Gold Coast light rail stage 3B: Southern Gold Coast businesses want light rail to go through Palm Beach

Southern Gold Coast businesses want the trams to go to the border and warn Palm Beach must embrace light rail if it wants to survive.

SOUTHERN Gold Coast businesses want the trams to go to the border and warn Palm Beach must embrace light rail for its businesses to survive and secure the tourist dollar.

The Greater Southern Chamber of Commerce has confirmed its strong support for light rail Stage 3B after reports on the City Plan submissions detailed resident opposition to the extension from Burleigh to the Gold Coast Airport.

TATE: WHERE LIGHT RAIL IS GOING NEXT AFTER PALM BEACH

Mayor Tom Tate says it’s go for light rail through Palm Beach. Picture: Jerad Williams

Mayor Tom Tate who is fed up with tram opponents suggested the stations can be removed at Palm Beach — but businesses believe the stops will be needed to feed tourists into the area.

Greater Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce president Hilary Jacobs said businesses were fully supportive of the trams going to Coolangatta and even further to across the border into Tweed Heads.

“The issue of development of Palm Beach is a horse that has already bolted. There were as many as 13 sky cranes on the Palm Beach horizon earlier this year,” Ms Jacobs said.

“Palm Beach has already moved from being an area with an overabundance of derelict and land cleared sites, with a reputation for being a haven for the less fortunate in the Gold Coast and the hang out for the Palmy Army. “

Ms Jacobs said Palm Beach had become a gentrified suburb and all the current development was happening under the existing City Plan, not due to light rail.

PROPERTIES TO BE RESUMED FOR LIGHT RAIL

A Gold Coast light rail station - get used to seeing these on the southern Gold Coast. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Some businesses had left the suburb because there was not enough tourist trade, she added.

“For Palm Beach locals to enjoy the quality and depth of choice for their leisure that has been growing, they need tourists to be able to get there and have fun too, to keep the local trade alive,” she said.

“The sooner that the real economics of growing and maturing an area are understood and accepted by all, the better.”

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST LAUNCH FOR TRAM EXTENSION

Ms Jacobs rejects the view held by southern politicians that light rail should link from Burleigh to Varsity Lakes heavy rail, with the rail line extended south to the border.

“The biggest issue we face is that light rail and heavy rail do not serve the same purpose. They are not an either or option,” she said.

Division 12 candidate Zac Revere, who is a tram supporter, has questioned the strength of the City Plan opposition.

“So why, when receiving only 339 submission points relating to a light rail overlay code of which 88 per cent were opposed, are we saying this a resounding call to stop our light rail,” he said.
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Light rail heading south.

A State Government report on community engagement found 86 per cent of residents surveyed support Stage 3A and wanted the extension to the Gold Coast Airport as soon as possible.

“I remain steadfast, after speaking with business owners and residents, along with reading the findings of the independent state government report that this vital piece of public infrastructure is ‘on the right track’ and must connect the south of our community to the north of our community,” Mr Revere said.