Flashback: Consortium unveils plans for $50 million Gold Coast Cableway in 1998

A $50 million plan to build a cableway into the Gold Coast Hinterland unveiled by leading businessmen with the backing of the State Government

CASHED-up businessman from an international consortium unveil plan for a $50 million cableway through the Gold Coast Hinterland.

That was the top headline 20 years ago today as the Gold Coast Bulletin unveiled one of the biggest projects ever proposed for the area.

The 11km tourist attraction was to run from Mudgeeraba to the rainforest of Springbrook and was to be the world’s longest.

GLOVES OFF IN NATURELINK FIGHT

1998 — Ray Stevens at Springbrook overlooking Purlingbrook Falls.

Naturelink was the brainchild of former Gold Coast mayor Ray Stevens and businessman Terry Morris and had a targeted opening date of early 2000.

Gold Coasters woke up on Tuesday, February 10, 1998 to news of the attraction, which would go on to be a major talking point for more than two years.

It was early 1998 — the Winter Olympic Games were underway, a leading National Party figure talked publicly about the pain of splitting from his wife and Peter Foster was in jail again but still making headlines.

The US President, then Bill Clinton, was under fire for various scandals while there were calls for the Gold Coast City Council to provide more funding for Gold Coast Tourism.

KATE JONES BACKS ECO-TOURISM PLAN

The project was said to mirror the Cairns Skyrail.

The same headlines are playing out again two decades later as the controversial cable car network was put forward.

Under the proposals, 100 gondolas were to be used on the cableway, providing panoramic views form just above the tree line over the Hinze Dam catchment area.

The cable cars were to travel from an area just west of Mudgeeraba, near the Boomerang Farm golf course, to Springbrook and the Purlingbrook Falls.

The project was to mirror the successful Skyrail cableway which links Cairns to Kuranda.

EARLY TALKS FOR CABLEWAY PLAN

Demonstrations were held against the project.

The scheme already had the support of the local tourism industry and the Borbidge Government, subject to appropriate environmental requirements.

“You will have a magnificent view back towards the Coast showing all the high rises, the waterways and the beaches and then heading west you will cover some magnificent rainforest before arriving adjacent to the Purlingbrook Falls,” Mr Stevens said.

SKYRIDE COULD BE BUILT BY 2018

Gold Coast Bulletin front page, June 17, 2000

Gold Coast Bulletin front page June 19, 2000, June 19.

“There is virtually no environmental impact with these types of cableways as the Cairns experiences has shown.

“It is one of the most effective ways of educating the public about the environmental and our natural assets.

“Cableways are quiet, pollution-free, only require a footprint in sensitive areas and provide a unique experience for passengers.”

Environmental groups immediately expressed their outrage.

CABLEWAY BOSSES ‘WILL BIDE THEIR TIME’

Residents opposed to the project.

Environmentalists Steve and Sheila Davis, whose property bordered the Naturelink site stormed a media conference held to launch the proposal.

Mr Davis traded verbal blows with Mr Stevens, and declared the project would never get off the ground.

The battle over the project continued through 1998 and survived the Borbidge Government losing office and the election of Peter Beattie’s Labor administration.

Environmentalists celebrating the project being canned.

Protests stretched on into the Year 2000 when the project was finally canned after an aggressive campaign from Hinterland residents and environmental groups who argued the tourist attraction would cause severe damage to the Hinterland.

Mr Stevens, later a State MP, revived the project in 2014 but it was shelved again the following year after the Palaszczuk Government was elected.