Gold Coast light rail stage 3A: Mark Bailey and Scott Morrison face off over tram upgrade
The Prime Minister has challenged the State Government to put their cards on the table over the future of the Gold Coast light rail’s Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads link.
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STATE Transport Minister Mark Bailey has wasted no time in getting stuck into the re-elected Morrison Government, vowing to try and end the light rail funding impasse.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has committed $112 million to the $709 million cost to extend the trams from Broadbeach to Burleigh, but has refused to pay any more.
The State Government says it is $157 million short on what the Federal Government contributed for light rail Stage 1.
Mr Bailey last night said he would write to his federal counterpart as soon as Mr Morrison’s new Cabinet was sworn into office.
“We will absolutely continue to fight for our fair share on light rail funding, and write to the new Minister when we know who they are and they are sworn in,” he said.
“The federal LNP’s offer of 16 per cent is the lowest proportion ever from Canberra, and $157.5 million short of where a fair federal offer needs to be before any agreements are signed.
“The drop in primary votes for the LNP in Moncrieff and McPherson during Saturday’s federal election was a clear response that we need our fair share for light rail funding.”
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The State Government is expected to include its contribution to Stage 3, which could be between $347 million and $455 million, in next month’s state budget.
The Gold Coast City Council will pour in more than $90 million.
But Mr Morrison has demanded the State Government reveal how much it will spend on the project.
“It’s time the Palaszczuk Government committed funding for their share of the Stage 3A of the Gold Coast rail,” a spokesman for Mr Morrison said yesterday.
“If the State Labor Government stumped up their share, then Gold Coast light rail would be developing at a much faster rate.
“Residents on the Gold Coast deserve a State Government that cares as much about congestion-busting infrastructure as the Federal Government.
“Our priority is to invest in projects which bust congestion, ensuring people get home sooner and safer.”
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The Federal Government committed 38 per cent of the total costs for Stage 1. For Stage 2, it pledged 22 per cent. So far, the feds have committed 16 per cent of the $709 million needed to build Stage 3A.
For Stage 1 of the light rail, the State Government provided almost 49 per cent of funding. That ballooned to 64.3 per cent for Stage 2.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has called for an end to the standoff and urged both sides to agree to a compromise of the feds paying an extra $45 million.
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