Coronavirus Gold Coast: Environmental coalition calls for $450M spending program on Gold Coast to get people back into work through conservation work

A coalition of conservation groups is backing a $450 million economic stimulus package on the Gold Coast to get people back into work and soften the blow of a 17 per cent unemployment rate.

A COALITION of conservation groups is backing a $450 million economic stimulus package to get people back into work by employing them on regional environmental projects.

It comes as the unemployment rate on tourism-dependent Gold Coast is predicted to reach 17 per cent due to the COVID-19 downturn.

The Delivering economic stimulus through the conservation and land management sector report was commissioned by a group of 70 environmental organisations and authored by big four accounting firm Ernst and Young.

A large number of people flocked to the Coast’s national parks. Photo: Supplied

It found a $4 billion national conservation and land management employment program

would create 53,000 jobs, reduce welfare costs by $620 million and raise economic output by $5.7 billion over the next four years.

That was through employing people made redundant during COVID-19 in labour-intensive activities like tree planting, weed control and restoration of rivers, wetlands and coastal habitat.

Ernst and Young said the benefit to the Gold Coast and northern NSW regions would be $450 million during the next four years and 1200 full-time jobs based on the Federal Government contributing $100 million and the Queensland and NSW governments matching that figure.

Julie McLellan, who is the CEO of environmental advocacy group Healthy Land and Water, said there is a strong case to be made for a ‘green’ stimulus package.

She said, in contrast to other programs, this one would take the form of community organisations, or natural resource managers, doing the work with local government and other partners.

Community organisations would work with local government. Photo: Supplied

“Most of this work isn’t work that can be undertaken by someone outside of the region,” she said.

“It is community groups and local landholders working together. That is the economic stimulus but the other component is we get fantastic environmental outcomes. Blind Freddy would be aware of the benefits we have all had from going outdoors during the lockdown.”

Ms McLellan said there are a number of Gold Coast projects that could be enacted through the stimulus funding.

They include:

●Pimpama River restoration work

●Establishment of a land ‘bridge’ between Springbrook and Lamington National Park

●Noxious weed and pest removal around the Hinze dam area to protect the water supply catchment

●Restoration work within the Gondwana Rainforests following the bushfires as well as weed and pest clearing

Ms McLellan said suburbs bordering the Gondwana Rainforests, including Beechmont and Canungra, contributed $300 million to the economy through eco-tourism activities.

National Landcare Network CEO Jim Adams said it wasn’t just benefits to employment that would flow from the stimulus.

“This program could deliver meaningful gains in agricultural productivity, by reducing costs, improving the condition of soil, water and native vegetation and enhancing resilience to natural disasters,” he said.

Arts Minister Leeane Enoch. (AAP image, John Gass)

Mayor Tom Tate: “Now is an opportune time to invest in important projects that benefit the next generation and the whole community, while also getting people who are doing it tough back in the workforce”.

A spokesman for Queensland Environment Minister Leeanne Enoch said the government had announced several environmental initiatives recently.

They include $8.9 million for national park infrastructure upgrades with $3 million invested on the Gold Coast for new walking tracks and improved toilet facilities at Springbrook National Park.

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“My office has had several discussions with environmental groups about their proposals and I appreciate the hard work they are putting into coming up with ideas for Queensland’s economic recovery,” Ms Enoch said.

“Our Government is committed to strong bushfire management in protected areas and has allocated an additional $16 million over four years on practical steps to reduce the risk of bushfire to protect our environmental values and neighbouring communities.”