Gold Coast development: Light rail route to be surrounded by high-density towers
Tens of thousands of new Gold Coasters will be housed around the light rail route in a range of new towers as part of the plans to deal with the city’s rapidly growing population.
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Tens of thousands of new Gold Coasters will be housed around the light rail route in a range of new towers as part of the plans to deal with the city’s rapidly growing population.
Mayor Tom Tate reveals in a in-depth Q&A to mark his 10th anniversary in office that high-density development would be focused around the light rail and its future east-west connections.
Q&A: TOM TATE ON:
HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH STATE AND FEDERAL GOVERNMENTS
Gold Coast Bulletin: You’re under siege on a number of fronts. We have been snubbed by Brisbane in regards to the Olympics, and we got no love from Canberra in the federal budget. What is your response to criticisms that it was a failure on your behalf?
TT: Oh, OK, if people believe that, fine, but I did my best. I was in the UK recently and the organising committee from the 2024 Paris Games reached out and wanted a meeting straight away. It’s not that I lack expertise, given we just hosted the 2018 Commonwealth Games. I’d call it gender politics and that woke stuff. It’s gone too far but I am still here to help. The Gold Coast will deliver our portion of the Games. I am not inside the tent but Gold Coasters know I am able to point out false things and I will be holding them (Games board) accountable. I will not be shy to point out some of the flaws in their decision and if that means worldwide news, the better because it will mean a result. Maybe I’ll be more effective outside the tent.
GCB: Given this, are you as effective or relevant as you once were?
TT: The best commentary on that can come from state politics. If you look at (media monitoring company) Isentia, the amount of exposure, I am running second to the Premier. If you look at the positive and negative, I am right up there in the positive.
Either way, that’s the path before me and I know ways of delivering for the Gold Coast.
GCB: Given you want to seek another four years in office, how do you mend those relationships to ensure you are still relevant?
TT: In any robust politics, I don’t see it being off the rails. (In a democratic society) there is differing opinion from time to time. I would say there is no ill feeling between me and any ministers in the state government and at the federal level, they are far removed from us. I am happy to mend but I didn’t think there was any bloody nose. I am issues-based.
GCB: Where to now? Will you rejoin the South East Queensland Council of Mayors?
TT: No, because it’s $350 grand a year and it’s really a prop-up for Brisbane’s council. I am here for the Gold Coast. If you analysed it with City Deals, we do OK in comparison to other councils. It’s not about my relationship with the other mayors. I just don’t see the value in travelling to Brisbane, sitting around and getting no result. I have much more time for the LGAQ (Local Government Association of Queensland).
THE FUTURE
GCB: What do you want to deliver in the final two years of this term and what are you standing for in 2024?
TT: Right now, I want to expand the IT industry further, there is a lot to be done there and it is a fast-moving target, so I will need the younger generation to let me know the best way of doing that in the blockchain economy. I don’t just want to build a city, I want to build a whole universe online. Getting light rail Stage 4 – the elements on the path getting built early and the business case needs to be completed and ready to tender well in advance of Stage 3, perhaps halfway through. I really believe that will send a signal to the tourism industry.
I have no objection to taking it down to South Tweed, there are people who live down there and work here, but we also need to get the east-west connection from Pacific Fair to Metricon at Nerang and to Cbus Stadium at Robin down past Bond University at Markeri Street.
These shouldn’t be built in stages – they should be built at the same time.
We also need to focus on bus routes in the city’s north, expanding HOPO (ferry service), the final stage of HOTA and to get the momentum going for the GreenHeart parklands out at Robina.
We also must live within our means and I will keep the budget at or below CPI. It’s a dream but we can do it.
COST OF LIVING
GCB: Is the property cycle now out of whack and without intervention, where will it end up? Are we destined to be the next Monaco and given you’re a wealthy man, do you still feel you are in touch with the working public?
TT: If you walk with me to a pub and have a drink, say at the Commercial in Nerang, you’ll hear people yell out ‘Tommy!’ and as I’m talking, you’ll find a beer in my hand. It’s just the way it is. They know I came through the construction industry and I cannot change being successful. I always have drinks with strangers and other Gold Coasters, that’ll never change.
GCB: Council and state government cannot agree on amendments to the City Plan, more time has been wasted in the to-and-fro, meaning more Gold Coasters are hurting with spiking inflation and other costs. It is obvious we need more housing. Personally, where would you put the new development?
TT: It has to be along the light rail, because if you put more people in along the rail, it means less cars and that’s why we need the east-west connection. You have to put people where there is more transport and community infrastructure. Otherwise, you don’t want to build a building where there is no infrastructure. The planning will be evolving but you cannot put up a rabbit fence to stop people coming here.
TOURISM
GCB: A number of international cities have been quick out of the blocks, having used the Covid down time to strategise masterplans for the next decade. The city was a tourism mecca before Covid, bringing in $6bn per annum. Tourists want more today than old plays, how do we get the $6bn back and then some?
TT: The key for me is promotion, but first we need to welcome back our old friends – Taiwan, South Korea, Malaysia and Japan. How do we do that? More direct flights to the Gold Coast, so if it must be triangulation with the Gold Coast and Cairns, then so be it. Longer term we will welcome back China, too.
GCB: Aside from tourism, what are three top sectors which need investment and love and what do they need to maximise their potential?
TT: 1. Events. We are known to be fun-loving for events and they are great for locals too and we should look to have events on water, including races or a leg of the America’s Cup. That’s how you enhance it.
2: Industrial expansion. We have to plan for the expansion of Yatala in the next 30 years. The pandemic hit us, everyone knows this, but what if one hits us again? We need the capability of producing things we had to import quickly. We need to be in a position to manufacture and export. So we need to do a masterplan there. We also need to look for an exit strategy for the cane fields and look at an adrenaline precinct.
3: Development and dining: We need to challenge them (developers) – they’re not just building buildings, they’re developing lifestyle and I want them to start looking at bringing in three-star Michelin chefs.
‘INSIDE THE SEAWAY’: TATE REVIVES CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL PROJECT
Tom Tate isn’t giving up on his controversial plan to build a cruise ship terminal and insists he is more relevant than ever, despite recent snubs from both sides of politics.
In an interview to mark his 10 years as Gold Coast mayor, the 63-year-old said he was no longer “Tornado Tom” and scoffed at suggestions he had lost touch with the punter and was out of favour with key players in Brisbane and Canberra.
On being ignored for a seat on the 2032 Olympic Games organising committee, he said:
“I am not inside the tent but Gold Coasters know I am able to point out false things and I will be holding them (Games board) accountable. I will not be shy to point out some of the flaws in their decision and if that means worldwide news, the better because it will mean a result. Maybe I’ll be more effective outside the tent.”
Thursday marks 10 years since Cr Tate became Gold Coast mayor.
He has held office longer than anybody else and announced last week he would run again in 2024.
“It is a privilege to be mayor but it’s not a dream job because it has many challenges and you cannot please everyone,” he said.
“The main focus on the past 10 years is one thing: Creating certainty, which brings confidence and with confidence comes investment, and with that comes jobs and opportunities for the next generation to live here, work and bring up a family.”
Cr Tate said he had mellowed from the “Tom tornado” who came into office in April 2012, but insisted he was more energetic than ever.
“I am passionate about the city, you’re living the life and I love all aspects of it.
“My nickname in the office was Tornado Tom because I had so much I wanted to do and there was a period of adjustment, but now we have less red tape.
“These days, I’m not a tornado, I’m a calm wind with a strong undercurrent.”
Cr Tate admitted his greatest regret from the past decade was the inability to secure a cruise ship terminal.
He said much of his disappointment came from then-premier Campbell Newman failing to sign off on the project before the 2015 election, which the LNP lost, allowing the Palaszczuk government to abandon the project.
“There are a lot of things I’ve delivered but one that we never got there on was the cruise ship terminal. But the city is still here, there will be changes in the future and hopefully it will be revisited.
“If there is a change of attitude at a state level it could happen – and my personal preference is that it could come into the Seaway.”
Cr Tate this week looked back on significant changes under his watch, including:
* The Gold Coast’s gross regional product is now $39bn, up from $30bn in 2012.
* There are more than 71,000 registered businesses compared to 62,000.
* Forty cranes are in the skyline, compared to two in 2012.
* Unemployment has fallen from 6.1 per cent in 2012 to 5 per cent today.
Among his highlights, he listed funding for the second and third stages of light rail, the 2018 Commonwealth Games, creation of the Home of the Arts amphitheatre and art gallery, Chevron Island green bridge, the high-speed fibre optic cable running under the tram tracks, new offshore dive site, and keeping rates rises to inflation for a decade.
He named his proudest moments as presiding over the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in April 2018 and development of his friendship with the Crown Prince of Dubai.
With the dramatic uptick in property development in the past two years and the increasing population, Cr Tate said he was committed to halting the urban spread.
“The city has been planned, the growth is the greatest in Australia, we have protected our lifestyle, otherwise nobody would come here,” he said.
“I am determined to keep protecting it and keeping our open space at 50 per cent.
“Going upward is the answer, not outwards.”
‘Nobody can beat Tom’: Shock twist in Coast mayoral race
Two high-profile Gold Coast identities have ruled out a tilt for the city’s top job in the wake of Tom Tate’s announcement he will contest the 2024 mayoral election.
Surfers Paradise MP John-Paul Langbroek and Gold Coast Titans co-owner Rebecca Frizelle have ruled out standing, saying Cr Tate is the right man for the job.
“I saw my name mentioned last week and while I’m flattered to be thought of, politics aren’t for me,” Ms Frizelle said.
“It’s great news for the Gold Coast that Tom has decided to run again.
“His track-record speaks volumes and we are always happy to support he and Ruth.”
Cr Tate, already the city’s longest-serving mayor, wants to secure a record fourth term that would keep him in office until March 2028.
The 63-year-old told the Bulletin last week he believed he had the energy and passion for another term.
His decision to run again ended months of speculation. about his future plans.
Both Ms Frizelle and Mr Langbroek had previously indicated interest in the mayoralty, but insisted they would not take on Cr Tate.
Mr Langbroek, a senior Opposition frontbencher and former education Minister, has served as Surfers Paradise MP since 2004 and said he had no plans to switch to local government.
“I’ve known Tom for 25 years, dating back to when he was my patient when I was his dentist and he’s Australia’s best-known mayor,” he said. “You just have to ask anyone around the country and they all know him.
“I love doing my job and love the city as well but I can tell you nobody will beat Tom Tate.
“It’s my honest view and Tom can do the job as long as he wants because that is the will of the people.”
No other candidates have put their hand up to contest the mayoralty two years out. The job pays more than $290,000.
Cr Tate said he had talked about running again with his family and they had urged him to “follow my passion, which is this city’’.
“Someone said to me that in the United States, I would be viewed as being in my prime as far as my age is concerned,’’ he said last week.
“(Wife) Ruth and I love serving the people and realistically, age doesn’t even come into my thinking right now.’’
Mayor Tate: Why I’ll win a record fourth term
GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate will run for a record fourth term in 2024, saying he still has the “fire in the belly” for the city’s top civic job.
Cr Tate, at age 63, said he believed he had the energy and passion for another term, which would take him through until 2028.
Cr Tate was first elected in 2012 and if he wins in 2024 and serves his full term, he’d be the Gold Coast’s longest-serving mayor.
His decision to run again ends months of speculation. It increases the likelihood of high-profile potential challengers such as Gold Coast Titans co-owner Rebecca Frizelle and Surfers Paradise MP John Paul Langbroek not running in 2024.
Both have indicated interest in the Mayoralty but have said they would not take on Cr Tate.
Cr Tate said he had talked about running again with his family and they had urged him to “follow my passion, which is this city’’.
“Someone said to me that in the United States, I would be viewed as being in my prime as far as my age is concerned,’’ he said.
“I feel as though I am very much in touch with what the Coast needs and the fire still burns strongly.
“(Wife) Ruth and I love serving the people and realistically, age doesn’t even come into my thinking right now.’’
His decision to publicly announce his candidature for 2024 comes after a tumultuous few months where his appointment of Pastor Sue Baynes – a so-called spiritual Adviser to a “councillor Adviser” role on his staff – has dominated headlines. She has publicly espoused extreme Christian views dubbed the Seven Mountain Mandate.
Cr Tate said: “I can understand people’s interest in this appointment but what has been missed in all of this is that the officer is not engaged as a spiritual Adviser. Every time the media reports that, it is factually wrong.
“The role is to bring the many faith-based groups in our city together to see where, and how, they can better partner on critical social issues like homelessness, addiction and domestic and family violence.
“The media has leapt on the officer’s private views which may make for good headlines for the print press but like every other employee in council, the officer cannot allow private views to impact their work … and she isn’t.
“The idea that the councillor Adviser is somehow giving me spiritual advice is misleading.
“Under State legislation, a Councillor Adviser, or any council employee, cannot allow their private views to influence their work.’’
Cr Tate said he would stand in 2024 on his record in guiding Australia’s second biggest local
authority, with a budget bigger than Tasmania.
He said reducing rates in 2011 was his main electoral platform and this had been achieved by
ensuring no increases would exceed CPI.
“I’m very proud of how we’ve delivered; on frontline services,’’ he said.
Cr Tate said he had ended council dysfunction.
“Prior to 2011, councillors had established in this place a chamber of disunity and division,’’ he said.
“I ended that by ensuring transparency and there were no more backroom deals being done.’’
Cr Tate said he had engineered the scheme for free seniors and veterans travel on buses.
“The deal I struck with the state allows veterans and seniors to utilise empty bus seats during off-peak periods,’’ he said.
“We pay the fares but it is money well spent and we now have more than 40,000 seniors signed up.
“The deal should be extended to the light rail and it’s only Transport Minister Mark Bailey that stands in the way of that.’’
Cr Tate said his most impressive achievement was the arts and cultural precinct, the Home of the Arts (HOTA).
“HOTA is our heart and soul,’’ he said. “In Brisbane, that arts precinct is dripping in state money and we have received zero. So we spent $135 million on HOTA. It would be nice for the state to support the arts on the Gold Coast like we do.’’
Cr Tate said while he loved the smell of wet concrete, he enjoyed the city’s green space.
“We are now planning a 220-hectare “greenheart’’ that extends from Robina to Merrimac. Again, not a cent from the feds.’’
Cr Tate said his main priority in his 2024 election bid would be to ensure the final stage of the light rail goes ahead from Burleigh to Coolangatta.
“We have committed to stages 1, 2 and 3 and we must now finish stage 4. It never gets cheaper building something tomorrow. Compared to today.’’
Cr Tate said he also wanted to ensure that the Gold Coast was not short-changed in Olympics
infrastructure provision.
“We’re being treated like second-class citizens by the State when it comes to the Olympics,’’ he said. “Look at the golf. You can’t compare Royal Pines and what it brings to the table, compared to that terrible course they’ve got it planned for in Brisbane.
“They need to wake up in George Street.’’
During his most recent term, Cr Tate was investigated by the Crime and Corruption Commission, and cleared.
He had a running battle with former CCC chair Alan McSporran.
“The accusations were baseless,’’ he said. “McSporran is gone and I’m here. Enough said.’’
Cr Tate urged Cr Peter Young, a Greenie who he beat in 2012, to also run for mayor.
“I think that would be a good contest because he does tell me he has a strong following,’’ Cr Tate said
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