Hinterland councillor Glenn Tozer leads charge to stall Springbrook cableway

The $170 million hinterland cableway has been stalled after a sensational split vote among city councillors.

The $170 million hinterland cableway has been stalled after a sensational split vote among city councillors.

Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer put forward a motion at Thursday’s economy, tourism and events committee that council not proceed with consultation “until a proponent expresses interest in writing”.

The vote was 4-3 with Cr Tozer backed by Josh Martin, Naomi Fowler and Nick Marshall.

Committee chair Bob La Castra, Acting Mayor Donna Gates and Darren Taylor voted against, after speaking strongly in favour of continuing work on the project.

Officers earlier said it will take seven years to get approval but the cableway faces divided support among indigenous groups.

Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer, who is neither for or against the cableway, said he was not surprised by the outcome of consultation. Picture Glenn Hampson

City officers have revealed First Nations people are deeply divided about the Springbrook project which is yet to get a proponent. It will take at least three years to build.

Environmental leaders Lois Levy and Sally Spain, outside the Evandale Chamber on Thursday, strongly opposed what they said was a waste of ratepayer money on pursuing the project.

“The objective that they have a proponent first is commendable. I can’t think of another situation where a council does all the work for the proponent — at ratepayers expense,” Ms Levy said. Ms Spain thanked Mr Tozer for “taking an even handed view”.

Officers said the registered native title claimant, Danggun Balun, during consultation was strongly opposed.

But the former registered native title claimant Jabree, on Thursday representing the Gold Coast Native Title Group, sent an email of support.

Officers responding to questions said the project would be “seven years in the making”

About $150,000 of $500,000 allocated to investigating the project had been spent.

Cr Tozer asked if any proponent had shown interest in the project in the last 12 months. Officers replied that “there had not been any specific interest”.

Their proposed road forward was more community consultation, working closely with the State Government, identifying a route and “derisking the project” before going to the market.

Ms Gates agreed with pushing forward on derisking the project to avoid cultural heritage areas saying it would be a disservice to stop now.

“We’ve come this far. We haven’t spent a lot of the allocated funds,” she said.

Cr Tozer believed “the market should lead the process at this point” and put forward a resolution to put a pause on the project “until a proponent expressed interest in writing”.

He said the council should not proceed because it was dividing cultural heritage groups.

“It’s not in good faith as a council. We shouldn’t be going down that track, I can’t see this as the right way forward. This is wasting our time and resources,” he said.

Mr La Castra said: “We have a duty of care. We must undertake due diligence. No proponent is going to come forward until we have more information at hand.”

Mr Taylor gave support arguing for new eco-tourism product, but Councillor Naomi Fowler was opposed because the native title applicant was not on board.

“That says it all. I don’t believe consultation will get us to a point that it will proceed,” she said.

Ms Levy said a national park was there “to protect biodiversity, it’s not there for us to have fun in a gondola”.

She said the waste of ratepayer money was similar to the cruise ship in the Broadwater.

“It also indicates to me that council is disrespecting our indigenous people,” she said.

“Why would we waste half a million dollars that could be used for so many other good projects.”

A final vote will be taken at full council next month.

EARLIER

City Hall hopes of a hinterland cableway face staunch opposition with Gold Coast indigenous groups opposed, a new report reveals.

Mayor Tom Tate has been upbeat about his number one project getting off the ground with backing from the new Crisafulli Government after a recent personal catch-up with new state Tourism and Environment Minister Andrew Powell.

But a Gold Coast City Council officer’s updated report to the economy, tourism and events committee shows not only opposition from First Nations groups but a “mixed reception” from the indigenous community.

The parties with current and legacy rights and interests across the project area, leading up to Springbrook, included Danggan Balun and the Gold Coast Native Title Group (GCNTG).

“Danggan Balun provided formal advice that they do not support the Springbrook Cableway and do not want the project to proceed. The Gold Coast Native Title Group declined to participate in the consultation,” officers said.

Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer, who is neither for or against the cableway, said he was not surprised by the outcome of consultation but believed it was time to hit the pause button on the project. Business leaders in the lead up to the state poll did not see it as a priority.

“What I am committed to is our engagement with First Nations people is genuine and respectful, and when the native title complainant has been so specific in their opposition to the concept, I think that creates a need for an appropriate pause,” he said.

Mr Tozer said the City needed to gather more information about specific routes and areas which might be impacted by a potential cableway and revisit.

Area in the Gold Coast hinterland being considered for the proposed cableway. This is where consultation has occurred. Graphic: Gold Coast City Council.

“Frankly, my personal view, we should pause all of council’s work on the project until a proponent actually wants to deliver the project surfaces,” he said.

The updated report says more community consultation on tourism and cultural opportunities was undertaken on a 10km route in the Springbrook National Park.

Graphics in the report clearly show where council considers a future cableway will occur and where consultation was conducted. The area is immediately east of Purling Brook Falls.

Residents were asked if they supported the project or required more information. Data on their responses was not provided.

“Overall, the response was mixed, however there were some common themes across the stakeholders,” officers said.

“For those who responded ‘yes’ or ‘maybe’, the ultimate decision would hinge on addressing concerns adequately, with a clear commitment to prioritising the cultural, environmental, and economic interests of the First Nations communities in any development plans.

The cableway report to the Gold Coast City Council on the hinterland attraction.

“To advance the project, alignment options should be determined, and heritage due diligence assessment of alignments completed.”

Councillors will be asked at a meeting on Thursday to back a recommendation for further consultation, which is to use $500,000 available in funding.

The 2020 pre-feasibility assessment detailed construction costs of $170 million across three years creating 77 direct jobs during each year of construction and another 108 indirect jobs.

The report estimated the cableway would value add more than $150m to the economy along with $14 million in wages and salaries.

In the operational phase, the cableway’s revenue generation of $35.4 million

each year would support 59 ongoing jobs directly and another 53 jobs indirectly.

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Originally published as Hinterland councillor Glenn Tozer leads charge to stall Springbrook cableway