Gold Coast Greenheart: Giant parklands to miss out on funding after government talks stall

More than $100m of Gold Coast projects, including a giant parklands in the city’s heart, are to miss out on federal funding after negotiations between the state and federal governments stalled.

MORE than $100m of Gold Coast projects, including a giant parklands in the city’s heart, are to miss out on federal funding after negotiations between the state and federal governments stalled.

Talks between the governments over a proposed multi-billion City Deal, guaranteeing a 20-year infrastructure pipeline of projects for the southeast region have hit a block.

The state blames the federal government for axing $400m in projects across the southeast while a furious Mayor Tom Tate has blamed the Council of Mayors, which has played a key role in the negotiations.

Among the $110m in Coast projects to be axed are the Robina Greenheart parklands and the proposed Advanced Design and Prototyping Technology (ADaPT) institute at the Health and Knowledge Precinct. Deputy Premier Steven Miles has written to the federal government to organise a meeting to defuse the situation but Cr Tate called on the Coast’s federal MPs to step in, saying their loss would be a “bitter pill”.

“I am bewildered to see the proposed City Deal projects, led by the SEQ Council of Mayors, completely ignores the Gold Coast and I trust this is not some sort of punishment given our council resigned from the SEQ Council secretariat,” he said.

“Our council voted to leave as we could not justify $350,000 in annual membership fees, to be funded by our ratepayers.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“I’m particularly disappointed that the proposed ADaPT project for the GC Health and Knowledge Precinct has been dropped, something which would have rocket-charged the entire health precinct which is lagging. Instead, the young national research talent that would have benefited from ADaPT have been left behind.”

Cr Tate said he would take his fight to the state and federal governments to ensure the city did not miss out.

The 220ha Greenheart will stretch from Robina to Carrara, making it six times the size of the Southport Broadwater Parklands and rival Sydney’s Centennial Parklands. It will feature 15 sporting fields, clubhouses and events spaces

Deputy Premier Steven Miles Picture: Richard Walker

Mr Miles said the state government was “committed to negotiating and signing a fair Deal as soon as possible”.

“The proposal includes less investment and fewer projects for Southeast Queensland and the Morrison government expect Queensland taxpayers to pay most of the money back through a GST clawback.

“I urge the Morrison Government to join us in engaging meaningfully with community, civic leaders and industry to agree on the best deal possible for Queensland.”

The Palaszczuk government argues the Morrison government’s proposed deal would deliver less funding per capita - $400 per person - than any other City Deal where most are $1500 per person.

Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts Paul Fletcher. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

Communications Minister Paul Fletcher said the delays lay with state government.

“We’ve offered a package of projects for the City Deal to the state government and the Council of Mayors, based on their requests.”

“The Council of Mayors (SEQ) has replied with in-principle support however, the state government has not provided agreement on any project,” he said.

“Other cities across Australia have been benefiting from the $8 billion in city deal funding from the Morrison Government for years. The Queensland Government has been the slowest to deal with and instead of constructive engagement, they dither and delay, while playing political games that are to the detriment of the people of Queensland.

“The Morrison Government has been ready to deliver for the people of Queensland for more than two years. Now it is time for the state government to step up and deliver this deal.”

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