Gold Coast police station and court house may be destroyed to make way for light rail
The battle has begun to protect a southern Gold Coast police station and courthouse from demolition after it was revealed they would be resumed to get the light rail to the border.
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The battle has begun to protect a southern Gold Coast police station and courthouse from demolition after it was revealed they would be resumed to get the light rail to the border.
The revelation the Coolangatta police station and magistrates court were up for destruction have led to accusations of “political point scoring” for disclosing confidential information.
In parliamentary estimates hearings last week, Currumbin MP Laura Gerber revealed she had been briefed that a planned possible route for the light rail would mean the destruction of the Coolangatta police station and courthouse.
Ms Gerber asked Police Minister Mark Ryan what was planned.
Mr Ryan initially questioned Ms Gerber’s information before responding.
“I have been advised by the Queensland Police Service that we were planning to replace that station anyway and provide an update,” he said.
Mr Ryan then handballed the question to Deputy Commissioner Doug Smith.
“We have been given an indication, not a plan, for what is going to happen at Coolangatta and the Magistrates Court,” Deputy Commissioner Smith said.
“As you would be aware, Coolangatta Police Station has been around for a long time. I think it was built in the 1960s, and it was one of the stations that we were planning on doing a submission for its upgrade anyway.
“If the light rail gets in the way, of course we will have to find another site.”
It is understood the buildings are up for resumption under indicative plans for stage 4b of the light rail, which could be a decade from reality.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey slammed Ms Gerber for revealing information from an “in-confidence briefing”.
“It is more than disappointing to see Ms Gerber abusing the confidence entrusted in her by my Transport and Main Roads department for petty party political point scoring,” he said.
A Transport and Main Roads spokesman said consultation had begun with impacted property owners on the preferred route including the Queensland Police Service.
The next closest Queensland police station to Coolangatta is currently Palm Beach.
The courthouse in the southern state only operates as a circuit court to Southport on Mondays and Fridays and on Thursday every two months.
A magistrate from the Southport Courthouse travels to Coolangatta to preside over matters there.
Following estimates, Ms Gerber said the police station must be replaced if it was lost.
“I would not feel safe if the Southern Gold Coast only had one police station servicing 100,000 people. But this is what we are facing.”
“The Coolangatta Police District is an important strategic location for responding to crime in the Queensland border community.
“In the last year, our community has seen a rise in cross-border crime. We’ve witnessed community members assaulted, families held at knifepoint, and just last month, one family was lucky to be alive after a shooting in Coolangatta.”
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