Why tram protesters are in the minority and light rail must be built for the majority through Palm Beach
Pro-light rail supporters have accused residents in a southern Gold Coast suburb of having too much say in the tram debate and potentially stopping it from reaching the border.
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THE silent pro-light rail majority - or so they claim - have spoken.
Pro-light rail supporters are accusing a minority of residents in a southern Gold Coast suburb of having too much say in the tram debate and stopping it from reaching the border.
The Send Light Rail South on its Facebook page have posted a graphic highlighting a small red line of opposition to trams at Palm Beach colouring the rest with yellow for support.
“Should we really be redesigning the whole light rail system to please 40 per cent of one suburb, and make it worse for people on the yellow bits. Is the tail wagging the dog?” Send Light Rail South wrote.
The “40 per cent” opposition was in a survey conducted by Transport and Main Roads as part of the Tugun multimodal study. A majority (68 per cent) across the city were positive.
Mayor Tom Tate agreed about the concerns of some residents about a minority with “loud voices” having become what they call the “squeaky wheel” in surveying.
“I applaud community groups who don’t try to hijack the agenda with their ideological beliefs,” Cr Tate said.
“Light rail from Helensvale to the airport and Coolangatta is about building our future city-wide public transport systems. The minority views of some people in one suburb should never be allowed to halt a future transport network for one-million plus people.”
A resident in a post on the Send Light Rail South group page wrote: “Been saying this all along. I don’t know why these people think they have the final say for everyone else.”
“The Nimby’s will never use the facility anyway and progress won’t stop,” another tram supporter wrote. “It will just get more congested with their cars.”
A resident added: “Part of me wants to grant them their wish and have the light rail come inland while running express through Palm Beach, as it will screw them over badly 15 years from now when their suburb becomes one of the least accessible on the Coast.”
The Transport Departent’s multi-modal corridor study between Burleigh Heads and Tugun, when presented to city councillors in May, showed a majority of residents and businesses across the city support light rail as a transport option on the southern end.
The study considered all transport modes including walking, bike riding, private vehicles and public transport to determine the preferred function of the Gold Coast Hwy for the next 20 years.
Researchers investigated several alternative routes parallel to the highway and concluded the southern extension of the trams should follow the coastal route and service the Burleigh village centre, Palm Beach shopping strip, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern Cross University and the Gold Coast Airport.
The results of the Insights Report found 68 per cent of residents and businesses indicated a “level of positive support” for the multimodal corridor study to help improve liveability and connectivity between Burleigh and Tugun.
“There is a clear preference for light rail services over dedicated bus lanes – 58 per cent light rail, 24 per cent bus lane option. The preference is mirrored across residents and businesses,” the report said
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