PROJECT FAST TRACK
Mayor planning to spend his way through removal of JobKeeper cash
GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate has vowed to fast-track funding for key council projects to bring forward works and jobs for the sake of the economy.
A total of $313 million worth of major works have been earmarked for acceleration which Cr Tate said was critical to cater for an exploding population and meet job demand.
“As Mayor and budget chairman, I know this is the biggest spending blitz on projects of this nature in the city’s history.”
GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate has vowed to fast-track funding on council projects in what he has described as “the biggest community asset blitz in our history”.
The Gold Coast City Council’s budget committee will within weeks consider a motion to bring forward some planned projects, worth $313m collectively, to stimulate the economy.
Cr Tate said an expected population surge and the need to create jobs to prevent an un
employment crisis made it critical to bring forward the spending.
“Our population is exploding which puts pressure on our roads, public transport and open space,” he said.
“The challenge is to ensure that our enviable lifestyle and access to world-class facilities remains a key reason people want to live here.
“As Mayor and budget chairman I know this is the biggest spending blitz on projects of this nature in the city’s history.”
The projects are already scheduled to be rolled out over the next three years but Cr Tate said the works and jobs could be brought forward.
Among the already announced projects to be considered for fast-tracking will be the $4.5m Pizzey Park skate park masterplan due to be finished by December and the $5m Broadwater Parklands mega playground, which is expected to be completed in late 2022.
Another project set to be brought forward is the Coomera Civic Hub which will be delivered in a joint partnership between council and Westfield Coomera.
There are fears the Gold Coast will face an “economic cliff” in March once the Federal Government’s JobKeeper subsidy ends.
In late 2020 Cr Tate unsuccessfully pleaded with Prime Minister Scott Morrison not to axe JobKeeper or other stimulus from March 30 but keep it until June 30, buying more time for struggling businesses to get back on their feet.
Figures released last year showed the Gold Coast was one of the hardest hit by the coronavirus crisis.
More than 27,000 Glitter Strip businesses had applied for JobKeeper, for 100,000 staff. Federal Government paid out $150m a fortnight.
Business leaders backed this push but it received little interest from Canberra. Cr Tate insisted rates would not rise as a result of the increased spending.
“It cannot come at a rates burden and I reaffirm our council’s commitment to any future rate increase being at CPI or below,” he said.
“We have done that for nine years and we must keep doing it.
“All councillors have been firm in this regard and I know we can build these assets by planning our budget cycles, cutting red tape and ending the waste in our administration.”