State poll 2024: Gold Coast needs next government to focus on key projects like Greenheart

Is this Gold Coast hinterland cableway going to finally get off the ground?

Is this Gold Coast hinterland cableway going to finally get off the ground? The short answer is “it’s unlikely to happen”. A better question is “what other projects should we promote”.

David Crisafulli, our city’s Broadwater MP and the Opposition leader, after the Saturday poll is tracking to become Premier. If that happens, he will also be the Tourism Minister.

Until asked about the cableway, his tweets show his key commitments include an increase in tourism marketing dollars, building a dive wreck and rolling out drones and smart drumlines.

He supports a superyacht facility and dredging of the Broadwater for boaties. The LNP’s response to a Community Alliance survey did not address the cableway or cruise ship terminal.

The LNP is poised to be elected to government in Queensland. What does that mean for Gold Coast projects like light rail, the cableway and cruise ship terminal.

The cableway debate was sparked by remarks from Mayor Tom Tate. So what is the state of play with council’s ongoing investigation of a project which has no proponent?

City lifestyle and heritage committee chair Glenn Tozer says the first step involves

consulting First Nations groups about the concept of a cableway to the Springbrook falls.

When contacted for comment, he said the process needs to “run its course” before elected representatives start talking up their personal views.

“There’s a Native Title claimant involved and I think respect for that process seems prudent, whatever we might think about a cableway, particularly because council resolved to first consult before next steps,” he said.

“Our Gold Coast hinterland has major National Park areas at Springbrook and Lamington, and council conservations area and World Heritage biodiversity areas, so any proposal would be headed to an EPBC referral at the federal level no matter what our community says. Right now, my personal focus is on other more deliverable projects.”

What are the early indications from the consultation? My feedback from a First Nations source suggests the response so far appears to be “at best ambivalent – at worst, negative”.

Ann Wason Moore on the Oceanway, the cableway, the tram

Artist impression of Greenheart, the Gold Coast's new proposed parklands between Robina and Merrimac.

The reality is even if an LNP state government supports the $170 million project, the Commonwealth is the crucial decision maker. We are talking about a world heritage rainforest.

Which moves the debate to what Mr Tozer refers to as “deliverable projects”.

My reckoning is either majority support or endorsement in council exists for these projects:

* Light rail Stage 4 from Burleigh to the Gold Coast Airport and border.

* The complete building of all stages of the Coomera Connector.

* The creation of Robina’s Greenheart on the floodplain.

* Expanding our film industry along with further stages of HOTA including a lyric theatre.

New updated designs for the planned Lyric theatre at HOTA on the Gold Coast.

The LNP plans to “put the brakes on” and review light rail Stage 4, while Labor supports the trams pending the outcome of the yet to be completed business case.

Coomera Connector early stage forward funding in the budget has the support of both parties.

Not a word has been spoken during the poll about Greenheart which will boast a huge outdoor concert venue, or the lyric theatre at HOTA.

In terms of environmental and community projects, Greenheart is our city’s sleeping giant. It just doesn’t get the media coverage yet. Council cannot fund it alone.

With the athletes village at Robina, this is not just about creating green lungs in middle of the Gold Coast, it’s our only tangible Olympics legacy. Let’s talk more about it.

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Originally published as State poll 2024: Gold Coast needs next government to focus on key projects like Greenheart