Springbrook Cableway Proposal:

Environmental Concerns, Costs and Community Opposition

For over two decades,
The Springbrook Cableway Proposal
has been stopped time and again
by
* environmental concerns,
* scientific scrutiny and
*overwhelming community opposition.

Yet rather than listening to the people most affected, the Gold Coast City Council appears determined to press ahead, directing close to
$1 BILLION
towards investigating a project that still lacks broad community support and continues to raise serious concerns about the future of one of Australia’s most precious World Heritage environments.

While many residents ask a simple question: Why are they still trying to force this project onto a community that does not want it?

Springbrook Cableway Investigation (Route Planning Stage) [1]
The City of Gold Coast has progressed a business case to explore a controversial $170 million sky rail connection to Springbrook. [1, 2]
• Current Status: Following council approvals to map potential pathways, environmental and cultural assessments are actively underway.
• Next Steps: The City of Gold Coast is slated to begin broad public community consultation from mid-2026 to gather resident and First Nations feedback on the proposed routes. [1, 2]
$500,000 and then a further $990,000 has been spent to date .
 
The Queensland Government is investing millions into the Springbrook region to boost ecotourism ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. The Olympic-aligned funding is designed to expand visitor experiences beyond the traditional coastal beaches. [1 2]
 
Current Proposal Status
• The Route: The Cream Track (running from Tallebudgera Valley to the Springbrook Plateau) was floated as a potential route, though it traverses environmentally sensitive Gondwana Rainforests. The council is actively investigating multiple route options and plans to conduct broad community consultation. [1, 2, 3]
• The Costs: Initial feasibility estimates suggested a $170 million price tag, but recent council briefings indicate costs could blow out to between $500 and $600 million. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
• Next Steps: The council has allocated funds to “de-risk” the proposal and explore route feasibility, with a definitive route and business case expected to take several years to finalize. [1, 2]

Because this project is heavily debated, you can track the progress, environmental impact studies, and community campaigns through official portals and activist groups: [1]
• Official City Updates: Follow the project’s progress and upcoming consultations on the City of Gold Coast Springbrook Cableway page.
• Community/Environmental Stance: Read the coalition’s list of objections and environmental assessments via the Gecko Environment Council Cableway No Way campaign. [1]

You can object and have your say here:
https://gchaveyoursay.com.au/cableway