Gondola will be at Springbrook or Willow Vale because two Coast rides can’t work
The battle to build the Gold Coast’s first cableway has stepped up, with council warned it must choose between rival proposals. WHICH DO YOU PREFER - VOTE IN OUR POLL
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The City is being warned it must back one cableway proposal because operating two at Springbrook and west of Coomera will not be financially viable.
The Bulletin has obtained from council insiders a private and confidential letter from operators of the planned Kaiala Sanctuary in the Willow Vale precinct to senior City financial officers.
They have put forward an “information deck” after being buoyed by recent discussions with officers who advised council was “encouraging viable eco-tourism project investments for consideration”.
But they warned to proceed, council must confirm:
* That the Springbrook proposal is “no longer viable and supported by the full GCCC”.
* That the same level of support extended to the Springbrook proposal is “instead directed to our superior and more viable alternative”.
In their email, the Kaiala consortium says: “We acknowledge recent discussions and media coverage suggesting support for a Springbrook cableway proposal.
“However, we strongly emphasise a single viable cableway is realistic for the region, and duplicative efforts would dilute financial and strategic viability.
“The Kombumerri First Nations People have unequivocally stated their opposition to the Springbrook proposal and are prepared to communicate this directly to GCCC and relevant agencies.”
The Kaiala consortium says it includes the Kombumerri, the First Nations People of the Gold Coast region, as foundation members and future owners.
“Our consortium is uniquely positioned to deliver a more viable, sustainable and culturally aligned alternative,” they said.
“We urge that this proposal, along with our stated position, be shared at the highest levels of the GCCC and State Government for immediate consideration. Time is of the essence, and the window for advancing this opportunity will not remain viable indefinitely.”
The consortium is seeking further talks with Mayor Tom Tate, councillors and State Government bureaucrats.
Meanwhile, council has announced it has spent $10m to secure a 63.17ha site at Springbrook to become the heart of its nature tourism push – and a base for a potential future cableway.
The Eaglemont Estate, next to Springbrook National Park, is currently occupied by a private home. Council will now develop a masterplan for the precinct.
Mayor Tom Tate said the precinct could include a “zip-line adventure” or “potentially it will be a landing spot for the cableway”.
“Council has strong support for it and right now officers are doing a more strategic route and I have already met with a proponent in another area, which is well advanced and happy for them to present to council their idea. That will happen at a January council meeting, so we can have a look at that and pick which is best for the Gold Coast,” he said.
Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer remains a strong advocate for the Kaiala project.
He admitted many people thought he was anti-cableway because he opposed the Springbrook project when last debated at council because it was located in a World Heritage area.
“But the truth is I love the idea of the Kaiala Sanctuary just west of Dreamworld,” he said.
“Already a destination for many tourists to our city, conveniently locating the cableway and cultural centre near Dreamworld seems eminently sensible.”
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