Gold Coast light rail Stage 4 to airport plans to go ‘back to drawing board’ under LNP
Senior state government figures have slammed an LNP pledge to review plans for light rail to the airport which an MP has promised would send the project ‘back to the drawing board’. SEE THE VIDEO
Gold Coast
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Treasurer and Deputy Premier Cameron Dick has accused the LNP of planning to can the light rail extension to the airport in order to fund a project on the Sunshine Coast.
Huge doubt has been cast on the project after Currumbin MP Laura Gerber last week told parliament it would be “back to the drawing board” if the LNP wins government in October, while Shadow Transport Minister Steve Minnikin said they would “completely review” stage four plans.
Their comments came after a preliminary evaluation estimated it would cost up to $7.6 billion to construct.
“If there is a change in government in October, the LNP will send light rail Stage 4 back to the drawing board for proper consultation so that all routes and all modes can be considered – including heavy rail, electric buses and the east-west connections – so that the southern Gold Coast can finally get the transport solutions that stack up and that are supported by the community,” Ms Gerber said.
“While this tired, third-term Labor government has given up on listening to our community, the LNP will give residents a say on all options. The LNP will release the details of work done to date, and the LNP will deliver a solution that is affordable and that serves the needs of the local community.”
At a press conference in Coomera on Wednesday Mr Dick and Premier Steven Miles shot back, accusing the LNP of plotting to strip money from the light rail project to fund a commitment to build a heavy rail line to Maroochydore on the Sunshine Coast in time for the Olympics.
A summary business case released by the state government said the cost of that project would be $12 billion.
“Why does the Gold Coast get a review but the Sunshine Coast gets heavy rail? The reason is David Crisafulli has a $6.6 billion black hole to fill to deliver heavy rail to Maroochydore by the Olympics,” Mr Dick said.
“The only way he can deliver that project is by delivering cuts across Queensland and the only way he can do that is by cutting light rail stage four.”
Mr Miles said Labor was “100 per cent committed” to light rail and heavy rail on the Gold Coast, but referred to work on a detailed business case when asked if he could guarantee the extension would go ahead in time for the Olympics if his government is re-elected.
“We have a process underway to consider all those things but what people on the Gold Coast know is that only Labor governments deliver for them public transport,” Mr Miles said.
“Heavy rail to the Gold Coast, light rail on the Gold Coast, Gold Coast faster rail, three new train stations as part of Cross River Rail, none of that would not exist if it were not for Labor governments and our commitment to public transport on the Coast.”
Questioned on whether he thought the LNP’s promised review was warranted, Mr Miles accused his political opponents of confusion on the matter.
“I monitor these things pretty closely and I can’t tell if the LNP are for the light rail or against it. Their position seems to change so often, they contradict each other,” he said.
“We are a hundred per cent committed to light rail and to heavy rail on the Gold Coast and you don’t have to just take my words for that, just look at what we have built.”
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