Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A: Nobbys Beach and Mermaid Beach business owners back tram extension

BRING it on — that’s the message business owners have for political leaders mulling the $660m third stage of the light rail despite fears its construction will have a devastating impact on local traders.

NOBBYS and Mermaid Beach business owners have likened the light rail build to ripping off a bandaid.

Nobbys Beach cafe owner Steph Lawson is one of the many on the strip who is weighing up the short-term pain with the possible long term gain.

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The tram on the highway in Mermaid Beach.

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“Bring it on, it is a positive change that makes sense,” Ms Lawson of Canvas said.

“It’s just like a bandaid, painful until it is done.”

Braydon Condon who opened Pinky’s Kitchen and Bar at Nobby Beach this year, believes the build will create more opportunities for the area.

Nobby Beach local Brayden Condon who owns Pinky's Kitchen and Bar says he is looking forward to the light rail.

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“I think it is fantastic in the long term and will be great opportunity for the Gold Coast,” he said.

“As far as I have been informed the pre-planning of this stage is better than it was for Surfers so it should all be smoother.

“Being a local business we have regulars who support us so we should survive any disruption, in the long term the benefits are going to be huge,” he said.

Butcher of Nobbys Beach Gourmet Meats Steve Whawell was also looking forward to the change.

Nobby Beach butcher Steve Whawell is also supportive of stage 3A.

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“I think it is good news, it will help the night-life down here and help people travel.

“When it comes to parking we have time limits here already, so I don’t think it will disturb it too much,” he said.

However those not positioned directly on the light rail line aren't as convinced.

Rosemary Toloa who works at Nobbys Beach and lives at Burleigh Heads says she doesn’t want to see the light rail disturb the sleepy nature of the southern Gold Coast.

The light rail’s Stage 3A will terminate in Burleigh Heads.

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“I don’t like the idea of going though Burleigh,” she said.

“There simply isn’t enough parking.

“It is great for people in units in Surfers, but we are different down here — there are two different Gold Coasts.”

Nobbys Beach resident Dave Lean was also sceptical of the project.

“There is congestion along the highway as it is, with construction it will be insane,” he said.

“We have buses and they are never full, so I don’t know why we need this.”

Dan Bohlsen who grew up in the area says he was concerned light rail will change the feel of Mermaid Beach.

Dan Bohlsen lives in Burleigh Heads and works at Mermaid Beach. He doesn't want to see the area change at all.

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“I don’t like it, anywhere it goes it will take up parking space,” he said.

“It’s sad, it won’t be the area I remember growing up in.

“Just look at how much Surfers has changed.

“At the end of the day, the council doesn’t listen to people.”