Gold Coast City Council Division 10 candidate Karen Phillips weighs in on cruise ship terminal

New council super division candidate Karen Phillips says a cruise ship terminal is a brilliant idea for the Gold Coast but cannot be built if it damages the environment.

NEW council super division candidate Karen Phillips says a cruise ship terminal is a brilliant idea for the Gold Coast but cannot be built if it damages the environment.

The Bulletin has questioned Ms Phillips, the Gold Coast Citizen of the Year 2018, on the controversial developments in the Surfers Paradise-Broadbeach division after she announced her decision to contest Division 10 at the March 28 poll.

Gold Coast business leader and community worker Karen Phillips announcing she will run for Division 10 in the council elections. Picture Glenn Hampson.

After outlaying $500,000 in 2018, the council is spending a further $1.5 million on studies, with Mayor Tom Tate gaining majority support on the floor of the council for the CST during budget talks last year.

Councillors opposed to spending more ratepayer money on a CST included Peter Young, Glenn Tozer, Daphne McDonald, William Owen-Jones and Dawn Crichlow, who is retiring at the March poll.

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At least four new councillors will be elected, and their position on the terminal, which might cost up to $650 million, will be critical to it proceeding.

“It’s a multi-billion dollar project,” Ms Phillips said. “It needs to be funded. There is no doubt with the current council that there is a large push for that to move forward.

“Our city is an evolving city, and an opportunity such as a terminal of some type or an opportunity for increased tourism – has been called for by a variety of groups.

Councillor Paul Taylor is retiring. Picture Glenn Hampson.

“I intend to spend an enormous amount of time listening to those (tourism and community) groups and hearing their views. Because that’s who I’m representing. It is not just a personal view. It becomes more than that as a councillor.

Ms Phillips proposes “bigger conversations” at community forums.

“Yes, when you look at it as an overall project, it is a brilliant opportunity, not at the loss of parkland, not at the loss of precious green space not at the loss of our lifestyle for our local residents,” she said.

Ms Phillips admitted the retirement of veteran Surfers Paradise councillor Gary Baildon and shock decision by Paul Taylor this week not to run in Broadbeach “opened the gate” for her.

Councillor Gary Baildon is leaving council. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Asked if she was Mayor Tom Tate’s preferred candidate, Ms Phillips replied: “I’ve known the Mayor as so many other business people across the city for many years. There’s certainly no hidden agenda. I stand as my own individual candidate.

“The only thing that runs through me is the gold of the city, and that’s the truth. My involvement in community groups is where my heart lies. It’s not representing anyone else other than – I’m going to call them ‘my people’.”

Ms Phillips said her campaign would be self-funded, but she would accept small donations.