Star Gold Coast appeals State Gov decision to close red-light running intersection with Hooker Blvd
The Star is fighting a State Government decision to close off a key road intersection for its Gold Coast casino, saying it will cost $14 million and add 22 million extra kilometres to trips each year.
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THE Star is fighting a State Government decision to close off a key road intersection for its Gold Coast casino, saying it will cost $14 million and add 22 million extra kilometres to trips each year.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads made the decision on June 29 to close the right turning lane from Casino Drive onto Hooker Boulevard with the left turn lane open temporarily.
The intersection has been described as one of the city’s most notorious and is known for red light running.
TMR’s decision follows calls by veteran Gold Coast MP Ray Stevens to curtail the right-turn option after warning there would be a fatality if something wasn’t done.
Star, in an appeal filed on September 3 to the Planning and Environment Court in Brisbane by its lawyers from HWL Ebsworth, said the closure would result in more crashes by rerouting traffic onto roads less able to accept heavy traffic such as Sunshine Boulevard.
Star does not object to removing the left-turn lane.
Star’s lawyers said the TMR decision was unreasonable because the intersection does not have a “critically high crash rate and is, therefore, not unsafe”.
The appeal goes on to say the closure of the lane would result in an increase in “casualty crashes” on surrounding roads and would not lead to less crashes.
Star’s lawyers argue it would increased kilometres travelled by 22 million per year and add 4000 tonnes of Co2 emissions to the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
It also says it would cost the Gold Coast community between $13 million and $14 million per year in additional travel time.
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It would also negatively impact traffic to and from the casino as well as construction of the Dorsett tower currently underway.
Star is asking the court to set aside the TMR decision and retain the right-turning lane while relocating traffic lights and realigning the lane for a more ‘perpendicular’ approach to the road.
It says these measures and others would be a “preferable solution”.
A Star spokesman on Wednesday said: “We’re in the appeals process and have no comment to make at this time”.
A TMR spokesperson said: “Our decision to close the existing west-bound (right-turn) exit from Casino Drive onto Nerang-Broadbeach Road (Hooker Boulevard), due to safety concerns, is the subject of a current appeal to the Planning and Environment Court.
It is therefore inappropriate to comment any further.”
The matter will return to court in November.
The dispute comes as The Star seeks to recover from the shutdown of its Gold Coast operation on March 23 due to the spread of the coronavirus.
The company, which also has casinos in Brisbane and Sydney, reported in August a full-year loss of $95 million.
However, it said since reopening gaming revenue was showing positive signs of improving and was down 20 per cent in July compared to the same time last year and on reduced capacity.
Star is currently building the 53-storey Dorsett hotel and residential apartments tower, which is scheduled for completion by 2022.
It is the first of five towers planned for the island.
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