A Springbrook cableway is risky, destructive, unsustainable, and competitive.
A cableway is a threat to wildlife and habitat and endangers the integrity of this global biodiversity hotspot.
Springbrook is a World Heritage treasure, recognised for its global significance, and a beautiful well-loved place for locals and visitors. Springbrook National Park is part of the ancient Gondwana Rainforests and is a global biodiversity hotspot with an extremely high conservation value, providing habitat for more than 200 rare or threatened plant and animal species.
The City of Gold Coast Council is using ratepayer funds to investigate and ‘de-risk’ a proposal for a cableway to World Heritage listed Springbrook National Park for the benefit of a commercial proponent. This is happening without First Nations agreement and despite known negative impacts on threatened species and ecosystems. While the need for consultation has been acknowledged, it has not yet been undertaken.
A past cableway proposal was rejected by the Coordinator General in 2000, due to a rigorous environmental assessment which outlines multiple significant issues, some of which are even greater in 2025.
What can you do?
Gecko Environment Council, Queensland Conservation Council and National Parks Association of Queensland are joined by local groups, residents, and business owners in their grave concern about this inappropriate proposal in a protected area with exceptional wildlife and flora. Over 3,500 people have signed our petition so far, asking the Premier to rule out supporting a cableway in Springbrook National Park.
- Join over 3,500 people and sign the petition asking Premier Crisafulli to rule out a cableway through the World Heritage listed Springbrook National Park.
- Support the campaign and growing coalition of people, community leaders and groups. Email: advocacy@gecko.org.au
- Share why you love Springbrook and think a cableway should be stopped. Send us a couple of sentences and a pic! Email: advocacy@gecko.org.au
- Share our social media Facebook and Insta: GeckoGoldCoast
How destructive would a Springbrook cableway be?
A Springbrook Cableway is Risky to the national park’s status as a World Heritage site. It will attract international scrutiny of the impacts on the Gondwana World Heritage Area, with potential for further downgrading to a “World Heritage in danger” listing. Professor James Watson from University of Queensland Science confirms what we feared: a cableway could risk Springbrook National Park losing its UNESCO World Heritage status. Bushfires in highly flammable vegetation, landslips on steep unstable terrain and severe storms present dangers to passengers and rescue personnel.
A Springbrook Cableway is Destructive to wildlife and habitat in this unique global biodiversity hotspot. Significant clearing of protected vegetation is required for giant tower structures. Even if placed with helicopters, irreparable damage is created from noise and downdraft over a long period, as well as building necessary access roads. Construction of a 10km cableway would destroy habitat, harm flora and fauna species of state and national significance, and increase the threat of invasive species.
A Springbrook Cableway is Unsustainable with an estimated doubling of visitors increasing to 1,000,000 per year to Springbrook National Park. The small and fragile park has already drawn international attention from harmful visitor impacts.
An increase in heavy truck use of the Springbrook roads to transport sewerage, water and supplies would endanger local lives and wildlife and put more strain on this infrastructure. Cableway infrastructure would obstruct panoramic natural scenic views at multiple Springbrook lookouts, another threatened value in the park’s World Heritage listing.
A Springbrook Cableway is Costly and Unfairly Competitive with small local businesses. Springbrook village is very different to Kuranda in North QLD, the community have not been consulted and are unlikely to benefit from cableway visitors with no transport to small businesses across the mountain. The necessary power upgrades and subsidised insurance may cost government millions of dollars. Power outages on the mountain are frequent.
Recommendations to the City of Gold Coast Council and Queensland Government:
- COGC Council and QLD Government do not proceed with a memorandum of understanding on a cableway.
- COGC Council and QLD Government investigate a World Heritage Environmental and Cultural Centre to support ecotourism, communities, nature, and culture for the Gold Coast region
- COGC Council and QLD Government engage in early, meaningful consultation with community, Traditional Owners, local tourism and the conservation sector to identify genuine nature-based and ecotourism opportunities and suitable project sites.
Cultural concerns and genuine consultation
For the Kombumerri people and neighbouring Clan Groups, Springbrook Mountain and National Park is known as Burrigan and is a living entity of immense cultural, spiritual, economic, social, physical, and historical significance.
Identifying and proposing ecotourism projects must involve early and genuine consultation with Traditional Owners, communities, local business, environment, and tourism sectors.
What makes Springbrook cableway different to the cableway in Kuranda?
After 7 years of assessment the Skyrail cableway to Kuranda was approved on the edge of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (900,000ha) in Far North Queensland. This approval was made before the introduction of the Commonwealth Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, under which impacts on matters of national significance, including World Heritage and threatened species, are assesed. Given the Wet Tropics of Queensland World Heritage was also downgraded to ‘Significant Concern’ in 2020, it is unlikely that the Skyrail cableway would be approved today.
In comparison, Springbrook NP (3000ha) is far smaller than the Wet Tropics and home to a higher concentration of identified species in a small, protected area. Skyrail pylons and stations were constructed mostly in areas that were already cleared, whereas the terrain to Springbrook includes nine regional ecosystems with exceptional biodiversity. The Wet Tropics do not pose a fire risk like the flammable bush in Springbrook, and Kuranda village has water and sewerage infrastructure to support visitor numbers, including major roads and the scenic train route which visitors usually take as part of a round-trip.
World class ecotourism for communities and nature – a better alternative and unique proposal
Gecko recommends the City of Gold Coast Council and QLD Government investigate a World Heritage Environmental and Cultural Centre and lead a global standard in ecotourism. A world-class gateway to Gondwana on the Gold Coast would benefit local businesses, communities, and elevate visitor experiences by celebrating nature and culture.
A World Heritage Environmental and Cultural Centre will support growth in local tourism companies, with opportunities for guided tours from the centre to a range of various natural sites throughout the hinterland. The centre would enrich visitor experiences and provide innovative education, with opportunities to partner with research and activities that support conservation.
A Council report states that cableways are nothing new to attract more visitors. But there is an opportunity for a world-class heritage visitor centre in the Gold Coast as a gateway to our globally recognised Gondwana forests.
World Heritage status cannot be risked
Springbrook National Park is part of the Gondwana World Heritage Area that was recently rated of “significant concern” by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature. In 2020 the IUCN found that increasing threats to the Gondwana World Heritage Area need to be addressed, including bushfires, invasive species, pathogens, climate change.
Local residents, business operators and conservationists are not willing to risk losing a globally recognised World Heritage Area for a cableway. Visitors come from around the world to experience the scenic beauty and wonders of Springbrook National Park, listed for its international significance due to its unique ecology and geology which date back to Gondwanan times 300,000 years ago and beyond.
Read the QLD Government Environmental Protection Agency report (2000):
In response to a cableway proposal in 2000 the QLD Government Environmental Protection Agency prepared a report which outlines multiple significant issues. Read the report for the assessment made in 2000 of likely impacts, some of which are even greater in 2025.
Link to PDF of Co-Ord General Decision Cableway 2000 Part 1
Link to PDF of Co-Ord General Decision Cableway 2000 Addendum
Read our joint media releases here:
27 February 2025: World Heritage status at risk from proposed Springbrook cableway
25 October 2024: Conservationists ‘dismayed’ at LNP push for cableway in World Heritage Area
21 November 2024: Council urged to drop Springbrook Cableway ‘mission’; listen to locals
Help us stop the cableway:
- Join over 3,500 people and sign the petition asking Premier Crisafulli to rule out a cableway through the World Heritage listed Springbrook National Park.
- Support the campaign and growing coalition of people, community leaders and groups. Email: advocacy@gecko.org.au
- Share why you love Springbrook and think a cableway should be stopped. Send us a couple of sentences and a pic! Email: advocacy@gecko.org.au
- Share our social media Facebook and Insta: GeckoGoldCoast
Read our Statement of Reasons pdf here