A private letter from Coast business leaders calls on Premier David Crisafulli to back trams
A letter has been sent to Premier David Crisafulli urging his Government to continue building light rail to the border. Read what it said
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
The Gold Coast business community has written a private letter to Premier David Crisafulli urging his Government to continue building light rail to the border.
Gold Coast Light Rail Business Advisory chair Stephen Harrison, with the backing of more than 10 heavyweight business leaders, says the pause button cannot be put on the City’s biggest infrastructure project for too long.
Mr Harrison told the Premier the previous stages of the light rail showed it could take six years to plan for and build Stage Four.
“So it is essential the planning and preparations for the project commence shortly after the conclusion of the community consultation process currently being undertaken,” he wrote.
“As you’ve said previously, doing nothing is not an option, as congestion already badly affects the southern part of the city. As a result, we are calling on you to make a clear commitment to the city and to Light Rail Stage Four before the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.”
The preliminary evaluation by the previous Government into Stage Four light rail found:
* the current public transport connection to the Gold Coast Airport is inadequate, only being serviced by two bus routes.
* the Pacific Motorway is being upgraded from Varsity Lakes to Tugun and once completed there will be limited ability to increase its carrying capacity and by 2041 it will be close to gridlock at times.
* by 2041 the growth in passenger movements is expected to reach 54,228 per day to or from the Airport - an increase of 171 per cent since 2019 with only 5.8 per cent cent using public transport.
* Coolangatta as a major centre is underperforming and its residential population will increase from 6541 to 9509 people in the next 20 years.
In the letter signed off by business leaders to the Premier, the Gold Coast business community said it was “united in its support” for continuing this project along the Coast
“The Gold Coast is Australia’s premier tourism capital and sixth largest city, with predictions it will be the fifth largest city in a few years and home to a million people by 2034,” businessmen wrote.
“As a linear city, stretching more than 60 kilometres from north to south, there are significant connectivity issues. This has created an unsustainable reliance on cars. Incredibly, 88 per cent of trips on the Gold Coast are made in a car.”
Completing the north to south light rail linkage was critical to the success and continued liveability of the Coast, business leaders added.
“The light rail has been front and centre in all leading government transport strategies focused on improving connectivity, accessibility, boosting sustainability and managing congestion for many years – including the Gold Coast City Transport Strategy,” they said.
Based on the experience of Stages 1 to 3, business leaders estimate it could take at least six years to plan for and build Stage Four of the light rail.
“This means a commitment to the alignment and delivery of the light rail is needed shortly after completion of the current consultation period,” they said.
Business leaders acknowledged the Gold Coast Highway alignment could be improved by
input from the community consultation process, leading to a fauna overpass at Burleigh National Park, improved bridge designs and adjustments to the route through Palm Beach.
Mr Harrison spoke in support of the trams at a recent Palm Beach forum organised by Burleigh MP Hermann Vorster, having made an election promise to open up tram consultation.
A “straw poll” showed 98 per cent of the 430 people in the room were opposed to Stage Four.
An independent survey for the City found 77 per cent of residents say they will use the trams once stage four is completed, with 82 per cent living on the corridor expected to use it.
Fifty-one per cent of residents strongly support completion to the airport, and 49 per cent strongly support the extension from Burleigh along the Gold Coast Highway.
More Coverage
Teals on wheels: Why Coast is finally grabbing slice of cash pie
The Gold Coast has been short-changed by federal power-brokers for decades. That could be about to change, writes Ann Wason Moore.
Named: How clueless Pimpama ice trafficker led cops right to his door
A Gold Coast man from a good family was already in trouble with the law – but a mistake that led cops right to his door opened up a whole new world of legal pain for him, a court has heard.