Rival reaches for the sky
JUNGLE warfare could be on the cards in Queensland’s tourism scene with a project emerging which aims to rival the Far North’s iconic Skyrail.
A cableway proposal for the Gold Coast hinterland is in its early stages but Skyrail boss Ken Chapman said the developers would face a massive environmental challenge.
Gold Coast council was last week given the green light by consultant company Ubris to back a cableway connecting Springbrook and Neranwood in the Gold Coast hinterland, but there is already significant environmental opposition.
The Cairns Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is one of the standout tourism attractions in Queensland. Between the first pitch in 1987 and the start of construction was a consultation and approval process that took seven years.
Skyrail chairman Dr Chapman said it would take a lot of effort to ensure any similar project was built to an ecofriendly standard.
“You don’t want to do any damage to the natural environment, which is what it’s all about,” he said.
“With Skyrail, they built the whole thing by helicopter and didn’t construct any new roads or anything else that would have had a major environmental impact on the rainforest.
“This was 25 years ago – nobody had ever done anything like that before.”
Dr Chapman said while he wasn’t aware of the details of the Gold Coast project, he didn’t think it would detract from what Cairns had to offer.
“What makes Skyrail special is the world-heritage rainforest. We’re all about the spectacular tropical environment,” he said.
“Nobody else has anything like that.”
Dr Chapman said the idea of a Gold Coast cableway had been pitched several times before without progressing.
The first such instance was in 1998 when former Gold Coast mayor Ray Stevens pushed for the idea of a Naturelink Cableway connecting Mudgeeraba and Springbrook.
The proposal met fierce resistance from environment and community groups and was ultimately shut down by the state government.
According to Ubris, the new project will require an investment of about $170m, and ongoing operational costs estimated at $5.1m.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom
Tate said there would be extensive consultation with stakeholders, environment groups and the community.