Gold Coast Light rail Stage 4: State backs new Burleigh and Currumbin koala tram overpasses
The state government has backed plans to fast-track bridges and wildlife overpasses for the light rail’s final route – but Minister tells Mayor he can pay for it.
Gold Coast
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THE state government has backed plans to fast-track bridges and wildlife overpasses for the light rail’s final route – just as long as it doesn’t have to pay for it.
Mayor Tom Tate believes taxpayers could save $100m if key infrastructure needed for light rail Stage 4 from Burleigh to the border was built during construction of Stage 3, from Broadbeach.
He argues the cost of building those bridges and overpasses will continue to rise and should be completed while construction crews are already on the ground.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey welcomed the plan and said the state would support the early work for the final link if council paid for it.
“Our focus right now is getting on with the fully funded Stage 3 from Broadbeach to Burleigh,” he said.
“I welcome Mayor Tate’s enthusiasm for light rail to the airport. If he and the Gold Coast City Council would like to fund and build a fauna bridge in advance of the business case for Stage 4 then I’d be very supportive of them doing that.”
However, the “olive branch” to anti-tram and green protesters, revealed last week by the Bulletin, has only inflamed the war of wars with vocal critics of the project.
Palm Beach anti-tram campaigner Karen Rowles insisted she was not an activist but a “victim of overdevelopment”.
“Mayor Tate calls me an ‘anti-light rail activist’ but I call myself a victim – a victim of the overdevelopment that is a direct consequence of the planned light rail route,” she said.
“I think we all know the trams are what the Mayor wants fast-tracked.
“The Mayor, Mark Bailey and Meaghan Scanlon could fast-track the wildlife bridge, but have so far refused.
“Protection of our endangered koalas should not come at a price and if the price of protecting these vulnerable creatures is constructing tram tracks through the area and across pristine award-winning Tallebudgera Creek, that is unacceptable to the Palm Beach community.
“Build the bridge now and divert the light rail away from Jellurgal. That is what we’ve always fought for.”
The Mayor hit back at Ms Rowles, saying he was “amazed” that she and other activists opposed the proposed bridges.
“For the past five years, we have all heard the pleas from this group to ‘save the precious koalas’ on Burleigh Headlands,” he said.
“This wildlife overpass would help all fauna in the area yet when I publicly ask for support to have the overpass built as soon as possible, all I hear is criticism.
“Ratepayers don’t want to hear excuses. They rightly expect elected officials to advance their issues and find solutions.
The Mayor insisted his proposal would protect wildlife and allow the $2.7bn tram to be delivered faster than expected.
“This overpass, built early, would save ratepayers tens of millions of dollars in future construction costs and importantly, give all fauna in the Burleigh Ridge area a safe passage across the highway.
“All I ask is for the anti-light rail brigade to publicly support a project they have supposedly been calling for through emotive media statements. Why have they now had a complete change of heart?”
Mayor’s $100m olive branch to anti-tram protesters
Mayor Tom Tate is reaching out to anti-tram and green protesters to broker a deal which will see planning of light rail Stage 4 to the airport fast tracked, saving up to $100 million.
The call to end the light rail war was sparked after the recent announcement that Cross River Rail would see an end to direct heavy rail services from the Coast to Brisbane Airport.
Mr Tate believes that decision, by the State Government, has put the spotlight on fast tracking public transport alternatives to the Coast airport.
He said the major heavy works associated with Stage Four of the trams to Coolangatta could occur during the current Stage Three build from Broadbeach to Burleigh.
“This includes the Burleigh wildlife corridor and the bridges over Tallebudgera and Currumbin creeks. I urge the environmental and wildlife groups concerned about wildlife crossings to support this call,” the Mayor told the Bulletin.
He acknowledged it was critical for all levels of government to get a green light from environmental groups and residents on planning for the trams.
“Our council’s record in protecting flora and fauna is outstanding. One of my main priorities as mayor is to both preserve our green and open space and create wildlife corridors in critical habitats,” Mr Tate said.
Asked if he was prepared to meet with green groups to discuss solutions, the Mayor replied: “Of course”.
“We are yet to cost the Burleigh wildlife overpass but I am publicly calling on green and environment groups to back my call for this overpass to be built during the stage 3 construction period,” he added.
“That would surely benefit the wildlife which exists on Burleigh Ridge and Burleigh Heads.”
Mr Tate having used his engineering background to previously deliver the HOTA green bridge at a lower cost believes funding deals need to be struck up as soon as possible.
“Engineering is complex by nature and there is no doubt the two main bridge structures, and the Burleigh wildlife overpass, are significant capital items as part of stage 4,” he said.
“Given current increased labour costs and material supply issues, it makes absolute sense to build these critical components during the Stage Three works.
“The bridges and overpass could be put out as a separate tender and work started while the Stage Three Broadbeach-Burleigh extension is underway. That way, as soon as Stage Three is finished, the successful tender for Stage Four could be let and the major infrastructure items associated with Stage Four would be in place.
“I estimate my approach could save all three tiers of government more than $100 million.’’
In 2019, a fauna overpass and wildlife exclusion fencing was pitched to protect koalas from light rail as trams head south from Burleigh Heads, and it gained wide support.
Experts backed the fauna overpass design by Habitat Environment Management saying it would reduce road fatalities for wildlife in one of the Coast’s busiest transport corridors.
The fencing would back residential properties on the western side of the Gold Coast Highway, and run along the edge of the headland bushland, reaching down to Tallebudgera Creek on the eastern side.
The fauna overpass crossing was proposed half way along, between the Burleigh township and the creek.
On either side of the highway would be one-way wildlife escape chutes where koalas caught on the “dangerous side” of the corridor could escape.
Habitat Environment Management’s Matt Keys, at the time, estimated the cost would be “one per cent of Stage Three B”.
Asked about that proposal, the Mayor replied: “I support any innovative solutions.’’
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