Convention Centre and leave HOTA to the arts.
■ An economic, business attraction, growth and advocacy group like “City of Brisbane” or the one in regional centres like Townsville funded by a mix of council and private sector backers.
■ Infrastructure or businesses which unite southeast Queensland as an economic powerhouse.
■ Commercial opportunities on our beaches.
Now talking to some environmental groups leaders, this is roughly their priorities:
■ Light rail to not go to the border and stop at Burleigh.
■ No second casino – so goodbye to a convention centre extension.
■ A recognised peak community environmental group which has more say at council.
■ For the rest of southeast Queensland – give them our new arrivals.
■ No commercial opportunities on the beaches.
Really, not much division or debate to be had there, is there? But enjoy the forum. Seriously, the new data and what it all means will surprise you.
The Future Gold Coast forum will be held on Wednesday, November 30 from noon to 3pm at Sea World Resort Conference Centre.
Among the speakers who are on the panel are The Demographics Group director Simon Kuestenmacher, Urbis director Kate Meyrick, Harcourts Coastal director Dane Atherton, Queensland Airports CEO Amelia Evans and Star Entertainment Group CEO Robbie Cooke.
Each ticket includes a 2 course lunch and beverage package.
To get your tickets, click here.
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