Gold Coast Development: Mayor Tom Tate weighs in on Spirt, Ruby, Light rail and second casino

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate, who has just returned from a 10-day trip to Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand and China, weighs in on some of the city’s biggest issues.

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate, who has just returned from a 10-day trip to Taiwan, Vietnam, Thailand and China, talks global tourism hub, light rail, Scott Morrison, the Spirit tower and Ruby development.

Global Tourism Hub plans for Southport

Aerial view of Carey Park at Southport, an area proposed for a new Casino for the Gold Coast. Picture Glenn Hampson

The State Government will go to market later this year for a $3 billion global tourism hub, with several Southport sites considered for its possible location.

“My take is that the State Government is market-sounding and the experts are the market. I back the Government’s process and I look forward to seeing various options and then we can work out what the best solution will be. I have no particular site in mind, my preference is for someone who delivers a six-star product and generates a lot of long-term jobs.”

Light rail Stage 3A

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A artist impression of Burleigh Station.

A major budget leak revealed the Turnbull-led Government planned to commit $112 million to the light rail’s third stage in next year’s budget.

“We have had a change in leadership (federally) but what worried me was if the new leader was aboard for light rail stage 3A. But this announcement is great. An early commitment is great. Our commitment remains consistent and the sooner we get to Burleigh Heads the sooner it will give certainty and the city’s reputation will be even stronger. You will see the value uplift from people using it.”

New Prime Minister Scott Morrison

PM Scott Morrison. Picture Kym Smith

“I haven’t had a chance to speak with him yet, he’s probably flat out himself. I have spoken to the new Assistant Treasurer Stuart Robert and told him that while he will have a lot of new friends given he is in charge of $450 billion, don’t forget your old mates who always take your phone calls. Hopefully that will count for something. Stuart laughed and said he was looking forward to working with me.”

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Spirit tower

The $1.2 billion Spirit tower. Supplied

The future of the $1.2 billion supertower has been under a cloud over a financial squeeze on its Chinese parent company and no tenders issued for its construction.

“The ownership of the project may transition to a new entity but this project is in an iconic location and will keep going. It is too good a development to not keep going. I cite the example of the Jewel development. There was a transition in ownership and it is now on schedule. (A new owner) will tweak the design their own way and there will be a slight delay but long-term the Spirit will come through and will be part of our skyline.”

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Ruby

Ruby tower 1 of the Ruby Collection. Supplied by Ralan Group

Ralan Group developer William O’Dwyer has backed the Gold Coast as being at the forefront of the nation’s next “iron ore story” – a major tourism push from Asia and is pushing ahead with his $2 billion Ruby and Sapphire projects.

“I welcome William O’Dwyer’s confidence in our city. That will highlight to people in Sydney and Melbourne to take a look at the Gold Coast and think they should have a better look at the city. I welcome more Australian money being spent here as Melbourne and Sydney are over boiled, we are simmering along.”