Gold Coast traffic: The big problem that could sink city’s grand plans

Mayor Tom Tate is on to a winner with his plan to lure another major sports event to the Gold Coast. But there’s an elephant in the room that still needs addressing, writes Keith Woods

Mayor Tom Tate certainly like to make a splash with grand ideas for the Gold Coast.

It doesn’t always come off – think the numerous proposals for a cruise ship terminal, or his keen support for the state government’s deeply flawed ‘global tourism hub’ idea to sneak a second casino into the city.

But Mayor Tate is on to something with his suggestion that the Gold Coast should be a global hub of another kind, for the sport of swimming.

Few cities globally have the positive relationship with the water that is baked into life in this town.

Few also have as fine a venue as the Aquatic Centre in Southport.

It’s a joyous sporting jamboree but the Commonwealth Games has a global significance akin to a fly on an elephant’s back. Yet the city can look to an extraordinary legacy from hosting it, and the upgraded Aquatic Centre is the jewel in the crown.

Leveraging a more important event – in this case the swimming world championships – to unlock funding to further upgrade the venue makes a lot of sense.

The Gold Coast Aquatic Centre pictured during the Commonwealth Games. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt.

And yet, for anyone who knows the area well, there must be pause for thought.

Despite being well served by the Smith St motorway and most notably, the light rail, traffic in Southport – most especially near the Aquatic Centre – is frequently near breaking point.

Gridlock is a feature of that section of the Gold Coast Highway in a way that was not the case in the lead-up to the 2018 Games.

Back then, if this author encountered the sort of traffic now seen daily on the Highway in Southport, it was a clear indication that something out of the ordinary – a car crash or roadworks – was to be found a little further down the road.

Now, being stuck behind traffic unable to move despite having a green light just means it’s a day ending in ‘y’.

This traffic issue appeared to be heightened during the Australian Swimming Championships that took place at the Aquatic Centre in April.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: John Gass.

Mayor Tate is also pushing very hard for Stage 4 of light rail to the airport, as well he might, given the success of the existing line.

But it is increasingly clear to anyone that uses our roads regularly that the Stage 4 extension, while an undoubted boon to visitors arriving at our airport, can be no silver bullet for the city’s wider traffic woes.

The post-Covid population surge, most keenly felt in the city’s traffic-choked north, has seen to that.

Central suburbs like Robina are also bedevilled by gridlock, as your columnist was again reminded during a visit on Monday.

A more convincing transport plan for the city is urgently needed.

Perhaps such a plan will emerge if the LNP wins power in October and conducts its promised review of plans for Stage 4. We can only hope so. Whatever they conclude is the best way forward, doing nothing is absolutely not an option.

The Gold Coast should be a natural home for major sporting events such as the swimming world championships.

But lanes in swimming pools are not the only kind needed.

Jed Walter with fans after the Gold Coast Suns win over Port Adelaide Power at the People First Stadium on Sunday. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images.

SUNS IN THE SUNSHINE

Speaking of sporting events, your columnist was amused by the conversation of footie fans during the impressive Gold Coast Suns win over Port Adelaide at the People First Stadium in Carrara on Sunday.

Bathed in bright afternoon sunshine, there was much chatter among spectators in the east of the stadium about the great heat they were enduring. Some visitors even bemoaned the fact that they had failed to bring sunscreen.

This at the end of a week supposed to mark the height of winter in Australia.

A reminder again, if ever one was needed, of how fortunate we are to live here.

Follow @keithjwoods