Gold Coast history: State Cabinet backs 1989 plan for a Gold Coast monorail system

Gold Coast business leaders celebrated as State Cabinet threw its support behind a consortium’s plans for a monorail-style people-mover in the hopes of reducing congestion.

STATE Cabinet gave a Gold Coast monorail system the tick of approval in what was believed to be the biggest-ever shake-up to the city’s public transport system.

The Gold Coast Monorail Consortium was named by the Ahern Government to build and operate the single-track public transport system from Southport and Sea World to Pacific Fair by early 1992.

The Gold Coast monorail was to be based on Sydney’s system.

The announcement, made 30 years ago this week, was made by Transport Minister Peter McKechnie who said the system was expected to cost around $180 million.

Now, three decades later the city has a light rail and is awaiting funding from the State Government and Gold Coast City Council to see the long-awaited Broadbeach to Burleigh extension begin.

But back in 1989 monorails were seen as the solution to congestion issues and won the backing of the State.

Peter McKechnie.

The consortium, made up of TNT, Von Roll and Thiess Watkins, planned a Southport terminal at the Broadwater end of Nerang Street near the Mall.

It was expected to cross the Nerang River at Sundale Bridge where it would meet at Paradise Waters with a spur line running up The Spit to Sea World.

The monorail was planned to run the rest of its route down the Gold Coast Highway to Pacific Fair.

Mr McKechnie told the Bulletin that 10 million people would use the monorail system, with the 17-minute trip costing around $2.50 for a full fare.

Comparatively, 9.23 million people rode the light rail in the 2017-18 financial year according to state budget documents.

Artist impression of proposed Gold Coast Monorail April 1986

That number is expected to hit 10 million this financial year.

The consortium agreed to build the system at no cost to either taxpayers or ratepayers.

Each monorail was to have seven carriages with seats of 56 people and standing room for 77 and was to service 12 stations across the route.

The consortium celebrated, with Von Roll Transport Gold Coast manager Rick Andrewartha saying he was delighted.

“It has been a two-and-a-half year slog and it still hasn’t really sunk in that we’ve clinched the contract,” he said.

“Everyone involved is extremely happy.”

But not everyone was impressed.

Former Gold Coast Mayor Lex Bell.

Gold Coast Mayor Lex Bell, who decades later was an opponent of the light rail’s Surfers Paradise route, said he did not believe the monorail would reduce traffic along the coastal strip.

However, Ald Bell had held talks with the consortium about extending the monorail system to Bond University, Robina and Gold Coast Airport.

“I have raised the matter because I believe these extensions … would mean the monorail would be of great benefit to local residents throughout the city and not just the tourist trade,” he said.

“It would not happen immediately but the sooner the better. I would like to remind them of what they have said. I have already done my talking and they have agreed that it would be beneficial.”

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Light rail outside Gold Coast University Hospital. Picture Glenn Hampson

Now, 30 years later, all of these routes are being planned for the light rail but are yet to be funded.

Surfers Paradise MP and Tourism Minister Rob Borbidge welcomed the project’s approval but warned it would not end the city’s traffic problems.

Despite the fanfare of its announcement, the monorail link was never built - various complications, including the approval of the Indy race, meant the Goss Government dumped the proposal.

It would take another 25 years before trams would finally run on the Gold Coast’s streets