Gold Coast light rail: Burleigh MP Michael Hart and Transport Minister Mark Bailey in brutal online spat
Burleigh MP Michael Hart and Transport Minister Mark Bailey are embroiled in another vicious social media spat after the release of a controversial light rail study. READ THE COMMENTS >>>
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
BURLEIGH MP Michael Hart and Transport Minister Mark Bailey are embroiled in another vicious social media spat after the release of a controversial light rail study.
A state-commissioned study by consultants Jacobs Group revealed the coastal route via Palm Beach was preferable to the western line along the M1.
Mr Hart told the Bulletin he had not read the report – released on Monday – but believed it had been “doctored” by the State Government.
He has since clarified after reading the report that his main concern is “liveability”.
“While the report is fairly detailed on the Gold Coast Highway route, the M1 was only assessed as an option against criteria decided by the Gold Coast City Council and TMR officers,” he said.
“To me residents’ liveability is the only important criteria this project should be assessed against and this report doesn’t do a good job.”
His comments sparked mockery on Twitter from Mr Bailey, the latest time the pair have butted heads on the light rail project.
Mr Bailey wrote: “Lazy LNP MP Michael Hart admits he hasn’t read Gold Coast light rail multi-modal report but somehow concludes it’s been doctored.
“Seriously, you just couldn’t make this stuff up.
“This is the same MP who skipped a week of Parliament for a luxury cruise in Canada in 2018.”
Mr Hart fired back, telling Mr Bailey “time’s up”.
“I wrote to you in March to ask you to come and speak to my constituents,” he wrote via Twitter.
“How about replying rather than trolling Twitter with crap.
“Meanwhile I have torn your revised report apart on my Facebook page but I imagine you’re trolling that too.”
MP’S STUNNING CLAIM LIGHT RAIL STUDY WAS ‘DOCTORED’
A GOLD Coast MP is accusing the State Government of “doctoring” an independent light rail study backing the coastal route – despite not reading it.
Burleigh MP Michael Hart admitted he had not yet read the report despite repeatedly demanding it be made public.
The state-commissioned study by consultants Jacobs Group revealed the coastal route via Palm Beach was preferable to the western line along the M1.
FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $1 A WEEK FOR THE FIRST 12 WEEKS
Mr Hart said he was concerned at the document history on the front of the report, which notes the study was revised in June 2020 and April 2021, before release on Monday.
“I just don’t trust the government to have given us the original, they’ve doctored it,” he said, but confirmed he had not read the full report. “I’ve been in meetings all day, so I haven’t been able to (read it).
“The government has always relied on this particular report to say they did look at alternative routes, including the route down the M1. But the original scoping document they put to consultants only ever said to look at the Gold Coast Highway transport corridor, it never said have a look at the M1.
“I don’t think they’ve done a proper study of the M1 corridor.”
TMR officials rubbish his claims of a “doctored” report.
A spokesperson said: “The only information removed from the published report related to potential individual property impacts where we are consulting with directly impacted property owners.
“Before the report was released, minor typos were corrected, personal identifiers removed and sources of information and references to external documents and reports added before it was marked as the final version.”
It notes an M1 route scored less points because of “heritage values” around Tallebudgera and Currumbin creeks, as well as having low “benefit to the wider community”.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey: “He admits he hasn’t read the report but incredibly his laziness hasn’t stopped him pushing his anti-light rail conspiracy theories. By refusing to do his job and read a substantial independent report into a significant issue in his own seat, Mr Hart shows every resident just how lazy and untrustworthy he is.”
“If Mr Hart did read the report, he’d learn independent transport planners found the highway route to be the best route available in terms of travel time to the airport and taking people to places like the beach, shops and cafes.”
REVEALED: How trams will drastically change highway
June 20, 2021
A DECISION to shrink the Gold Coast Highway to two traffic lanes in Palm Beach would likely force transport officials to take “off-corridor mitigation measures”.
An independent study has revealed a number of lane options for the Burleigh to Tugun route of the light rail.
The report for state government by consultants Jacobs Group, seen by the Bulletin, suggests the light rail route could split the Gold Coast Highway three different ways:
1. Four lanes from Burleigh Heads to Tugun;
2. A “hybrid” route with two lanes through Palm Beach and four-lane bridges;
3. Two lanes from Burleigh Heads to Tugun
The report labels a four-lane option a “business as usual” approach while a two lane option is “a wholesale change in traffic capacity along the corridor with a significant reduction in traffic along the GC Highway to around 11,200 vehicles per day (by 2041).”
“The specific design of (the four-lane option) will need to consider other means to address the aspirations for reduced traffic impacts, particularly through town centres along the corridor,” consultants note. “For example, through landscaping/streetscaping treatments, lane widths, speed reductions, access restrictions and local area traffic management.
“A hybrid option has been identified which maintains four lanes over both Tallebudgera Creek and Currumbin Creek but with reduced capacity to two through lanes through Palm Beach.
“This option is forecast to result in a reduction in traffic along the Gold Coast Highway to around 18,200 vehicles per day at Palm Beach North in 2041.”
It adds a hybrid option may also need service roads or other traffic fixes to be added to the M1. All three options are put forward for detailed analysis.
The report has sparked uproar among anti-light rail campaigners, including Burleigh MP Michael Hart and Palm Beach’s Karen Rowles.
Both Mr Hart and Currumbin MP Laura Gerber have called on Transport Minister Mark Bailey to make the full report public.
The Bulletin understands Mr Bailey will ask TMR to make the report public from Monday.
The study made available to the Bulletin does not contain any details on property resumptions, with consultants noting those sections are in commercial in-confidence.
REVEALED: How trams will transform your suburb
THE combination of tram tracks, road lanes and cycleways for each suburb is detailed in a consultant’s report to the state government.
A report by state government commissioned Brisbane consultants Jacobs Group revealed issues with roadside properties and access to the Oceanway had affected route options for southern Gold Coast suburbs.
A Bulletin report on Saturday found the study named the coastal tram route to the airport was the better option, rather than a western line along the Pacific Motorway corridor.
The report, obtained by the Bulletin, named the Gold Coast Highway route to the airport “the fastest and most direct of the corridors investigated”.
The study has fired up anti-light rail campaigners including Burleigh MP Michael Hart and Palm Beach resident Karen Rowles.
Mr Hart said: “I was in Parliament last night with the Transport Minister who didn’t table the report, didn’t brief me or other representatives and I still can’t find the report.”
It’s understood the report may be released to the public as early as Monday.
Part of the report also details the best options for each suburb along the route, including Burleigh and Tallebudgera, Palm Beach and Coolangatta.
The Bulletin has outlined the findings for each suburb.
The study made available to the Bulletin does not contain any details on property resumptions, with consultants noting those sections are in commercial in-confidence.
It’s understood all options will face intense community consultation and a business case.
BURLEIGH HEADS / TALLEBUDGERA
The Gold Coast Highway is currently four lanes, with the report noting running the tram in the median (between the north and south lanes) is the preferable option.
Both two-lane and four-lane options are being considered viable.
The report notes: “The option to downgrade the highway from four to two general vehicle lanes will be made if and where there is evidence to support this.”
The corridor widening to the western side is the more favourable option.
The two options are:
* Four general traffic lanes with light rail in median (except at Tallebudgera Creek bridge) with in-corridor segregated bike lanes. Sub options for cyclists included both two-way and one-way protected cycle lanes.
* Two general traffic lanes with light rail in median (except at Tallebudgera Creek bridge) with in-corridor segregated bike lanes. Again both one-way and two-way options were included.
PALM BEACH
Both two-lane and four-lane traffic options are considered viable at this stage through Palm Beach.
Again the option to downgrade the section to two general vehicle lanes “will be made if and where there is evidence to support this”.
All options of light rail running along the side of the road instead of down the middle have been rated as “not meeting project objectives” because of access impacts on properties and side roads.
Options without cycle lanes have been included for this section because of the potential for alternate routes like the Oceanway.
The three options are:
* Four general traffic lanes, light rail in median with in-corridor cycle facility. Sub options include cycle lanes, two-way cycle tracks on the eastern side and one way protected/segregated cycle tracks.
* Four general traffic lanes, light rail in the median with no in-corridor cycle facility.
* Two general lanes, light rail in median with in-corridor cycle facility.
CURRUMBIN / TUGUN
As with Palm Beach both two-lane and four-lane general traffic options are considered viable.
Having light rail run along the median is preferable because of access impacts to Tomewin Street and Stewart Road, along with other frontage properties and side roads.
Options without cycle facilities were ranked lower in the report.
The report splits this section of the Gold Coast into three separate sections: Gold Coast Highway section 3 north (North of Tomewin Street), Gold Coast Highway section 3 central (Tomewin Street to Stewart Road), and Gold Coast Highway section 3 south (South of Stewart Road).
SECTION 3 NORTH (NORTH OF TOMEWIN STREET)
Both two- and four-lane options have been considered.
The Currumbin Creek bridge cannot accommodate light rail along with general traffic and “active transport”.
A “side mounted” light rail bridge was adopted to maintain flexibility for either median or side options in future.
Options without bike facilities were rejected because there is no direct alternative.
SECTION 3 CENTRAL (TOMEWIN STREET TO STEWART ROAD)
The report states light rail on either side of traffic lanes is “not considered suitable” because of side roads and driveways.
Both two- and four-lane options, and hybrids, were considered.
Whether or not cycle lanes are included relies on what is done north and south of this section.
SECTION 3 SOUTH (SOUTH OF STEWART ROAD)
The report claims no two-lane option is possible because it would fail to meet TMR requirements if the Tugun Bypass tunnel shut down.
It would be possible to put the light rail on the eastern side or in the middle of traffic lanes.
Because of the 80km/h speed limit only a completed segregated cycleway would be safe for cyclists and motorists.
The report notes: “A facility on Golden Four Drive or in ‘reserve’ between Golden Four Drive and Gold Coast Highway will be progressed.”
COASTAL TRAM ROUTE NAMED BEST OPTION
A coastal tram route down the Gold Coast Highway to the airport is a far better option than a western line along the Pacific Motorway corridor, an independent study suggests.
The state government commissioned Brisbane consultants Jacobs Group to investigate the best options into Stage 4 of the light rail before it launched extensive community consultation and a business case.
Gold Coast development: New tower at Coolangatta by S & S Projects
The Gold Coast Highway Burleigh Heads to Tugun report found the highway route would create a “high amenity, community-focused boulevard” in each coastal suburb.
The trams would go past top tourist attractions like Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary and the beaches, past Southern Cross University and the airport.
“The Gold Coast Highway route was found to be the fastest and most direct of the corridors investigated,” consultants say in their report.
It would also allow for the protection of the heavy rail corridor by the M1 for longer travel.
Gold Coast's low vacancy rate causes Pacific Pines renting family to contemplate splitting up
Weighing up the best routes to serve transport use and property interests, the consultants had narrowed down the following shortlist:
1. Reedy Creek Road and the M1 corridor;
2. Gold Coast Highway/Mallawa Drive/The Highway;
3. Gold Coast Highway/Townson Ave/The Highway;
4. Gold Coast Highway/Cypress Ave/The Highway;
5. Gold Coast Highway only.
“Overall, option five (Gold Coast Highway only) was identified as likely to have the best capital and operating costs due to the fact that it has the shortest overall length,” the consultants said.
The Mallawa Drive and Townson Drive options scored poorly for flooding, while the Gold Coast Highway option (five) “located on the foredunes” was above the nominated flood level.
All options have environmental and ecology impacts, but the M1 route scored less points for having “heritage values” around Tallebudgera and Currumbin creeks.
FULL DIGITAL ACCESS: JUST $1 A WEEK FOR FIRST 12 WEEKS
Options two to five could “enhance the Burleigh Head National Park Jellurgal heritage value through infrastructure designs, particularly around stations.
On social impacts, the consultants wrote at length about issues raised by Palm Beach residents identifying significant concerns in a petition.
The impact of the M1 route “was considered moderate as its impact to the community was likely to be low but so too was its perceived benefit to the wider community”.
“Option five was considered best as it more clearly aligns with community expectations around provision of major transport infrastructure within existing major transport corridors, while directly serving places of community interest including beaches and surf lifesaving clubs,” the report says.
The Highway option, at least as far south as Palm Beach Ave, had received at least 70 per cent support in the latest round of community consultation, consultants added.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said he had asked Transport and Main Roads to release the multi-modal report to support the upcoming community discussion around light rail Stage 4.
“As people will see, the report recommends the current route down the Gold Coast Highway as it ‘has the greatest potential for mode shift to public transport as it is close to where people already live’,” he said.
“It also details how improvements to the road network can take traffic off the Gold Coast Highway through Palm Beach, creating the opportunity to transform that area ‘into a pedestrian-friendly precinct with the opportunity for street-front dining, shopping and urban renewal’.
“We know that there will never be 100 per cent agreement on the preferred route for a future stage of light rail beyond Burleigh, but I encourage all Gold Coasters to read the report and have their say during the upcoming public consultation process.”
The next round of consultation will be from July 12 to September 17 and include community drop-in sessions for residents to ask questions and provide face-to-face feedback.
These sessions will be held at Palm Beach, Currumbin, Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera, Elanora and Tugun.
Paul Weston
Originally published as Gold Coast light rail: Burleigh MP Michael Hart and Transport Minister Mark Bailey in brutal online spat
Invest, Brand GC team: Harvey Norman, Culture Kings and ex Tassie premier
An ex-Tasmanian Premier, Culture Kings founder Simon Beard and Harvey Norman CEO Katie Page are on new Gold Coast investment and branding boards. Full details.
Fate of controversial Yatala lights decided
A final decision has been made on the future of the ridiculed Yatala lights artwork on the M1, with one councillor saying it was “the end of the story” for the $2.1m installation.