Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4: Alternate Palm Beach route divides readers

A shock right turn in the Gold Coast’s light rail has divided Bulletin readers since it was revealed. SUBSCRIBE TO HAVE YOUR SAY

A SHOCK plan to get the light rail to the Gold Coast Airport has divided Bulletin readers since it was revealed late last week.

Southern towns such as Palm Beach, Currumbin and Tugun will miss out as Mayor Tom Tate attempts to end his war with anti-light rail “whingers” in Palm Beach.

A fed-up Cr Tate has raised the prospect of light rail Stage 4 turning right on to Nineteenth Avenue after crossing Tallebudgera Creek and skipping Palm Beach and Currumbin.

COMMENT: WHAT DOES PALM BEACH REALLY WANT?

The plan has since caused controversy among readers, dividing those for and against the plan.

Some claimed it was only a “small minority” of anti-light rail residents in the Palm Beach area who disliked the idea.

“It would be a huge mistake to take this direction and not carry on down proposed link,” Adrian Delacy wrote in a Facebook comment.

“Palm Beach moaners need to embrace the future and good public transport is key for a city to grow.

“I think it’s very small minded and selfish of the predominantly older population of Palm Beach to not understand how important this would be long term.

“Stop looking in the rear mirrors of times gone by, and they have gone by, and we need to look to the future, our kids, our kids’ kids and beyond.”

One Bulletin reader added: “Is Mayor Tate and the council going to let the minority in Palm Beach dictate to the rest of the community how the city is to move forward?

Artist impressions of Gold Coast light rail Stage 3B. Picture: Supplied

“Then maybe he and the rest of the council should hand the city’s future over to the rabble.

“The light rail should be the transport method to bring the locals and tourists to all points on the Coast. Wasn’t that the plan?”

Others expressed their disdain for the light rail and called for a focus on other options.

Facebook user Wayne Taylor wrote: “How about they finish what they started and complete the heavy rail from Reedy Creek to the airport first?

“If it works, connect the light rail to Robina so people can connect to train stations, hospital and footy games from Broadbeach.”

Scroll down to read the rest of the comments below.

WHAT TOM TATE PROPOSED

TOM Tate says he will end his war with anti-light rail “whingers” in Palm Beach by sidestepping the coastal town all together.

Southern towns such as Palm Beach, Currumbin and Tugun will miss out as part of a radical new plan to get the trams to the Gold Coast Airport.

REVEALED: HOW LIGHT RAIL WILL TRANSFORM PALM BEACH STREETS

Artist impressions of the trams passing through central Palm Beach. Picture: Supplied

LIGHT RAIL’S NEXT DESTINATION AFTER AIRPORT

A fed-up Cr Tate has raised the prospect of light rail Stage 4 turning right on to Nineteenth Avenue after crossing Tallebudgera Creek and skipping Palm Beach and Currumbin. The line would then follow the heavy rail corridor and join up with the airport at Coolangatta.

“People in Palm Beach are jumping up and down about the congestion (they think light rail will cause), well then we won’t go to Palm Beach — we’ll chuck a right at Nineteenth Ave.

“The congestion they worry about won’t be there but it will be near enough to Palm Beach that they can still walk.

“This option is just one I will put forward. It’s subject to consultation and if people want it to go all the way down (the coastal route) then that is fine too. I don’t mind that.

“All I want is to get to the airport in the best way possible.”

He wants to secure a business case study and community consultation before the October state election.

Cr Tate has been at war with some Palm Beach residents over the route of the final stage. It got heated last year when the Mayor threatened to run the trams express through the town.

The State Government wants the light rail to follow the coast through Palm Beach, Currumbin and Tugun.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture Glenn Hampson

A highly vocal group of Palm Beach residents is opposed to the tram extension, arguing it would bring traffic congestion, remove on-street parking and increase high-density development.

It argues the public transport system would destroy the area’s “village atmosphere”.

Burleigh MP Michael Hart has long supported an alternative route to West Burleigh before travelling south along the mooted heavy rail route.

A two-year study released in March by international consulting firm Jacobs Engineering found the controversial coastal route from Burleigh through Palm Beach was the preferred option.

Other routes considered in the study included a line west from Burleigh to heavy rail at Varsity Lakes and south through Palm Beach’s suburban streets. The coastal line was selected because it would be cheaper to build than other routes and deliver the most economic uplift, the Government said at the time.

The trams crossing Tallbudgera Creek. Picture: Supplied

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the State Government was “right behind” the airport link.

“I know Tom Tate is a huge proponent of this project, and the Palaszczuk Government has worked closely with his council to get every stage of light rail up and running,” he said.

“We have identified the preferred light rail route to the airport along the Gold Coast Highway earlier this year and we will continue to work closely with council to get light rail to the airport done, and I’m confident we’ll be able to get started on a business case very soon.

“We are committed to building the infrastructure the Gold Coast needs and to creating local jobs.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: Tara Croser.

Stage 3 from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads is under construction. It is expected to be running by early 2023.

In June, the council committed $1.7 million towards the planning of Stage 4. It wants to split the cost of the business case and community consultation with the State Government.

Cr Tate says he wants to fast-track construction of the final stage once a route is chosen.

The State Government’s proposed route.

If the cheaper coastal route is chosen, the Mayor has mooted building the bridges across Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creek before construction of the tramline begins.

“We really need to get the planning and work going on Stage 4,” he said.

“I remember well the delays we had with Stage 1 which led to many of the economic problems we had when it forced construction to be sped up and last longer. Let’s solve that problem now rather than wait for it to come up again.

“If we can get the community consultation happening earlier then I say let’s build the bridges before the tramline is under construction.

“To my critics I say this: We’ll build these two bridges so you can get over it.”