... AS COUNCIL GETS GREEN LIGHT ON CABLEWAY

GOLD Coast Council has been given the green light to back a cableway in the Gold Coast hinterland.

The Bulletin can reveal Urbis advised council in a pre-feasibility report that there was “merit” in investigating the city’s potential newest tourist attraction.

A cableway to Springbrook will require a capital investment of around $170m, and ongoing operational costs estimated at $5.1m. However, Urbis warned the council about the need for it to be an ecofriendly project that fits in with the character of the Springbrook National Park.

Council will now embark on an extensive consultation process.

A CONSULTANT has given the council approval to back a cableway in the Gold Coast hinterland.

The Bulletin can reveal Urbis advised council in a prefeasibility report that there was “merit” in investigating the city’s potential newest tourist attraction.

A cableway to Springbrook will require a capital investment of around $170m, and ongoing operational costs estimated at $5.1m.

The study area extends across the valleys between Springbrook and Neranwood and included the Springbrook

Plateau in the west and a significant portion of the hinterland foothills to the east.

But Urbis warned the council about the need for this to be an eco-friendly project that fits in with the character of the Springbrook National Park.

Mayor Tom Tate told the Bulletin the council would embark on an extensive consultation process with stakeholders, environment groups and the community.

Councillors are set to discuss the report at a committee meeting on Wednesday.

The findings about the cableway project include:

A significant tourism uplift including increasing the number of visitors per night staying on the Gold Coast, attracting an average 1628 passengers per day and 594,302 passengers per annum.

The average revenue per passenger trip is expected to be about $55.

Will generate an annual gross operating profit of $31.2m.

Could break even within five to 10 years of construction with a gross annual operating profit of $33m.

Could generate 829 jobs and additional economic benefit of over $878m.

The consultant noted that the potential economic benefits to both the state and regional economies were “significant”, given the recovery needed from COVID.

“But it is critical that any future proposal appropriately balances the economic benefits with the outstanding natural features of the locality and any adverse impacts on the local communities of both Springbrook and Mudgeeraba,” the report says.

The project had to deliver a best-practice ecotourism experience for visitors “whilst ensuring compatibility with the ecological and cultural values of Springbrook, the Gondwana Rainforests of Australia and the City of Gold Coast”.

The cableway must be designed to “fit within the character of the Springbrook National Park”.

Councillor Tate said: “I want to ensure that key interest groups are fully involved in initial stages of any discussions, and throughout the proposed project.

“Of course, traditional owners are paramount but I want to include our city’s environmental groups. I will be asking council to ensure this occurs.

“With that in mind, I ask all parties to come to these discussions with an open mind. Let me be very clear – if this project does not meet the stringent environmental conditions, I will be the first to rule it out.”