Gold Coast light rail stage 4: Community consultation results revealed

Results from the State Government’s first round of light rail stage 4 community consultation are in and they reveal which route Palm Beach locals prefer.

TRANSPORT Minister Mark Bailey says the Gold Coast community will get its say on how the light rail will get to the airport.

The topic has become a hot-bed issue since a “fed-up” Mayor Tom Tate unveiled a radical plan to bypass Palm Beach, Currumbin and Tugun. The Mayor said he was tired of the opposition of a “vocal minority” group and would instead sidestep the “whingers”.

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Artist impressions of Gold Coast light rail in central Palm Beach. Picture: Supplied

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Mayor Tate’s controversial proposal involves the tram travelling west on Nineteenth Ave and down the heavy rail corridor.

Politicians, residents and business leaders have all expressed their option on where Stage 4 of the light rail from Burleigh Heads to Gold Coast Airport would travel.

Irrespective of the final route, Mr Bailey said all the community would get its say.

“When a business case is started, there will be further opportunities for the Gold Coast community to get involved and have their say on the proposed project,” he said.

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Mayor Tom Tate.

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Mr Bailey revealed initial results from the first round of consultation held in March showed support for the highway route.

“We’ve identified the preferred route for a future stage of light rail to follow the Gold Coast Highway from Burleigh and we’ll continue to work closely with council to get light rail to the airport done.

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“The heavy rail corridor needs to be preserved for a future connection of the airport to the SEQ heavy rail network.

“The State Government ran community consultation on a potential future light rail route along the Gold Coast Highway between Burleigh and Tugun in March and April this year.

“That initial round of consultation followed a two-year comprehensive study that recommended extending the next stage of light rail from Burleigh to Tugun along the Gold Coast Highway to the Airport.”

Minister for Transport and Main Roads of Queensland Mark Bailey. Picture: Tara Croser.

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The next round of consultation will be held after a deal is struck between the council and government on a business case.

Cr Tate stoked the fire in his war with anti-light rail protesters this week by asking them to “bring tomatoes” to community consultation “so he can catch them and throw them back at you”.

On Wednesday, he said he looked forward to constructive criticism.

“I welcome that because it will make it better,” he said.

“Light rail Stage 4 belongs to the whole of the city and there will be the to-and-fro of criticism but it will be up to us to educate and learn what is the best solution going to the airport.

“I have my view but now is the time to think it through. If you are an easy-going person, take carriage of it and put your ideas out there when the consultation process begins soon.”