Mayor Tom Tate backs toll road for Coomera Connector as speculation builds on funding it
A road toll on the congestion-busting Coomera Connector is finding favour as long as certain demands are met for the hoped-for six-lane alternative to the Pacific Motorway.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate backs a toll on the Coomera Connector if that is the only way a six-lane alternative to the Pacific Motorway can be built quickly.
“I would support a toll road for the Coomera Connector if it delivers the top standard six lanes and fast-tracks the delivery of the whole project, then everyone will have a choice of routes,” Mr Tate said.
Political sources say the government finance solution was a “toll road”.
It is understood the Mayor’s position will be to back user pays fees if the Government lacks funding to finish the highway which in its first stage links Nerang and Coomera.
Motorists pay $3.16 to use Brisbane’s Clem Tunnel with heavy vehicles slugged $18.99 — and prices are similar with $2.82 and $19.50 for the Logan Motorway.
Labor in Question Time on Wednesday referred to the Bulletin report with Opposition leader Steven Miles asking Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg “will the Crisafulli LNP government rule out charging Queenslanders?”.
Mr Mickelberg did not rule out a toll, and was targeted by Labor frontbenchers for not answering it after he focused on Labor union links.
“The only toll on the Coomera Connector is the CFMEU tax paid for by every Queenslander - $17 billion of Labor toll because of the CFMEU tax,” he said.
“Labor’s sweetheart deal with the CFMEU means Queenslanders pay more for roads, rail, schools and hospitals. Workers were trucked in from the Coomera Connector today by the CFMEU so they could pursue Labor’s agenda of trying to destroy productivity on Queensland job sites.”
Outside Parliament, Labor Gaven MP and frontbencher Meaghan Scanlon, a strong campaigner against a toll, said the Government was ensuring future traffic gridlock.
“David Crisafulli and the LNP had a chance to confirm to Queenslanders they will not make the Coomera Connector a toll road - they refused,” she said.
“With light rail to the airport now under a cloud and no plans to expand the popular on-demand buses, the LNP are putting Gold Coasters on the road to gridlock.”
Ms Scanlon and supporters in 2017 staged protests against a toll when Labor claimed the LNP in its election promises had underfunded transport upgrades by $2 billion.
In November last year the Crisafulli Government refused to rule out a toll on a new state road to be built at Loganholme linking the Coomera Connector to the Logan Motorway.
Privately-owned toll road operator Transurban refused to answer questions about tolls on a planned road at Loganholme saying it was not involved with the Coomera Connector project and referred all questions to the Transport and Main Roads Department.
The Transport Department, at the time, failed to reveal if motorists would have to pay to use the section - yet to be built - at Loganholme.
Mr Mickelberg then also refused to comment on toll road claims, triggered by demolition of a Logan City Council building on the Pacific Highway at Loganholme, identified as crucial to the road plans.
Gold Coast City councillors late last year called for changes to the $3bn project.
They sought an extension of the finishing point of the Connector’s first stage from Shipper Drive at Coomera to Yawalpah Road at Pimpama to avoid traffic chaos.
Such a move would avoid dumping more traffic on Foxwell Road, between those intersections. The 45km arterial road from Nerang to Logan is expected to take up to 60,000 vehicles off the M1.
More Coverage
Originally published as Mayor Tom Tate backs toll road for Coomera Connector as speculation builds on funding it
Police are not powerless in controlling kids on electric bikes
We cannot accept the recent rhetoric that there is “not much” police can do to tackle reckless e-bike riders. The plan cops can try.
Traffic hell: ‘We avoid Southport unless it’s absolutely essential’
Future transport forecasts have revealed Southport will be confronted by traffic gridlock sooner than we think. Read why