Sunshine Coast Councillor Joe Natoli calls for council to boycott funding light rail

A Sunshine Coast councillor has launched an attack against light rail and called for the council to boycott spending up to $200m on it if, it goes ahead.

A Sunshine Coast councillor is calling on the council to boycott funding a light rail system amid estimates ratepayers could be slugged with a $200m construction cost.

Councillor Joe Natoli slammed the decision to include light rail as one of five public transport options, despite community opposition towards it.

Mr Natoli doubled down on his attack against the proposal despite others stating it was too early to discuss how much a future mass transit system could cost the council.

He said based on what the Gold Coast Council spent on light rail the Sunshine Coast could be expected to chip in up to $200m towards the $2.6b construction cost.

“I would find it abhorrent to think council would fund an option the community opposes and then make every rate payer pay a massive increase in their rates to fund the council contribution,” he said.

“The expectation is the Gold Coast Council contribute 11 per cent of project costs.

“This type of borrowing could see our council’s transport levy exceeding that of the Gold Coast.

“So far, council has spent $18m on getting the mass transit project to the detailed business case.

“Every ratepayer has contributed through their rates … if council chooses to make a financial contribution all ratepayers’ rates are set to rise considerably.”

Light rail and wireless light rail were two of the five options the council put forward to the state government to progress to a $15m detailed business case.

Bus rapid transit, a quality bus corridor and trackless trams were also considered.

A council spokesman said a detailed cost estimate would be produced for the preferred projects during the business case stage.

They said funding options would be considered during and following that stage.

Councillors David Law, Ted Hungerford, Winston Johnston, Terry Landsberg, Rick Baberowski and Mayor Mark Jamieson voted in favour of sending all five options to the next phase.

Jason O’Pray, Christian Dickson and Mr Natoli voted against it.

Mr Johnston said it was too early to speculate what a future mass transit system would cost the council.

During the special meeting earlier this month when the vote took place urban growth program director James Coutts said it was not known how much light rail could cost the council.

“We don’t know which project will proceed … it could be any of those options,” he said.

“So under the circumstances … I don’t know how you could ask that question (during community consultation).”

Mr Coutts said the council made clear in its report to the state government of the community’s opposition towards overhead wires.

“We’re not deaf to the concerns people expressed about the effect of overhead wires but equally we’re not blind to the implications of ruling out light rail if that is the most energy efficient, proven and sustainable option,” he said.