Gold Coast traffic flashback: Surfers Paradise businessman fights tunnel plan arguing traffic jams are part of city’s charm

GRIDLOCK is the bane of Gold Coast drivers’ daily commute. But an innovative solution to fix it was shot down by a prominent Surfers Paradise businessman who argued that bumper-to-bumper traffic was actually a tourist attraction for Surfers Paradise.

A BOLD solution is needed to fix the Gold Coast’s gridlock issues and get the city’s streets flowing.

That’s the message city leaders have told locals for years as the city’s population has increased and more development taken place.

Earlier this month the Bulletin revealed the council will spend more than $705 million over the next 14 years building new roads and upgrading the city’s existing network.

Traffic congestion in Surfers Paradise Picture: Luke Marsden

This, coupled with the light rail extension and the M1 upgrade, are big steps towards solving the city’s traffic woes.

But it was a different story 30 years ago this week as discussions continued over a proposal to build a tunnel under Surfers Paradise.

The controversial idea, which was recently floated again, was mooted in early 1988 by a local consortium.

It was suggested as a solution to the area’s traffic issues, but one businessman saw things differently.

Surfers Paradise and the corner of Gold Coast Highway and Cavill Avenue in 1988.

FLASHBACK: COUNCIL’S TUNNEL VISION

Frank Goldstein was spokesman for an action group opposing a push by Gold Coast Plaza Pty Ltd to create a tunnel under the Glitter Strip.

Mr Goldstein said that traffic jams in fact were part of the charm of Surfers Paradise.

“Let’s keep Surfers Paradise unique as things have never been better and are getting better all the time,” he said.

“The traffic is part of the drama, razzamatazz and showplace that Surfers should continue to be.

“Surfers in the Pall Mall or Piccadilly Circus or Sunset Strip of the Gold Coast and should not be blocked off to traffic. That’s what Surfers is all about.

Frank Goldstein Pic: David Clark

“You can still drive through those famous places or have we forgotten about sightseeing — buses, cars, limos, Jags, Bentleys and Porches all together.”

The $65 million proposal would have seen a three-lane tunnel built between Elkhorn Ave and Hanlan St, with a landscaped public plaza built over the top.

The company claimed the project would come at no cost to either the council or the Ahern Government.

However, they did ask that the company control the land under which the tunnel was built.

According to plans showed to the media in 1988, southbound traffic coming from Southport would enter the tunnel on the Gold Coast Hwy near View St and exit near Hanlan St.

Northbound traffic would have been unaffected and continue to travel along Ferny Ave.

The developer also planned a “Bicentenary Plaza, a Town Square and an All National Flag Court with an amphitheatre and stage” be built around Cavill Ave mall

Mr Goldstein said Surfers had a “who’s who” atmosphere that should be preserved.

It should not become “just another plaza, mall or expo” he argued.

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The tunnel never happened but traffic jams continue Picture: Luke Marsden

The new action group was called Surfers Paradise Action on Conserving the Environment (SPACE) and opposed any commercial development on the highway or loss of public space in the heart of Surfers Paradise.

Mr Goldstein argued that the traffic snarls experienced in the area were aggravated by construction work and would ease as development projects were completed.

“The traffic trouble might be just a short-term problem,” he said.

“Let’s just wait and see.”

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SPACE pushed for widening of carriageways and clearways as alternatives to the tunnel project, which never went ahead.

Traffic issues in Surfers Paradise eventually become so extreme the council was forced to spend more than $25 million solving the woes in the mid-2000s.

Eventually the light rail’s first stage stretched through the heart of the suburb in a move which eased the number of cars which use the area.