Future Gold Coast: Destination Gold Coast chief executive Annaliese Battista slams lack of investment in city by state and federal governments
The city’s tourism boss has slammed state and federal governments for their lack of investment in the Gold Coast, saying it is the ‘biggest issue’ facing the city.
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THE Gold Coast’s tourism boss has blasted the “failures” of successive state and federal governments to invest boosting visitor numbers and building infrastructure.
Destination Gold Coast chief executive Annaliese Battista used her keynote address at the Gold Coast Bulletin’s Future Gold Coast forum to deliver a stinging attack on what she called a “lack of investment”.
“Under-investment from successive state and federal governments which support tourism and the residential population, particular transport infrastructure, is the biggest issue facing out city and the economy as a whole,” she said.
The state of the M1 is a major impediment to the Coast, she said.
“Just imagine what this will look like in 2030 when we have 15,000 people moving here every year.”
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Ms Battista praised the leadership of the Gold Coast City Council and the private sector for their investment in the city. “But this needs to be matched by the federal and state governments to urgently address the M1,” she said.
But Tourism Minister Kate Jones hit back and said the State Government had invested heavily the industry.
“I’m very proud to be the only Minister in the history of Queensland to have a dedicated fund specifically for tourism infrastructure.
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“I’ve listened to the industry and we’re investing more in tourism than ever before.”
Tourism data discussed during the event showed 92 per cent of visitors to the Gold Coast came from within Australia.
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Broadwater MP and Opposition tourism spokesman David Crisafulli said Ms Battista’s comments were “visionary”.
“She is the breath of fresh air our city needs. They were comments against all levels of government and all political parties and.....it is about time somebody said that.
“This city gives a lot more than it gets back in return and if there is a take home message from Bernard Salt it is that if we stuff up the next decade we are in a world of pain.
“The attitude of the business community and everyday person is right and state and federal governments have to deliver that infrastructure in the next decade and get serious on marketing expenditure.”
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Mayor Tom Tate also blasted the lack of investment in expanding the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, saying that if the State Government couldn’t see the sense in it, they were “fools”.
“We should have upgraded it 10 years ago,” he said.
“We are in business and if your occupancy is running at 99 per cent you don’t have to be a genius to know your property is in demand.
“The reluctance to do that, I don’t know what to put it down to but whether they do not understand we need it or arrogance.
“Right behind light rail, the extension of the convention centre makes economic sense and I know that operationally it is one of the world’s best. The question to ask is why wouldn’t’ you?
“If you delay it, it just proves you are a fool. Get on with it.”
Cr Tate’s statement was met with a round of applause.
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