Ann Wason Moore says sections of Burleigh Heads, Nobby’s and Coolangatta should be closed to cars

A section of Surfers Paradise Esplanade will be shut to traffic under a new trial, but it’s not the only Gold Coast thoroughfare that could benefit from a car ban.

Four wheels bad, two legs good.

It’s the slogan that could reshape and revitalise our city.

With Gold Coast City Council announcing it will close off a major section of Surfers Paradise Esplanade to traffic in a radical trial, this should only be the beginning.

Division 10 Councillor Darren Taylor revealed this week that a 250m stretch of road between Hanlon St and the Soul building (roundabout to roundabout) would be ‘shut down’ for four months to trial plans for a pedestrian-friendly space that included more shade, greenery and open space.

New designs released for the Surfers Paradise $100m revitalisation project. The updated designs are of Surfers Paradise Boulevard. Photo: Supplied

“We will have buskers, entertainment and give locals the ability to see how they will be able to navigate the city with the change of environment,” said Cr Taylor.

It’s a fantastic idea and one that will benefit not just visitors and residents but businesses as well.

After the pedestrianisation of Times Square in New York City in 2009, business increased by 22 per cent, while there were 35 per cent fewer vehicle accidents involving pedestrians and an 11 per cent increase in pedestrian activity.

Meanwhile, a 2016 study of more than 100 cities showed that pedestrian-only streets increased retail sales by around 49 per cent.

And it doesn’t have to be a total shut down where traffic is completely prohibited — there are examples all over the world of part-time pedestrianisation where traffic is prohibited for a certain number of hours or days of the week, or even partial pedestrianisation where there are no restrictions to vehicles, but traffic calming measures are used to discourage cars and make streets more accessible for people.

With Surfers Paradise Esplanade leading the way, let’s consider some other contenders.

New designs released for the Surfers Paradise $100m revitalisation project. The updated designs are of Surfers Paradise Boulevard. Photo: Supplied

James St, Burleigh Heads

It’s already full of people, surrounded by cafes, boutiques and beside the beach... what do we need cars for?

Sure it has a fair bit of parking, but once the light rail rolls through that won’t be so necessary. Besides, this could be an example of part-time pedestrianisation, where restrictions are only enforced during peak hours or weekends.

James Street, Burleigh Heads. Picture: Jerad Williams

Hedges Ave, Mermaid Beach

This one is a little tricky, but it’s also the avenue most desperately in need of change – between cars, bikes and people it’s more a war zone than a traffic area.

But while we can’t completely close it off to traffic, lest all the millionaires be locked out, we can make it a green street.

Vehicle access should be for locals and emergency vehicles only with the possibility of car-free hours like 4am-6am in the summer, which is peak pedestrian and cyclist traffic.

Hedges Ave has turned into a logistical nightmare with cyclists and pedestrians sharing the bike lane complains Mermaid Beach Local Resident Mark Bodna. Picture; Glenn Campbell

Thomas Drive, Chevron Island (between Anembo and Burra streets)

While Thomas Drive should remain the primary thoroughfare during Monday to Friday rush hour, the rest of the time traffic could be diverted via Stanhill Drive.

This would make Chevron Island a destination precinct rather than a through-road, boosting local businesses and street life with more room for outdoor dining and activations. It also meshes perfectly with the island’s existing green bridge.

Griffith St, Coolangatta (between McLean and Warner streets)

This is the heart of our southern city and is already the place where people linger – and where the speed limit is restricted.

So why not just embrace the vibe and ditch the cars altogether? There would be minimal disruption since Marine Pde and McLean St could absorb the load.

Gold Coast Highway

Call me crazy (you won’t be the first), but I’m also not the first to suggest this.

In fact, the late and great Matthew Schneider once dreamt of the day when we could roll out a green carpet of grass down the length of the ill-placed Gold Coast Highway.

While that’s not likely in our lifetime, there are certainly sections that we could pedestrianise. Even planning chair Cr Mark Hammel has suggested we underground the highway at Southport to bring people and life back to Sopo.

In the meantime, there is plenty we could do at relatively little expense – let’s start with Gold Coast Hwy intersections that could become pocket plazas like at Connor Street in Burleigh Heads, Victoria Ave in Broadbeach or Palm Beach Ave in Palm Beach.

We don’t need to close the highway but just rework these spaces so they’re designed for pedestrians first, not high-speed traffic.

Think raised pedestrian crossings, scramble and smart-timed crossings for peak pedestrian hours and more seating, greenery and lighting.

Let’s face it, if we could plan this city now, we never would have put the Gold Coast Highway in such a prime position.

With better public transportation and alternative modes and routes (although that’s still on the wishlist for southern suburbs) these changes would make the city feel less like a road corridor, and more like the series of beach villages that it is.

Light Rail construction along the Gold Coast Highway. Picture Glenn Hampson