Palm Beach light rail report kept secret from MP because it is too technical to read

A report on extending light rail along the Gold Coast highway from Burleigh to the airport is being kept secret from residents, with the reason sparking a furious response from a local MP. FIND OUT ALL THE DETAILS

A REPORT on extending light rail to the airport is being kept secret after being considered “too technical” for MPs and residents.

Burleigh MP Michael Hart, who opposes the proposed route along the Gold Coast Highway from Burleigh, is furious with Transport Minister Mark Bailey for denying him access to a multimodal transport study.

Images: Evolution of Gold Coast light rail

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Michael Hart — furious with Mark Bailey.

Mr Bailey told Mr Hart: “The Department of Transport and Main Roads does not routinely release technical reports to the public (including Members of Parliament) as these documents are of a technical nature.”

Mr Hart said that in March 2020 the government promised it would release the study, only to ultimately make available a two-page snapshot.

“I asked the Minister if I could have a copy of that multimodal study,” Mr Hart told Parliament. “The answer was ‘no’. I then decided that I would put in an RTI (Right to Information) and request that information.

“The response was that it was not in the public interest for me to have a copy of the full multimodal study so that I could do my job as the member for Burleigh and educate myself on what might be the best outcome.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey —explains why report was not released to Michael Hart. Picture: Tertius Pickard

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Mr Hart said he was “stunned” by Mr Bailey’s response and had given him an undertaking that the report “will remain confidential and only be used to inform my position on the future light rail route”.

“I must assume that the Minister thinks that technical reports are beyond the scope of a member of Parliament to understand. I was an aircraft engineer for 20 years and I am au fait with all things technical.

“The only reason I want to see the multimodal study is to prove that the Minister is actually telling the truth to the Queensland Parliament, to the people of Palm Beach and to the people of the Gold Coast, that this is the best route.

“... He is denying the person who represents 36,000 people in my electorate access to full information.”

Light rail on the Gold Coast. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

Mr Hart accused the government of being “not accountable and not transparent” and wanted to “railroad the people of Palm Beach with light rail that they do not want”.

Right To Information said the study identified “associated land requirements” for the Gold Coast Highway for the next 20 years and its release “therefore have a negative impact for ongoing discussions and negotiations with stakeholders”.

The Bulletin this month reported that TMR had sent a letter informing property owners at Tugun that their land was being looked at as part of a “multi-modal” corridor study being developed as part of the 13km Stage 4 link from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta.

A TMR spokesperson said at the time that the letters were not resumption notices.

Mr Bailey told Mr Hart that 68 per cent of local residents and businesses supported the outcomes of the multimodal study.

“The resounding message from many residents was they believe the outcomes of the study will result in improved walking and cycling paths, reduced traffic congestion and a faster and easier journey for commuters overall,” he wrote.

“As you will be aware, community consultation was undertaken in March and April 2020 and the results showed a clear preference for a light rail extension along the Gold Coast Highway between Burleigh Heads and Tugun.

“The LNP’s preferred light rail route to the airport, along a slow indirect inland route through an industrial area, and taking over the heavy rail corridor, should worry every resident on the southern Gold Coast concerned about the future of public transport and will prevent a heavy rail connection from ever being built to the Gold Coast airport.”