A major infrastructure spend across southeast Queensland has been unveiled by the Prime Minister and Premier as part of a $1.8 billion dollar city deal.
But there’s nothing for the Gold Coast.
The City Deal has been three years in the making following negotiations between the federal government, state government and the Council of Mayors (SEQ).
The Gold Coast is not a member of the Council of Mayors (SEQ).
The City Deal includes $450 million for a Brisbane Metro Station at Woolloongabba which is set to become a major transport gateway ahead of the 2032 Olympics.
Another $190 million has been earmarked for a green bridge at Kangaroo Point.
“This is all about livability it’s everything from waste management to improving local amenities, to major transport infrastructure, particularly out there at the Gabba hub, and its also about the jobs of the future,” Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Nine Radio.
Millions of dollars worth of projects have also been earmarked outside of Brisbane including Ipswich, Toowoomba, the Sunshine Coast and Logan.
The Prime Minister denies the Gold Coast has been ignored, saying plenty of money has already been spent on infrastructure projects here.
“We’ve still got the Coomera Connector, that’s $1 billion alone, and there are upgrades to the M1 from Varsity Lakes to Tugun that’s $680 million.
“There’s almost $2 billion in projects also down there on the Gold Coast which are not specifically part of this deal but we’ve been getting on with them for some time.”
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk also defended leaving the Gold Coast out, declaring there has been major investment on the Gold Coast.
“There has been a lot of infrastructure that has gone into the Gold Coast. Even when we look at the Commonwealth Games… a lot of that infrastructure that was built for the Commonwealth Games is going to be used for the Olympics,” The Premier said.
“Also too, we’ve committed a lot of money for the continuation… for the light rail as well so when you add all that in as well it’s a very huge investment in infrastructure.
But Labor Senator Murray Watt says there is no excuse for leaving the Gold Coast out of the deal.
“To leave out the second biggest city in the state out of a city deal that is about lifting the whole of southeast Queensland is an incredible slap in the face for anyone who lives on the Gold Coast,” Senator Watt said.
“This deal is largely about getting southeast Queensland ready for the Olympics and the Gold Coast is going to play a big role in the Olympics and yet now it has been left out. No funding for infrastructure, no funding for services when the rest of southeast Queensland is getting a share.”
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has written to both the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader urging them to commit to funding three key projects in the city ahead of the federal election.
They include Light Rail Stage 4 to Coolangatta, the next stage of HOTA and the city’s Green Heart project.
McPherson MP and government frontbencher Karen Andrews labelled the Mayor’s move as a “stunt”.
