Gold Coast traffic: Council needs to work faster to fix roads as plans emerge about a congestion busting taskforce

A bold proposal to solve the Gold Coast’s horror congestion issues will be unveiled today. It could see new bridges and roads created across the city. But not everyone is impressed.

A TRAFFIC congestion solution for the Gold Coast is about to be debated by city councillors.

But it could ignite tensions about the city in its budget not giving a big enough boost in the proportion of spending on road works.

The capital works programs for roads was 28.4 per cent of the budget in 2015-16 and dropped to 27.5 per cent before the Commonwealth Games before rising in 2018-19 to 29 per cent.

Some councillors fear that the debate, which begins at full council after 1pm today, will be just another talkfest with no significant increase in the capital works program.

Mayor Tom Tate is expected to address a mayoral minute where he talks about setting up a congestion busting task force.

GOLD COAST TRAFFIC CONGESTION FIX

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate wants to build a congestion busting taskforce. Picture: Jerad Williams

The Gold Coast Bulletin understands the key proposed appointments to the taskforce will be John Howe, Professor of Engineering from Griffith University along with councillors Pauline Young and Hermann Vorster.

The taskforce will consider potential new roads, bridges and network upgrades, better traffic light synchronisation and lengthening the capacity of slip lanes.

The council has its top bureaucrats working on a transport strategy but the aim of the taskforce would be to make recommendations within three months and complete its work within a year, focusing on key future projects.

Gridlock on the Gold Coast’s north. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Councillors in January last year fed up with congestion on the M1 began organising a transport briefing with MPs to reach agreement on how to fix the gridlocked road network.

A city freight plan report presented to the committee revealed only 4.8 per cent of Coast residents are using public transport with almost 85 per cent relying on their vehicle.

But the transport briefing never eventuated.

In late June some councillors were frustrated that the city’s capital works program for roads in the council budget only increased in line with the growth of the city.

HOW TO SOLVE CITY’S TRAFFIC ISSUES

Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer wants less talk and more action to fix roads. Photograph: Jason O'Brien.

Mudgeeraba-based councillor Glenn Tozer during post-budget debate said hinterland-based residents expected the city to deliver projects which reduced congestion on council roads feeding into the M1.

When approached by The Bulletin about the latest traffic congestion busting plan, he cautioned about another talkfest.

“We have a congestion busting plan called the Road Network Capital Works program, devised by experienced and professional staff that we lead, addressing the next four years’ priorities,” he said today.

“We just have to fund it. Not talk about it.”