Gold Coast light rail: Gold Coast council candidate opposes light rail going through Palm Beach.

A Council candidate says she will oppose light rail being built down the Gold Coast Highway in Palm Beach.

PALM Beach and Burleigh council candidate Katrina Beikoff says she will oppose light rail being built south to the airport down the Gold Coast Highway.

In a major policy announcement, Ms Beikoff believes her stand on the trams give her a “clear distinction in position on policy” on light rail which shapes as the hot issue in Division 13.
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Katrina Beikoff who will be standing in Division 13 in the Gold Coast City Council elections.

Veteran councillor Daphne McDonald remains opposed to light rail, but is yet to announce if she will stand at the March 28 local government poll. The only other candidate, Bern Young, says she wants to be part of a “solutions table” for transport. issues.

Ms Beikoff supports improved public transport and believes heavy rail from Varsity to the Gold Coast Airport must be the priority.

“I do not support the proposed light rail route down the Gold Coast Highway from Burleigh through Palm Beach,” she said.

“But should light rail be the only public transport option, I call for our community from Burleigh through Koala Park, Palm Beach, Tallebudgera and Elanora be specifically engaged in meaningful consultation as a condition for any proposed route from Burleigh south.

Broadbeach South Light Rail station — the trams are about to be extended south to Burleigh. Pic: Mike Batterham.

“I believe the fight for heavy rail is still live and it is in the frame on funding and timing – given earliest completion for Burleigh light rail is 2023 and Brisbane’s Cross River heavy rail is 2024.

“There is also no funding committed from council, state or federal for light rail after Burleigh, so the argument is valid that heavy rail take priority in funding.”

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Ms Beikoff believes the alternative of sending light rail west from Burleigh to Varsity just creates a loop that excludes the southern Coast from the public transport.

“So I reject that light rail route as an option until the heavy rail missing link is extended south to the airport,” she said.

Mayor Tom Tate threatened to take the trams south to the border without stops at Palm Beach if residents did not want light rail.

Ms Beikoff believes the community must be involved in talks and if light rail extends through Palm Beach it should not just be convenient for visitors and the rest of the Coast to pass by.

Division 13 Gold Coast City Council candidate Katrina Beikoff.

In a political shot at Cr McDonald, she said: “We must be involved because there has been a complete failure by our local representative to reflect our concerns or solutions in the current debate and she has offered no proactive alternatives to deal with traffic congestion.

“As a result our community feels excluded from any solutions and is being punished for her failure by being forced to accept a light rail route that offers no benefit to those of us who live here.”
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Ms Young said transport and traffic were key issues in this election and she intended to be at a “solutions table for light rail so the best outcomes could be secured for Burleigh Heads and Palm Beach”.

“My priority for light rail Stage 3A is to ensure that businesses along the corridor, but especially in Division 13 Burleigh Heads, not only survive but as much as possible thrive, during the crucial build phase,” she said.