State transport bureaucrats have already told new LNP govt ‘trams are the best option’ over buses

State Government is at war - with itself - on Gold Coast trams south of Burleigh. Two internal reviews are underway despite officials already telling government ‘trams are the best option’.

The State is at war - with itself - over Burleigh-Gold Coast Airport transport planning.

Bureaucrats from two State Government departments and City planners are on a collision course on whether trams or buses are the solution to traffic gridlock to the Gold Coast border, it can be revealed.

State Transport Department senior officers advised the new LNP State Government light rail was the only long-term option linking Burleigh to the border, the Bulletin has been told.

The only concession officials would make, when asked to consider alternatives, was to offer to explore a western route from Burleigh to the Pacific Motorway, it’s understood.

But the Crisafulli Government, backing an election promise, wants a complete review of the stage four extension south from Burleigh to the border looking at all options.

A senior Transport source, talking on background on why a separate Infrastructure Department was now also reviewing options, said: “We know trams are the best option for the future. Buses will be a big capital expenditure upfront. It won’t service the transport need for the long-term future.”

The Gold Coast Light Rail Stage Four debate. Mayor Tom Tate on the idea of a bus-tram interchange at Burleigh, says it needs to be quick access. Pictured: The current Broadbeach South station connection.

The transport source said bureaucrats had advised the new State Government exploring buses was “not an appropriate use of department resources”.

Mayor Tom Tate ignited debate earlier this week, when he responded to a Bulletin question about bus altenatives being explored to light rail south by saying: “If it has to be buses, it will have to be like the Brisbane Metro and look like light rail. I have an open and persuadable mind.”

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie - soon after comments revealing a separate review by his Infrastructure Department - added “everything is on the table”.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“During the election campaign we said we would review Gold Coast light rail stage four because the former Labor government did not listen to southern Gold Coast residents. We did that and we were elected on that platform.”

Premier David Crisafulli later said the views of residents would be “listened to, they’re going to be respected, as will the council”.

“On the back of that we’re going to get the kind of solutions that the community can embrace, can use and cherish. The community will be listened to,” he said.

But a City source said council planning officers viewed the idea of a Burleigh transit centre proposal - necessary if buses connect the light rail south to the airport - as “ridiculous” because the turnaround space for Metro-style buses would require so much land.

The bus and tram connection at Broadbeach South near Pacific Fair.

The site’s size would include the bowls club, council parking and community centres.

But on Friday, Mr Bleijie said the bowls club would be protected: “(Labor’s leader) Steven Miles is running another scare campaign based on a complete lie to divide the community.

“The independent review will protect the Burleigh Heads Bowls Club and Memorial Park, and only LNP (Burleight) member Hermann Vorster will stand up for local residents and ensure that happens.”

Labor sources say when they were in Government an investigation of both buses and trams as options for Stage 1 and Stage 3 demonstrated light rail to be a superior solution.

This was “especially from a customer experience perspective” - trams were then chosen as the official preference in 2009

Mr Miles on Friday targeted Mr Vorster who promised residents on social media “everything will be on the table”.

“If the LNP get their way, Hermann Vorster will be known as the man who bulldozed the Burleigh Heads Bowls club and iconic parklands in favour of a bus terminal and a defacto airport waiting lounge,” he said.

“The Crisafulli LNP Government has proven yet again they say and do anything to avoid the advice of experts.

“They’ve disregarded the advice of transport experts and have now enlisted their LNP mate and Director General of the Infrastructure Department, John Sosso, to conduct a review of their own.

Two reviews inside the state government’s Transport department and Infrastructure department are now underway. The Broadbeach South bus and tram connection.

“The LNP will use this review to weasel out of delivering congestion-busting infrastructure for the Gold Coast.” The Bulletin is seeking a response from Mr Vorster.

A Bulletin report earlier this week - according to an historic bus option appraisal - Burleigh would have 11,000 people arrive each day at the coastal village if a transport interchange was created for buses south.

The appraisal also revealed buses would be a stopgap ­solution, and unlike light rail, be operating at near capacity by 2041. They would still create significant costs and require much space.

Mayor Tom Tate earlier said he was “open and persuadable” to using buses instead of trams between Burleigh and Gold Coast Airport as light rail’s Stage 4 extension faces an unclear future.

“As long as you walk across the platform and you don’t feel like you have changed your mode. The only concern I will be looking at is the detail on people with mobility issues and luggage,” he said.

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