Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate announces at least 18-month wait before fate of hinterland cableway revealed
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MAYOR Tom Tate says it will be at least another 18 months before the city knows the fate of the cableway project planned for the Gold Coast hinterland.
A majority of councillors have supported council launching an environmental audit into the planned Springbrook national park cableway with $500,000 to be considered in the 2020-21 budget for further studies.
Councillors apart from hinterland-based Peter Young have backed a recommendation to develop and execute a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the State Government and council to consider the $170 million project.
Consultants employed by council had earlier recommended to the city that the project was of “merit”. But no detail in their report covered environmental consequences and fire risk.
Councillor Tate – when asked by the Bulletin how the latest recommendations from councillors impacted on a timeline for the city’s potential newest tourist attraction – admitted it was difficult to gauge.
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“I don’t (really know about a timeline) on the EIS (environmental impact statement). I think what will happen, it’s the MOU with the State has to happen first,” he said.
Cr Tate, due to the impact of COVID 19 restrictions on the cruise ship industry, has already parked his offshore cruise ship terminal plan at The Spit, admitting it will not be embarked on until the next council.
“Looking in the past, it won’t be a swift decision (on the cableway). If I have to put a timeline on it, a minimum 18 months. Minimum,” he said.
“I will go through with (seeing) the Enviornmental Minister (Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon) first, she being local – and engage and see if there is an opportunity to progress further.
“If there is a political will on both side of politics, let’s put some work in. If there is no political will on both sides, okay I will report back to council and move on.”
The council has brighter news on several of its own major projects with timelines showing the first stages will be completed in this four-year council term.
The Bulletin has compiled some of the city’s major projects to update readers on their progress so far.
Some projects, including the dive site, Pizzey Park skatepark and the Pimpama community centre, are set to be finished in the next few months and open by the end of 2021.
Others like the cruise ship terminal have been shelved indefinitely.
STATUS REPORT - GOLD COAST’S MAJOR PROJECTS
OFFSHORE CRUISE SHIP TERMINAL - RED LIGHT
Mayor Tom Tate admitted his pet project would be decided by the next council, meaning it’s off the table until 2024.
HINTERLAND CABLEWAY - YELLOW LIGHT
An environmental audit into the cableway will be launched after councillors backed a move to work with the state government to consider it. $500,000 will be considered for further studies in the 2021-22 budget process.
DIVE ATTRACTION - GREEN LIGHT
On track to be installed by June and open for the Christmas-New Year holiday season.
PIMPAMA SPORTS HUB - GREEN LIGHT
The first phase of the $80m centre opened in February and the rest is on track to be completed in late 2021.
PIZZEY PARK UPGRADE - GREEN LIGHT
A $4.6m skate park extension will be built to Olympic standard and completed in December 2021.
The extension includes the skate park, pedestrian and carpark lighting, pathway upgrades, carpark upgrades, bus drop-off area and seating.
LIGHT RAIL STAGE 3 - GREEN LIGHT
The 6.7km Broadbeach to Burleigh stretch of light rail has now had $269m committed to it by the federal government.
The latest report revealed it would cost $150m per kilometre.
Major construction is expected to begin this year but a contract is yet to be signed.
LIGHT RAIL STAGE 4 - RED LIGHT
The 13km extension would link Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta via the Gold Coast Airport.
Though it’s been labelled a “must” for the 2032 Olympics, multi-modal corridor planning is still underway.
COOMERA CONNECTOR - GREEN LIGHT
A new report revealed the $1.53b second M1 will be reduced from six to four lanes in some sections, with the first Nerang to Coomera section to take up to 10 years to build.
Construction of Stage 1 is expected to begin in mid-2021 after the business case is released.
THE SPIT JETTY & RAINFOREST - GREEN LIGHT
The $4m pontoon-jetty planned for the Marine Stadium at The Spit’s northern end is set to begin construction in August and be completed by February next year.
The Gold Coast Waterways Authority will hold several community information sessions from this month onwards.
Despite concerns raised over a “substantial” fire risk the $8m, 37ha Spit rainforest will be grown over the next 10 years.
It’s estimated it will take approximately 12 months for plantings to become established.
ROBINA GREENHEART - GREEN LIGHT
The 2021-22 budget will include funding for the 10-year project.
Cr Tate told the Bulletin he couldn’t be specific as budget documents are still being finalised.
“In simple terms, we have to ensure sufficient green and open space for our booming population,” he said.
Ground has already broken on stage one at Robina City Parklands.
The 22ha project will deliver wetland walks, sports fields and nature-based experiences.
WATER RECYCLE PIPELINE - GREEN LIGHT
The project is ongoing throughout the year.
The most recent report by the Bulletin in mid-2020 revealed cracked piping had caused practical challenges to the South Stradbroke Island stretch of the $500m pipeline.
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