Paul Weston opinion: what the tourism budget spend will be on HOTA and cruise ship terminal

Gold Coast ratepayers will soon know where $1.5 billion of their money is to be spent thanks to a budget announcement next week. Here’s where your money will likely end up.

GOLD Coast ratepayers will soon know where $1.5 billion of their money is to be spent. Councillors are wading through confidential papers. What will be in next week’s budget announcement?

Apart from a few presentations, most of the special budget meetings are closed sessions. Councillors cannot talk about them. The only guide is the recommendations, provided in brief open sessions.

Key budget item — an artist impression of the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct at HOTA Stage 2

Those recommendations so far show a strong commitment to the city’s cultural program and tourism where there is brief mention of the elephant in the room — funding for the offshore cruise ship terminal. More about that item later.

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There is a confidential report on HOTA but the allocation on open papers says $13,492,922.

In last year’s year budget the funding for Home of the Arts focused on big set pieces — more than $13 million to start work on the art gallery and almost $17 million for a pedestrian bridge to link to Chevron Island.

The funding breakdown for this year’s budget shows an operating grant of $10.2 million. About $645,000 will go to “gallery deposits” and $200,000 for an art acquisition program.

So it’s not a cheap production, and some ratepayers will question the expense. What all this shows is councillors strongly support the city’s expanding arts and cultural program.

“Ultimately, the majority of councillors have backed it in, as a way of growing our city,” a council insider says.

Artist impression of the view from the Gold Coast Cultural Precinct.

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“We have a huge commitment to build Australia’s largest regional art gallery. It’s not something we can turn the tap on and have it sorted.

“It requires careful planning and execution. We can save money by not spending money, but then you can’t go and say to council ‘why are you not in the arts space’.”

So the Coast, without federal or state funding help, is ahead of the game as a regional city, putting its hand in its pocket, building serious arts and entertainment options.

The recommendations show more than $25 million will be raised by the tourism component from the general rate. About $15 million will be given to Destination Gold Coast.

Getting rid of the tourism alliances — Surfers Paradise, Broadbeach, Southern Gold Coast will be wound up — will require $850,000 for the transition to the new major events body.

Then there is a line — cruise ship terminal — and a figure of $1.25 million. Council spent $500,000 last year on the proposed jetty off Philip Park on The Spit so the spend is up.

The recommendation shows a division was called on the vote. Councillors Glenn Tozer, Peter Young and Daphne McDonald voted against.

Artist impression of the cultural precinct.

When contacted, Cr Tozer said: “I believe that $1.2 million should be allocated to advancement of business tourism and conference tourism in the city.”

Cr McDonald did not respond before deadline but her position, since seeing the financial case on the CST in 2017, has been to oppose it.

Cr Young was more direct and blunt when he sent a text.

“I have studied the full unredacted business case and other materials prepared in regard to the oceanside cruise ship terminal. In my opinion, the project is not worthy of investing a single dollar more of public money,” he wrote.

So your rates money, how it will be spent? All will be in a glossy package next week, but just remember — not everything about this council production has been smooth sailing.