Gold Coast Hinterland Cableway: LNP leader David Crisafulli backs controversial project to supercharge tourism sector

The man tipped to be Queensland’s next premier has revealed his plans to supercharge the Gold Coast’s tourism sector and where he stands on one of the city’s most controversial projects.

Opposition Leader David Crisafulli has thrown his support behind building a cableway in the Gold Coast Hinterland.

The man who is odds-on favourite to become the next premier following Saturday’s election says it’s critical to put tourism front-and-centre of the economy going forward, starting with supercharging the green behind the gold on the Coast.

Mr Crisafulli said he would simultaneously serve as both premier and tourism minister to underline the importance of the industry to the region and would work closely to deliver Hinterland tourism projects with the Gold Coast City Council – including a cableway.

Queensland LNP leader David Crisafulli pictured during his Gold Coast visit on Wednesday. Picture David Clark

“We have so much potential in the space and If we are objectively looking at tourism, we haven’t developed eco tourism for a generation in this state and I cannot think of a better place to do it than the Coast,” the Member for Broadwater said while visiting the city on a Wednesday campaign stop.

“I’m not talking about wanton destruction, I’m talking about environmentally sensitive developments where you create jobs for people, create a generation of people who are environmental defenders and put that money aback in the environment.

“If things stack up environmentally then we should dream big because eco-tourism is a sleeping giant for the Coast.”

When asked if he was keen for a cableway, he said “absolutely”.

“I love that council has got an ambitious dream to make something like that happen but it has to be done to the highest environmental standards,” he said.

A cableway in the Hinterland has long been discussed.

“I do think they are the kind of projects where, if we create a relationship where council and state can work together, that’s the kind of project which we would look back on in generation and see it as a defining moment in Gold Coast tourism 2.0, the new wave.

“Just have a look at when this city became a city, there was a period of amazing growth, the theme parks and other amazing private sector investment and by virtue of the industry having great providers, we have done well to attract people here.

“We need to use the upcoming Olympics and Paralympics as a runway to developing new stock.

David Crisafulli says it’s critical to create new tourism product for the city Picture David Clark

“We have a great tourism product here and what we need now is the next generation of that so a cableway makes a hell of a lot of sense.”

Mayor Tom Tate last week revived hopes that a cableway could be built to boost eco-tourism on the Gold Coast, saying it was something he hoped to work with the LNP on if he becomes premier.

Mr Tate said he expected the project would be funded jointly by council and state, with approval being sought from First Nations people.

He’s been backed by one of Australia’s peak industry figures, Transport and Tourism Forum (TTF) boss Margy Osmond who said broadening the city’s offerings was critical in an increasingly competitive market.

The project, which was previously projected to cost upward of $170m, is opposed by green groups which have protested against several different proposes since 1998.

In July 2022 the state Labor government refused to join the council in an agreement to proceed with funding early planning on the cableway.

Premier Steven Miles, who was then Deputy Premier, and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon who had the environment portfolio, outlined their concerns in emails to Mayor after he sought State involvement in the project. Mr Miles told the Mayor: “Given there is no proposal before the Queensland government to consider at this point, it would be premature for the Queensland government to enter a Memorandum of Understanding.”