Light rail funding stall: Gold Coast Chamber wants Morrison Government in driver’s seat
The Gold Coast’s peak business lobby group has demanded the Morrison Government “put its money where its mouth is” and “start delivering” for the Gold Coast following its stunning election victory.
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THE Gold Coast’s peak business lobby group says the Morrison Government needs to “put its money where its mouth is” and solve the light rail funding stall.
Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce President Martin Hall has congratulated the Scott
Morrison-led LNP for its win but cautioned that it owed much of its election success to Queensland voters.
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“Queensland, and the Gold Coast in particular, have shown their support for Mr
Morrison’s policies and it is now time to start delivering on those promises,’’
Mr Hall told the Bulletin.
“We especially want the Federal Government to take the lead in resolving the
dispute with the State Government over funding for both the upgrade of the M1
motorway and Stage 3 of the Gold Coast light rail.
“Both of these projects are vital for the economic health of the Gold Coast in the
short-term future and now is the time for action instead of talking.”
Mr Hall said the chamber was concerned after comments by Industry, Science and Technology Minister Karen Andrews, who is the McPherson MP, that the third stage could be rescoped.
“The whole point of Stage 3 is to connect the business precinct of Burleigh Heads
to Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise, Southport and north to Helensvale and the
heavy rail,” he said.
“Ms Andrews’ suggestion to reduce the length of the proposed extension to the
light rail by 700m is a step in the wrong direction.”
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Mr Hall said the chamber’s understanding was that reducing the extension by 700m would not be a simple or quick exercise.
“Moving the terminus 700m back would potentially impact the location of all the
other planned stops, the entire project would need to be reassessed including
distances between stops, the running times of trams, land requirements at any
new station locations, the impacts to pedestrian and traffic movements and
impacts on underground infrastructure,” Mr Hall said.
“By going down this route, Stage 3 will take longer to complete and will deliver a
much less desirable result that will not meet the goal of connecting Burleigh
Heads to the northern business hubs.”
Mr Hall said the Government also needed to do more to further promote the Gold
Coast as a tourism destination.
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“We should be looking at expanding the conference facilities available in the city
to encourage more large-scale events to be held in the city and promoting longer
stays on the Coast,’’ he said.
Burleigh LNP MP Michael Hart has again backed Ms Andrews, saying a 700m shorter track might solve the funding dispute.
“The reality is they don’t know whether it is going to Palm Beach yet. That 700m is a punt. If they pull it up at Burleigh Heads State School it is at Burleigh anyway,” he said.
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