Inside story: Why fares are not fair on some Gold Coast rail and tram trips

Southern Gold Coast residents are being ripped off in a public transport tax, with warnings the problem is a threat to the success of light rail. FIND OUT WHY >>>

SOUTHERN Gold Coast residents are being ripped off in a public transport tax where they pay 50 per cent more in their fares for another nearby train station stop, according to a new report.

The skewed zoning system is not limited to heavy rail with the State Government being warned by council it will extend to trams in the city’s south and can jeopardise the success of the $1 billion light rail extension from Broadbeach to Burleigh.

Train ticket and go card covering the different zones.

Robina-based councillor Hermann Vorster, who has led the charge to scrap the tram tax, is being supported by Mayor Tom Tate with both writing to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and State transport bureaucrats to urge a rethink.

In a twist, new council research suggests taxpayers are not protesting about the increase because they remain unaware of the leaping charges they face at Varsity Station. Those who do, are driving further to Robina Station, adding to congestion in car parks and on the trains.

The report to be considered by councillors at a transport and infrastructure committee meeting next week found:

* Coast heavy rail passengers can travel between five of the six heavy rail stations – Ormeau, Coomera, Helensvale, Nerang, Robina – and be charged a maximum two-zone go card fare of $4.11;

* If these same passengers were to include Varsity Lakes Station, they would be charged a three-zone go card fare of $6.28. This results in a 53 per cent increase to their total fare price, for travelling an additional three minutes or four kilometres south;

* There are more than 30,000 trips per month to and from Varsity Lakes Station;

* rail passengers travelling from Varsity Lakes Station to Ormeau Station or Central Station in Brisbane pay an additional $937.44 and $1265.76 respectively per year compared to Robina Station commuters.

Officers in the report wrote that Varsity Lakes heavy rail passengers were either “not aware of the increased cost of travel from this station or are willing to pay extra for the convenience of travelling to their nearest train station”.

“Similarly, it is very likely those choosing to travel to Robina may well be doing so to trip chain and park closer to established commercial land uses, as is known to occur elsewhere in the southeast Queensland mass transit network,” officers wrote.

Research found a similar unfair fare system could emerge with light rail stage 3 being built from Broadbeach to Burleigh. The existing Gold Coast Light Rail network — Helensvale to Broadbeach — was wholly located within TransLink fare zone 5, the report said.

Stage 3 would be primarily located in zone 5 except for the three southernmost stations — Christine Ave, Second Ave and Burleigh Heads Stations.

“It is estimated that GCLR3 will lead to an additional 25,000 public transport trips per day — a significant proportion of which will be occurring to and from the three southernmost stations,” the report said.

“Based on the location of the current zone 5/6 fare boundary, commuters travelling to and from any of the three southernmost stations will be charged a two-zone go card fare as opposed to a single-zone fare for travel between any of the other 24 stations along the light rail network.”

Officers cautioned this outcome does not align with the city’s transport plan which aimed to “make public transport inclusive and equitable for all’ because it will “financially disadvantage southern Gold Coast light rail passengers”.

Regular commuters who travel from Burleigh Heads, Christine Ave or Second Ave stations would pay 22 per cent or $319.68 more per year to travel on the light rail network.

“This results in southern Gold Coast heavy rail passengers paying more to use public transport than those in the central and northern Gold Coast,” the report said.

Mayor Tom Tate has written to the Premier. Picture Glenn Hampson

Councillor Tate in a letter to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk estimated a trip from the three most southern-based stations would see a cost of up to $6 for a one-off paper ticket which represented a 30 per cent impost.

“Given the incredible success of the light rail so far it would be a tragedy to jeopardise it,” he wrote.

Councillor Hermann Vorster has been consistent in trying to get fares reduced. Picture Glenn Hampson.

Cr Vorster, in a letter to transport bureaucrats, said residents had told him the premium paid at Varsity Lakes station was deterring them from using public transport and causing others to use Robina putting pressure on resources there.

The council has identified two options which include dual zoning Varsity station and the three future light rail stations. Councillors will debate the proposals at a transport committee meeting next Monday.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey in his response to the Mayor said the Government would consider the zoning proposals along light rail stage 3.

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