Gold Coast light rail fund needs extra $45m commitment, Cr Tate waits by phone for Gov’t to call

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate is still waiting for a phone call from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to stump up $45m for the next stage of the light rail.

GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate is still waiting for a phone call, having set Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten a 9am deadline for extra funds needed to keep extending the city light rail network.

The planned Stage 3A extension from Broadbeach to Burleigh is now uncertain with State Government and the Gold Coast Light Rail Business Advisory Group both revealing a $112 million Federal Coalition commitment — matched by Mr Shorten — is not enough.

Neither side of Federal politics has at this stage indicated any willingness to revise their pledged $112m contribution upwards.

FUNDING BATTLE SET TO DELAY NEXT STAGE OF LIGHT RAIL

Mayor Tom Tate waits by his phone in his Gold Coast City Council Office for a call from the Prime Minister Scott Morrison or Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to pledge the extra money needed for stage three of the Light Rail. Picture Glenn Hampson

State Government has made it clear it will be difficult to make the next stage happen without more money.

Cr Tate, who believed another $45m was required from federal level, said yesterday he was yet to receive any response from Mr Morrison or Mr Shorten on the extra funding.

“It would have been good to get a call by 9am because here on the Gold Coast we are very efficient but you know during the election they have plenty of priorities to do.

(Bill Shorten and Scott Morrison) are probably very busy in the business of trying to become Prime Minister so I will give them a time extension — they can take as long as they want as long as we get the money,” Cr Tate said.

“This will be the fairness part.

MASSIVE SUPPORT FOR LIGHT RAIL GOING SOUTH

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has matched the Federal Coalition’s $112m commitment, but still hasn’t called Cr Tate. Picture Glenn Hampson

“At the next council meeting we will give certainty to our role so the state knows City of the Gold Coast will come good.

“The Federal Government should come up to 22 per cent. It’s a fair deal and once they do that we will be all aboard,” Cr Tate told the Bulletin.

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“All I want is that before the election comes they decide it would be fair to give the extra money to the Gold Coast.”

Neither has PM Scott Morrison. Picture: Jerad Williams

City business, tourism and airport leaders have all pleaded the case for more funding to ensure the crucial public transport network keeps on extending.

Cr Tate referred to road accident data revealed in the Bulletin yesterday which quoted RACQ saying the light rail extension would ease congestion and help cut the Gold Coast Highway accident toll.

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“There is data which shows this will reduce crashes and once it goes to Burleigh more people will be able to use it

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A artist impressions and stations between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads

“Light rail stage 3A will help congestion so when you look at the number of fatalities on roads $45 million is an insignificant funding request isn’t it?” Cr Tate said.

A spokesman for Mr Morrison’s Federal Coalition said pressure should be on State Government: “Cr Tate should ask the Queensland State Labor Government about its non-existent share for Stage 3A.

“If the State Labor Government, yet to provide one cent towards Stage 3A, stumped up its share, then Gold Coast Light Rail would be developing at a much faster rate.”

Gold Coast Federal Minister Karen Andrews, in response to Bulletin questions asking if she would fight for an increase to the $112m pledged, said: “We need to get light rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh in the most cost-effective manner. $112 million is a significant amount of money towards this project.”

She also called on State Labor to “stump up”.

Ms Andrews’ Gold Coast Federal colleague and assistant treasurer Stuart Robert failed to reply.

On the other side of the political fence, Gold Coast Labor senator Murray Watt also gave no indication that Mr Shorten’s $112m pledge would be upped.

Mr Watt said it was time the Federal Coalition sat down constructively with the State Governnment and council to work out the funding required.

Both sides of politics talked up their own funding record on public transport projects and panned their opposition.

Meanwhile, Cr Tate continues to wait by his telephone.