Gold Coast councillor Paul Taylor proposes moving walkways to improve connectivity

A CITY leader has labelled the Gold Coast Highway the “Berlin Wall” because it is hard to move people from one side to the other. He’s come up with a hi-tech solution which is already popular overseas.

How the travelator could look crossing the Gold Coast Highway.

GETTING between Broadbeach’s entertainment precincts would get significantly easier under a hi-tech plan being floated by a city leader to create a moving walkway.

Area councillor Paul Taylor is pushing for an elevated travelator to be put in over the Gold Coast Highway in a move he says would improve road safety and help pedestrians move around.

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Cr Paul Taylor. Picture by Scott Fletcher

Cr Taylor said the outdoor moving walkway, similar to those used in Hong Kong, would allow patrons to move easily between The Star, central Broadbeach and the convention centre.

If successful, a further link to Pacific Fair could be established.

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“Moving east-west I would love to see a travelator go over the highway and if you look at the way Broadbeach is now the only way to get across it could lead you to being run over,” Cr Taylor said.

“Connectivity is extremely important and that highway is a lot like the Berlin Wall and I think we need to find a way of getting more people between the major destinations such as The Star, Pacific Fair and the convention centre.

Cr Taylor wants to see greater connectivity over the Gold Coast Highway to the Convention and Exhibition Centre at Broadbeach.

“If you go to other countries you can see they have travelators over their major roads and with Broadbeach it could be a good solution to our issues.”

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Moving walkways were invented in the late 19th century and are common in airports, museums, zoos and theme parks.

Several companies produce the infrastructure, including KONE Australia, which offers several different models, including those which can be operated outdoors

The Broadbeach to Jupiters Casino Monorail closed earlier this year. Photo: David Clark

The Oasis monorail which crossed the highway for nearly 30 years was closed and dismantled early this year.

Previous suggestions to convert its track into an elevated pedestrian bridge were not pursued.

Gold Coast Tourism chief executive Martin Winter said the cost of building a moving walkway would be high but it could deliver great benefits for visitors.

CEO Gold Coast Tourism Martin Winter. Pic by Richard Gosling

“Any improvement which is going to make the experience better for visitors is of course desirable,” he said. “Whether a moving walkway is the most appropriate option ... is debatable given the cost.

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“The difference between Hong Kong and the Gold Coast is the sheer weight of numbers which can justify the expense.

“However it would be great to be the first destination in the country to provide this service to our valuable visitors.”

A spokesman for The Star Entertainment Group said the casino would follow discussions over the travelator closely.

“If there are infrastructure or connectivity ideas that could further drive long-term appeal for the region we would follow those discussions with interest,” he said.