WE NEED BIG PROJECT UNITY FROM GOVT

STRONG economy. Stronger future.

The kids at Merrimac High participating in the school’s robotics program should be able to live and work on the Gold Coast after they graduate.

The jobs, skills and industries of tomorrow that are so important to diversify our local economy, depend on job-creating, economystrengthening infrastructure delivered from now to the Olympic Games in 2032.

About $3.8bn in Commonwealth nationbuilding transport infrastructure is record funding for the Gold Coast. It includes the light rail, M1 south upgrades, Coomera Connector and major improvements to heavy rail on the Gold Coast line, which are all essential for SEQ liveability in the fastest-growing region of Australia.

The latest $1.1bn Morrison government infrastructure commitment in the 2022 budget, which will profoundly impact our region’s transport, amounts to more than 30 per cent of Queensland’s total infrastructure spend. It’s the biggest share of the pie for all states and territories. It will see heavy rail tracks double to four from Kuraby to Beenleigh, and express services added to make a real difference in the everyday lives of commuting Gold Coasters, tourists and visitors through access to better and faster public transport to our region. It’s another critical project leading into the 2032 Olympics as we showcase the Gold Coast to the world. As outlined in the Reimagine 2.0 Insights Report published by the City Heart Taskforce in December last year, the jobs for those kids at Merrimac High will be in artificial intelligence (AI), robotics, creative and advanced professional services, big data and applications and the green economy.

Local jobs, skills and industries that will strengthen our economy into the future are in manufacturing and Industry 4.0 advanced manufacturing. Jobs have grown during Covid from 14,000 to 22,800 and it’s the largest sector contributing $8.3bn to the Coast economy (Source RDA).

The Gold Coast desperately needs a bigger home for the successful ADAPT project at Griffith University as a key driver of growth for these sectors. I have advocated strongly in Canberra to support this building infrastructure project. But with an empty chair at the SEQ City Deal table, it was not included and now requires a new direction.

The Commonwealth has now extended a further opportunity, outside the SEQ City Deal – let’s call it the “Gold Coast Deal” – for this project to progress by allowing an application from Griffith University to the $150m Innovation Fund.

For the application to be competitive, three levels of government must work together to support Griffith with its application in late 2022.

I very strongly encourage the powers that be in council to partner with federal and state governments for the $100m-plus ADAPT building proposal, so Griffith University’s application can progress and has the best chance of success.

It seems ADAPT can be back on the table as soon as year’s end if council supports Griffith beyond the infrastructure discounts it already offers, and joins the state and federal governments to deliver this project for the next generation of jobs and livelihoods on the Gold Coast.