Burleigh hipsters accuse Gold Coast Council of pushing tram to Burleigh so height limits can change

ANTI-TRAM protesters are accusing the Gold Coast City Council of pushing for unlimited high-rise development from Broadbeach to Burleigh in the bid to extend the light rail system south. Should the trams go to Burleigh? VOTE IN OUR POLL

Karen Rowles is outraged the council has approved the third stage of the light rail to Burleigh. She has a petition with almost 6000 signatures. Picture: Richard Gosling

ANTI-TRAM protesters are accusing the Gold Coast City Council of pushing for unlimited high-rise development from Broadbeach to Burleigh in the bid to extend the light rail system south.

Protesters are up in arms after the city infrastructure committee on Thursday approved a draft business case for the next stage of tram line construction, which will take the tram line south to Burleigh.

Palm Beach mother Karen Rowles has started an online petition against the light rail extension, which is ultimately aimed at taking the line to the airport.

Almost 6000 people had signed the petition by last night.

The document is intended to be delivered to Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad and Mayor Tom Tate, but the online site does not ask those who add their names to provide an address or even the country they live in.

Karen Rowles is outraged the council has approved the third stage of the light rail to Burleigh. Picture by Richard Gosling

“Putting the light rail down the Gold Coast Highway through Palm Beach has little to do with transport and more to do with development zoning changes,” Ms Rowles said.

She accused the council was looking to increase densities in the area to build more high rise.

“I am disgusted by the decision,” she said.

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After the first stage of the light rail was built through Surfers Paradise, the State Government ruled the council should accept unlimited height limits in areas along the light rail corridor.

Ms Rowles said the light rail would destroy the village feel of the area.

“We want to protect our lifestyle and our way of living,” she said.

Burleigh resident Nicole Stratton, who lives near Koala Park, said she was concerned about lifestyle changes.

Residents are protesting against the light rail heading south to Burleigh.

“Burleigh has a little village feel to it and I do have concerns for small businesses,” she said.

Some businesses in Southport had to shut during construction of stage one of the light rail and did not recover.

Ms Stratton said she feared the same would happen at Burleigh.

Her biggest concern was possible destruction of koala habitat on Burleigh hill, which she feared would be lost during construction. The council yesterday denied this would happen.

“I and so many other people in the area have ushered koalas across the Gold Coast Highway,” she said.

The Gold Coast Bulletin report on the council decision generated plenty of comment online.

A survey conducted by the Labor Party early last month found about 70 per cent of Currumbin residents were in favour of the light rail being extended to the airport.

Some businesses told the Gold Coast Bulletin they were concerned about how construction would affect their profits and said they thought they could be “gone” by the time the tram started running.

They declined to be named for fear of losing customers who support the light rail construction.

Residents say the light rail will ruin the village feel of Burleigh.

Central Chamber of Commerce spokesman Martin Hall said most businesses supported the light rail extension, but had concerns.

“Any improvement to public transport is welcomed but it does need to be rigorously debated and more thoroughly debated than it has been,” Mr Hall said.

Burleigh MP Michael Hart said he was supportive of light rail but only if it went west rather than along the coastline.

A council spokeswoman said no koala habitat would be destroyed by the next stage of the light rail.

The spokeswoman was unable to provide a response regarding zoning issues by the Bulletin’s deadline as it was “too complicated”.

She said a response would be available on Monday.