Tamborine Mountain is no longer included in plans for City of Gold Coast’s proposed cableway.
Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor Tom Sharp recently received a letter from the City of Gold Coast providing an update on the cableway briefing provided to SRRC Councillors and staff on March 11, 2026.
A report will be provided to City of the Gold Coast Council recommending that the City does not progress any further exploratory work on route options that include Tamborine Mountain, noting that Council is yet to ratify this decision.
“The issues involved with a Mount Tamborine option, including significant crossings of private properties, lack of a clear route, lack of interest from potential proponents and a less attractive route experience compared with potential alternatives are significant factors,” the letter stated.
“Previous correspondence from Cr Hay has advised of the lack of interest in this proposal from her community, and from the discussions held last week, it was evident that there is no real appetite from SRRC to support a cableway to Tamborine Mountain.”
The letter was sent to provide clarity regarding the City of Gold Coast Council’s current position and assist in ensuring transparency and co-ordinated messaging across both Councils.
Division One councillor Amanda Hay said there has been some recognition of the inadequate infrastructure on the Mountain, including suitable public amenities.
“The over-visitation already experienced here would be exacerbated should up to an additional 580,000 visitors per annum utilise a cableway, and equally clearly there would have to be other forms of transport at this end to move such a vast number of visitors,” Cr Hay said.
Current estimated visitation rates to Tamborine Mountain are between 1.2m and 1.6m per annum.
“I was elected on a platform which included giving priority to Division one voters’ issues, such as local ecology, environment, employment, appropriate development, and safeguarding their amenity, over developers’ and tourism-focused concerns.”
“Whilst the cableway may have been welcomed by those in the tourism industry (a small percentage of our ratepayers), local residents are not in favour, and I hope this puts the matter to bed permanently.”
