The Tweed Heads Chamber of Commerce breakfast July meeting on Tuesday (13 July) had as their guest speaker the Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate.
Tom Tate is your classical perennial Gold Coast political figure-heads making headlines with futuristic ideas for the advancement of the Gold Coast. Tom Tate is an astute politician.
Tom Tate is also an evangelical Christian and made the headlines two years ago when he was baptised by immersion.
Three highlights
Tom Tate made three headline points in his presentation.
First, the Light Rail coming down to Coolangatta and eventually to Tweed Heads and down the NSW north coast. He cited the Gold Coast’s Mermaid Beach community leaders who wanted to two platforms and encouraged them to make a noise toward their goal.
Second, the highly likely Brisbane 2032 Olympics and the impact on the Gold Coast as did the 2019 Brisbane Commonwealth Games. He cited the possibility of two new stadiums for starters.
Third, border crossing issues between Qld and NSW at the Coolangatta – Tweed Heads region. Tom Tate explained that Qld State Government has great difficulty in grasping that ‘business’ runs from the Qld capital Brisbane to Bryon Bay in NSW.
He answered many of the questions the members of the Tweed Chamber of Commerce asked, especially on the difficulties with borders crossings.
One anomaly came up whereas semi-trailer transports with inter-state number plates (with essential super market and business product) sail through border crossings -whereas - Charity motor vehicles engaged in essential welfare for the community – and with the correct border passes - which nominally have the same access as semi-trailers - have nothing of a sort travelling into Queensland.
Tom Tate explained it was a progression of understanding how border crossings work and the essential nature of business on both sides of the border - are essentially one.