Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens takes aim at Oceanway, next stage of Gold Coast light rail in stunning speech
A Gold Coast MP has labelled the Oceanway “sacrificial” and the light rail a “Trojan horse for more development” in a stunning spray in Wednesday’s parliament.
Gold Coast
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News.
- ‘Gold Coast bypass’: Claims city short-changed in budget
- Special report: What’s happening with Coast’s biggest projects
A GOLD Coast MP has labelled the Oceanway “sacrificial” and the light rail a “Trojan horse for more development” in a stunning spray in Wednesday’s parliament.
Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens has sensationally claimed the Oceanway project, which would build a four-meter wide path down the length of the city, will be “washed away by Christmas”.
In a 15-minute speech to parliament the veteran MP also took aim at light rail Stage 3 and the lack of budget funding for the Gold Coast Convention Centre.
“He said: “The Oceanway is a sacrificial infrastructure project through the sand dunes and much-heralded sand grasses of Gold Coast City beaches.
“One would question the logic of concreting a four-metre path over our magnificent beaches knowing perhaps this Christmas or the next it will be washed away in a big storm.
Oceanway Surfers Paradise: Legal action to halt Gold Coast council building pedestrian path
“I hear the cries of many who would like this infrastructure to ride their bike on, push their pram on, or generally not get their Nike shoes dirty on the beach sand.
“However it is a responsible government who should resist these Christmas wish calls to Santa in the name of responsible spending of ratepayers’ money.
“The beach is a beautiful place to walk and other pathways that aren’t sacrificial are better placed to provide mobility access.
“I understand many folk are rallying against this project through legal avenues and I wish them well.”
Gold Coast City Council estimated earlier this year up to 9400 walkers and cyclists a day are using the current Oceanway route.
Local community group the Surfers Beachfront Protection Association has lodged an appeal against a plan to complete the Surfers Paradise to Broadbeach stretch of the route.
Mr Stevens also called on the state government to fast-track the Coomera Connector, and called $113m in budget funding for light rail a “development enabler”.
“Already the cries of despair are reverberating in Nobby Beach over two 12-storey high-rises to accommodate more passengers for the light rail,” he said.
“As I have said on numerous occasions the light rail is a development enabler, with increased densities already being utilized along earlier stages.
“With the increased high-rise density associated with beachside living it means an enormous increase in traffic and parking problems in the suburbs around the light rail, while there is only one north-south highway in what is a totally linear city.
“The light rail would be a great addition if it was only used to improve public transport accessibility, but it is being used as a Trojan horse for high-rise development along the beachfront.
“It will only lead to more gridlock along the Gold Coast Highway.”
Transport Minister Mark Bailey fired back at Mr Stevens outside Parliament, claiming the speech was “just the latest LNP excuse” to attack light rail.
“If you look at the LNP MPs along the Coast they’ve all opposed light rail in different ways and they’ve all had big swings against them,” he said.
“They all held onto their seats (in the 2020 election) by their fingertips.
“Gold Coasters want the light rail.
“The council, the state government and the federal government fund the light rail and we do so because of population growth.”
Teen found alive after two days lost in wilderness
A teenager who went missing while hiking Mount Barney has been found after a two-day search. READ MORE
Bemused MP’s slapdown for council on parking fines
A Gold Coast MP has questioned why council is writing to the state to get parking rules relaxed – claiming legislation not only allows them to do so, but councils including Logan already take advantage. Watch the video of how Logan do it.