The official Olympic website and the Gold Coast City Council say YES
Major international events often bring opportunities, but they can also create access to funding that would never normally be available for large-scale infrastructure projects. The concern for many Springbrook residents is that the lead-up to the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games may be accelerating development proposals that would otherwise struggle to gain support.
Across South East Queensland, Olympic-related investment is already influencing planning decisions. On the Gold Coast, discussions surrounding Austinville, the Pinnacle, Eaglemont Estate, drone transport systems, expanded tourism infrastructure, and the proposed Springbrook Cableway have raised concerns among local residents and environmental groups.
One of the most controversial proposals is the Springbrook Cableway project. The City of Gold Coast has allocated significant public funding towards investigations and business case development for a cableway linking the Gold Coast hinterland to Springbrook.
According to council documents, the proposal is being examined as part of a broader strategy to expand nature-based tourism in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympics. Supporters argue it could increase visitor access and economic activity. Critics question whether a World Heritage-listed cloud forest should become a focus for large-scale tourism infrastructure.
The project has a long and contentious history. Similar cableway proposals have been raised repeatedly over the past two decades, only to stall because of environmental concerns, cultural heritage issues, engineering challenges, and strong community opposition.
Many residents are asking a simple question:
If previous proposals were deemed too environmentally risky,
what has changed?
At the same time, Springbrook is increasingly being recognised as a valuable training environment for endurance athletes. The mountain’s steep gradients, cooler climate, and challenging terrain already attract cyclists, runners, and other athletes preparing for high-performance competition. As Olympic planning continues, there is growing discussion about the role the Gold Coast hinterland may play in training and tourism activities associated with the Games.
The concern is not sport itself. The concern is whether Olympic-related funding and timelines could be used to justify developments that place additional pressure on one of Australia’s most sensitive and internationally significant natural environments.
Springbrook is not simply another tourist destination. It forms part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Gondwana Rainforests of Australia, home to ancient ecosystems found nowhere else on Earth.
Residents, environmental organisations and conservation groups are urging decision-makers to proceed with extreme caution. Once ancient rainforest habitat is cleared, fragmented, or industrialised, it cannot simply be restored.
Useful links:
The Official Olympics Guide (Gold Coast Exercise): The official 
Olympics.com Gold Coast Best Spots to Exercise Guide explicitly names the location in its regional breakdown. It states: “The 54km Gold Coast Hinterland Great Walk winds through Springbrook and Lamington National Parks…” and singles out “The Cream Track, descending from Springbrook Plateau into the Tallebudgera Valley” as a primary site for high-intensity terrain training. [1, 2]
Queensland Government’s “Destination 2045” Strategy: Reported via Council Magazine, this 20-year post-Olympics tourism roadmap outlines the $80 million state funding program to fast-track tourism developments before the Games arrive. It explicitly names “facility upgrades at Springbrook National Park“ as one of its core priority projects to handle the influx of international visitors. [1, 2]
The Numinbah Escape Funding Initiative: Covered by regional outlets, the Queensland Government allocated millions to tourism proposals specifically tied to the pre-Olympic push. Official funding profiles state that the largest share goes to “Numinbah Escape near Springbrook National Park, which includes plans for a one-kilometre zipline… ahead of the 2032 Brisbane Olympics”. [1]
The Gold Coast Hinterland Cableway Master Plan: As documented in the Gold Coast Bulletin, the City Council explicitly advanced a multi-million-dollar eco-tourism project ahead of the Games. The official reporting highlights that “the proposed hinterland cableway could be built before 2032 and take advantage of the push for nature-based tourism in the lead-up to the Olympics,” noting intense debate from the “Respect Springbrook Mountain Coalition” regarding its proximity to the World Heritage Area. [1, 2]
• City of Gold Coast Springbrook Cableway Project:
https://gchaveyoursay.com.au/cableway
• Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games:
https://www.olympics.com/en/brisbane-2032
• Gecko Environment Council:
https://gecko.org.au
The debate is not simply about tourism.
It is about deciding what kind of legacy the 2032 Olympics should leave behind..
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