Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate: ‘Selfish greenies have heads in sand’

In a fiery letter to the Bulletin, Mayor Tom Tate has said “selfish greenies” have their “heads in the sand” – and it’s started debate among readers. READ ALL THE COMMENTS

TOM Tate’s fiery letter to “selfish greenies” has kickstarted debate on the Gold Coast, with Bulletin readers having their say.

“Open your eyes Tom. We are fast becoming the ugliest city in the country. Get your research people out in the street and ask locals and tourists what they think. You won’t like what you hear,” wrote Shirley.

Gary added: “Springbrook is a shining example of what happens when green groups get control.”

Justin said: “GCCC does a fantastic job, its a great city with wonderful facilities. Just need to sort out areas in Southport area.”

READ ALL THE COMMENTS BELOW

TATE’S LETTER

IN the 1800s, the idiom “bury your head in the sand” first appeared. It seems today’s selfish greenies are determined to keep that phrase alive with their constant denial of all the good work our city is doing in the environmental space.

As mayor, I encourage the green minority to focus on the positives that our city has achieved when it comes to environmental outcomes.

Since 2012, we have planted more than 50,000 trees in our streets and parks; 652,680 trees in the City’s natural areas; finalised The Spit masterplan (securing 140 hectares of green space); introduced a world-first koala levy; installed solar panels on 47 City buildings, enough to generate 3.5 megawatts of power; created more green space at the 16.9 hectare Evandale Cultural Precinct than existed before; bought more land for further open space preservation; planted thousands of dune plants and vines to support our coastline; committed to turning the Robina swamps into a greenheart accessible to everyone (including those with mobility challenges); paid down debt from the Open Space preservation levy; we are finalising the first purchase of dedicated koala habitat; introduced more e-vehicles to our City fleet; partnered with EV charging companies to install EV points across the Coast; signed a World Surfing Reserve agreement; constructed more than 20 new walking trails; funded dozens of volunteer eco-warrior style programs for youth and adults; provided record funding for the Friends of Botanic Gardens; and rolled out the most comprehensive community recycling programs this city has ever seen.

Importantly, we are also partnering with Griffith University on potential hydrogen production opportunities to further reduce our city’s carbon emissions.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Steve Holland

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All these projects fit under the title “environment” – not specifically the “greenie agenda”.

When it comes to the City Plan and the State Government’s SEQ Regional Plan, we are ensuring that there is an abundance of green and open space now and into the future. We are doing this despite the challenges we face with accommodating the hundreds of thousands of “new arrivals” who want to live here.

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For those ostriches with their heads in the sand, let’s also dispel the naïve suggestion some put forward that we should “just stop people moving here’’. People have a constitutional right to choose where they live in this country.

Our role is to ensure we protect the lifestyle, and open space, that is luring these people here.

The best way to protect this precious green and open space is to build up – not out. Building up means our future residential offerings are close to public transport, community facilities like libraries and meeting halls, close to where most people want to live, sustainably designed and affordable. These attributes are at the heart of the City Plan.

Gold Coast Waterways Authority CEO Hal Morris and Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate at Southport Yacht Club in November. Picture: Luke Mortimer.

Ultimately, it’s all about balance. When people look about the city, I’m confident they see that we are getting it right. Our city boasts 2300 parks, we have more than 3000 kilometres of cycleways (that’s Sydney to Cape York) and our Robina Heartland project will be six times (220 hectares) the size of the current Broadwater Parklands. Recently, we have also teamed with Gold Coast Waterways Authority on a joint study into climate change and its impacts on the coastline, and broadwater.

I encourage the selfish greenie minority to take a breath of our city’s fresh air and try to look for positive input into our community “conversation”.

As Mayor, I put on the record my thanks to the dozens of community groups and volunteers working tirelessly to play their part in our city’s future. I enjoy working side-by-side with them and see these people as true city ambassadors.

Let’s all embrace the good work so many people, including thousands of youth, are doing right across our city.

Lastly, the best place a selfish greenie can find some of that beautiful fresh air is by enjoying a leisurely walk along the 55km of world-class ocean beaches that stretch from Coolangatta to the top of South Stradbroke Island.

The walk will be good for their soul.