POWDER DRY IN FIRST SPAT

NOT a single vote will change as a result of yesterday’s first mayoral debate of 2020.

The inaugural face-off between Mayor Tom Tate and contender Mona Hecke at the Surfers Paradise Hilton was a quiet start to the campaign season, with nearly two months still remaining until election day.

Covering topics such as economic development, construction and infrastructure, yesterday’s UDIA luncheon was a good litmus test for the election.

Ms Hecke is to be congratulated for turning up to front a pro-development audience in her first major campaign event in what was sure to have been a daunting task.

However, if she wishes to unseat Cr Tate from the mayoralty, the public will need to hear plenty more detail from the wannabe politician about how she intends to boost the city’s economy given the challenges facing us.

While feel-good talk about sustainability and changes to the City Plan will play well in some sectors of the community, they do little to provide hope to mums, dads and business owners who want to know how council is going to keep our most critical sectors going.

Coronavirus and its cost on our tourism industry is yet to be calculated but it is clear that it will be far beyond the initial $40 million estimate.

With construction also slowing down, economic development and diversification will prove to be one of the most critical areas of focus for whoever wins the March 28 poll.

Whatever you think of Cr Tate, he is a known quality who has made it clear he is campaigning on projects he says will boost the economy such as a Hinterland cableway and extending the light rail from Burleigh to Gold Coast Airport.

It’s early days and both candidates have got time to refine their message to voters.

No doubt the real contest is yet to begin.