Gold Coast Bulletin’s 2020 election wishlist: Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon accuses Ray Stevens of ‘botching’ cableway
A Gold Coast MP has accused another of “botching” plans to deliver a cableway before the 2018 Commonwealth Games. SEE THEIR WAR OF WORDS
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GOLD Coast LNP MP Ray Stevens has been accused of “botching” the chance to deliver a cableway for the hinterland by the city’s only Labor MP.
Gaven’s Meaghan Scanlon took aim at Mermaid Beach MP Mr Stevens when asked about the cableway project as part of a series of questions put to all Gold Coast election candidates.
Mr Stevens was part of a stunning announcement in 2014 which planned to have the cableway operational before the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
“Ray Stevens had a chance under Campbell Newman’s Government to deliver a cableway but botched the project,” Ms Scanlon said.
“Both (the cableway and the cruise ship terminal) have had a number of proposals put forward, none of which have been broadly supported by the community.”
Other Gold Coast candidates have also come out in support of the cableway, including Southport MP Rob Molhoek.
“I’ve been a fan of this proposal since it was first considered in the late 90s,” he said.
“At the time as general manager of Gold FM we supported it. It makes sense for our city, tourism is our lifeblood, the green behind the gold (the hinterland) is an important part of our tourism offering.”
Both The Greens and the Animal Justice Party unanimously opposed the cableway project.
Mr Stevens was approached, but chose not to provide further comment about the cableway.
EARLIER:
THE majority of Gold Coast hinterland residents in a survey have pledged support for a cableway as long as the project did not cause environmental damage.
Mudgeeraba MP Ros Bates in a community survey in her electorate, which gained 1500 responses, asked “would you support a cableway in Springbrook if it met environmental approvals”.
The survey results after a direct mailout to the electorate reveal 73 per cent of those people interviewed supported the project as long as it met environmental standards.
Ms Bates said a similar survey in a postcard sent by her to Springbrook residents just three months ago found the vote was split 50-50 on a skyrail being allowed in the National Park.
“I speak to the entire electorate. I’m the only person who has polled everybody,” Ms Bates told the Bulletin.
“I wasn’t surprised in Springbrook that it was 50-50. It’s been 20 years since any version of a cableway has ever been mooted. There has been no application to any government, LNP or Labor. I said I just wanted to know what you think.”
Ms Bates said she had always supported a cableway in the hinterland “if it stacks up environmentally and economically”.
“I’m polling my electorate to find out what they think because when I am speaking on their behalf I’m speaking with accuracy,” she said.
Ms Bates said the polling across the electorate backed a decision by council to explore potential routes in the hinterland for a cableway.
“The original proposal is 20 years old. The electorate has changed. People want to see a growing tourism opportunity in the hinterland. We are the green behind the gold and we’ve got nothing,” she said.
“All we’ve had for 12 years when I’ve been a member – in 15 years I’ve been campaigning in this electorate – is $43 million for buy backs (of land) and all that did was extend the National Park by 500 metres and there has been no rehabilitation at all.”
But area councillor Glenn Tozer, when approached for comment about council’s current investigation, was less supportive.
“The pre-feasibility study on a cableway, already being conducted by council, will probably uncover some of the significant and costly challenges any investor will face to deliver the project, including bushfire mitigation, noise amenity mitigation and expected environmental stewardship in our World Heritage listed biodiversity areas in the Gold Coast hinterland,” he said.
“Frankly, I think there are less costly, less invasive options, with a greater economic return that should be considered, including mountain biking and walking infrastructure and garden tourism, all already researched in other areas showing favourable cost-benefit outcomes for their proponents. People tell me they’re exhausted by the same old dated ideas, so maybe a Cableway should simply be left in the past.”
EARLIER:
A new hospital and school in the city’s north, tourist attraction in the hinterland, business case on the heavy rail line, Child Safety overhaul, upgrade of the convention centre, and relieving cost-of-living pressures on Gold Coast families struggling through COVID-19.
These are just some of the Bulletin’s 14-point wishlist to both major parties ahead of the October 31 state poll.
The Gold Coast has been one of the hardest hit regions by COVID-19 with employment falling by 11,000 or 3.4 per cent between March and June and unemployment rising from 4.1 per cent to 7.9 per cent.
Latest research shows at least 9700 businesses rely on JobKeeper to keep their doors open.
Almost 11 per cent of employment in the region is in the accommodation and food services sector, two areas most impacted by the coronavirus restrictions.
COVID IMPACT ON GOLD COAST ECONOMY
Data provided to council suggests the city’s gross regional product will see a 16.9 per cent decline for the fourth quarter of 2019-20. Local jobs could fall by 10 per cent, a loss of 30,581 positions. Without JobKeeper, unemployment would be more than 19 per cent.
Candidates who are doorknocking during the lead-up to the October 31 poll confirm employment is by far the major issue for residents. Many locals who have lost jobs in the tourism industry fear they will lose their homes.
Our focus is on building priority infrastructure and boosting tourism. Here is our campaign wishlist:
1. Agreed timeline and length of the first stage of the Coomera Connector
The Federal Government has announced $750 million for the first stage on the back of Labor’s $755 million announced last month. The Palaszczuk Government’s first stage includes a six-lane, 16.6km road from Carrara to the Coomera Marine Precinct. The LNP has pledged a four-lane road between Helensland and to the Marine precinct. There needs to be consistency from both major parties on what can be achieved in the first term.
WHAT RESIDENTS THINK OF THE COOMERA CONNECTOR
2. Fast-track Pacific Motorway upgrades
A new overpass is needed at Beattie Road, to reduce the congestion at Coomera and pressure on the Oxenford interchange. It will enable families travelling across the M1, taking their children to the major schools, to bypass the highway. The upgrade of Exit 49 at Pimpama is priority with a new off-ramp and on-ramp needed. In 2018, the Bulletin revealed how it was taking Pimpama residents about 23 minutes to drive 150m as they left their homes to access the roundabouts on the eastern side of the M1. Coomera MP Michael Crandon says he will ask the Transport Minister, on the LNP winning office, to build it as a priority. Labor is not likely to start the work on the project until 2023.
OUR FASTEST GROWING AND SLOWEST MOVING SUBURB
3. Preparing a business case on extending heavy rail to the Gold Coast airport
The LNP supports expanding a Stage 4 light rail business case to include planning for heavy rail between Varsity Lakes and the airport. This has sparked a debate about heavy rail. Labor has responded by saying both the trams and trains cannot fit along the corridor near the M1. Neither major party has given timelines on heavy rail extensions. The line was last extended south to Varsity Lakes in 2009. To prevent congestion along the line, Cross River Rail in Brisbane needs to be completed first. Work on the Coast’s southern section is unlikely to start before 2026 despite the need to hook-up public transport with the airport.
MICHAEL HART AND HIS PALM BEACH APARTMENT ON LIGHT RAIL
4. Support for final stages of light rail to the airport and clarifying the route
This includes backing of a proposed koala overpass south of Burleigh for Stage 4. A six-figure wildlife overpass could guard against light rail impacts on Burleigh Headland koalas. The confusion on the route needs to end. Transport Minister Mark Bailey has accused Burleigh LNP MP Michael Hart of backflipping and now supporting heavy rail to the airport. Labor preferred light rail route is down the coastline and has asked the LNP how many properties will be resumed if it moves forward with a plan to send the trams down the heavy rail corridor near the M1.
KOALA OVERPASS WILL HELP LIGHT RAIL PASS THROUGH BURLEIGH
5. A commitment on the number of police for Gold Coast stations servicing the city’s fast-growing north
The LNP is promising 80 extra police for the new Pimpama and the Coomera stations. Labor has responded by announcing 150 police for the southeast region, but the Opposition says those officers will need to service 23 stations. The Coast needs to know how many police it will be getting in the next four-year term of office.
6. Offer to upgrade the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre.
After talks for the planned global tourism hub (GTH) stalled, the State Government entered into negotiations with The Star about a casino monopoly deal. If the deal had been signed off, there was the potential for the hotel operator to provide up to $100 million for a convention centre upgrade. The Coast missed out and Labor has since delivered a $176 million upgrade of the Cairns Convention Centre. Cairns is also getting a GTH and The Star will open its $3.6 billion Queen’s Wharf project in 2022. The Coast needs to expand its convention facilities or risk losing business to these rivals.
WHY THE GOLD COAST’S CONVENTION CENTRE NEEDS UPGRADING
7. Fast-tracking plans for a new hospital in the city’s north
In 2017, former Gaven MP Alex Douglas, a GP, predicted Coomera would need a new hospital by 2021 “at the latest". “It should become a major berthing unit,” he said, aware of the pressure on the Gold Coast University Hospital. A masterplanning process has been started by the health service under the Labor Government. In June, LNP leader Deb Frecklington announced a master plan for a state-of-the-art hospital and health precinct in the north. The LNP would provide $4 million to get the project shovel-ready. The Coast needs a commitment from both major parties on a timeline for this project.
8. Reassurances our theme parks get support to remain operating and our airport and airlines receive marketing funding.
The Palaszczuk Government in August provided $80 million in support packages for Dreamworld and Village Roadshow to keep their doors operating. This was part of a $1 billion Industry Support package. The funding was provided in interest-free loans. The LNP had earlier asked the Government improve its support. The emergency funding occurred after the Queensland border closures due to COVID-19 had cut off the two major interstate markets of NSW and Victoria. Labor maintained the fund was about saving thousands of tourism jobs. The parks are now enjoying increased crowds. Similarly, the airlines and the airport need support for marketing campaigns to attract more tourists once flights start again.
9. Child Safety overhaul
Bulletin investigations have found Coast officers were waiting days to sight children after harm reports were made. Those reports included updates on a 12-year-old homeless girl who had joined a gang after being under the department’s watch in resi-care. She was using ice, sustained physical assaults, was allegedly prostituting herself and part of a group that stole a car leading to a crash at Coomera. Child Safety Minister Di Farmer met with LNP frontbencher Ros Bates to discuss the LNP’s plan for a Child Protection Force. However, it remains uncertain about Labor’s commitment to the 24-hour service despite Ms Farmer saying the Premier had asked her to “work with the LNP in a bipartisan and constructive way”.
WHY CHILD SAFETY DEPARTMENT NEEDS OVERHAUL
10. New school west of the Pacific Motorway and delivery of airconditioning
The LNP has promised to deliver a new school west of the M1 in the Gaven and Mudgeeraba electorates. Labor is yet to respond. The LNP announced in 2019 it would commit $1.5 billion to aircondition every state school in Queensland, if elected.
Ms Frecklington said at the time new that airconditioners would be rolled out across two (government) terms if the LNP was in power. Labor has set tighter deadlines with Education Minister Grace Grace announcing the Cooler Cleaner Schools Program would provide more than $477 million to aircondition state schools and expand the existing Advancing Clean Energy Schools program. The delivery date is 2022.
11. Resolve the lack of carparking around northern Gold Coast rail stations, increase bus services and fast-track Pimpama train station.
In August, Ms Frecklington announced a $30 million multistorey car park would be built at the Helensvale train station. The announcement puts a focus on the needs of all congested carparking at stations in the north. Labor has announced a face lift for the Coomera train station park’n’ride as part of a $78 million funding package. The Government also revealed in June it would launch new bus routes in the city’s north for Pimpama school students. The LNP says no additional routes have been created in this term. The Opposition predicts the Pimpama station, under Labor, will not start construction until 2024. The building of the facility should start at the beginning of the next term of government.
12. Support for a new tourist attraction in the hinterland like a cableway and upgrade of facilities
Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens told supporters of the Springbrook cableway to wait for a change in government back in 2016, when the $100 million project was derailed by the State Government. Then-Environment Minister Steven Miles called the idea “inappropriate”. The need for COVID-19 recovery could see a renewed push for the controversial attraction. Council is investigating the general idea of a skysail attraction and its review should be supported. Meanwhile, State and council need to sort out how to fix congested roads at Springbrook.
13. Guarantee funding for the operating costs of Gold Coast rural fire brigades
Gold Coast City Council decided the operational expenses of the city’s volunteer fire brigades was a State Government responsibility, leaving many brigades wondering how they were going to keep doors open. Labor’s subsequent announcement of a new RFS budget of $47.1 million sparked a war of words between the two parties, with the LNP announcing a “10-point bushfire mitigation plan” in late September. The funding of the brigades and new deal between the State and the council on improving bushfire management — an issue revealed in a series of Bulletin reports — needs to be signed off on.
THE LETTER WHICH EXPOSES OUR FIRE SAFETY THREAT
14. Either suspend or lower the cost of living expenses
Gold Coasters are doing it tough during COVID-19. One of the best ways to ease the burden on households would be to reduce living expenses. A reduction or hold on increasing power bills, registration costs and bulk water charges would be a start.
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