Gold Coast urged to figure out light rail mess

GOLD Coast Airport boss has urged stakeholders at all levels to find consensus on stage 3 of the light rail or risk stunting the region’s growth. Where should it go? VOTE IN OUR POLL

GOLD Coast Airport’s owners have bought into the light rail debate, warning against delays in taking the trams south and calling for unity on the route.

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills yesterday urged stakeholders at all levels to “get on with it” and find consensus or risk stunting the region’s growth.

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“We want connectivity as quickly as possible. It seems like we have a solution, but if we start to get caught up in alternate routes we may not get anywhere in time,’’ Mr Mills said.

Chris Mills CEO Queensland Airports Ltd at Coolangatta Airport. Photo: Steve Holland

His comments followed exchanges between Burleigh MP Michael Hart, who has supported a petition in State Parliament calling for the tram network to go west to Varsity Lakes station instead of down the Gold Coast Highway from Burleigh to the airport, and Mayor Tom Tate who says Gold Coasters have already made it clear they back the southern route for stage 3.

Passenger movements at the airport, which services 6.5 million passengers annually, are expected to reach 16.6 million a year by 2037.

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Mr Mills said the airport was focused on transport links given that expected growth.

“The city needs to be united about this project, sending a clear signal to government about future stages,” he said.

“If we don’t start making commitments now, we will get to a point where we have transport problems and will say why haven't we done this?

Opening morning of the Stage 2 of the Gold Coast light rail (g:link) at Helensvale Station. Picture: Jerad Williams

“If we have unity, we’re more likely to get an outcome.”

Gold Coast Airport supported the light rail project and had incorporated it into planning.

“A direct light rail route to the airport, running along the Gold Coast Highway, makes the most sense for visitors to the region,” Mr Mills said.

Cr Tate yesterday called for support for the Gold Coast Highway route, telling “nimby” light rail critics to “stick to the facts”.

The Mayor rejected calls for the light rail to head west from Burleigh, saying it would substantially increase the time taken to arrive at the airport and add “hundreds of millions to future construction costs”.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate Picture: Jerad Williams

According to Gold Coast City Council figures, stage 3 could cost up to $1 billion extra to build with a detour west before going south to the airport and Coolangatta, adding up to 15 kilometres to the route.

“Nimby attitudes make me sick,” Mayor Tom Tate said.

The light rail path along the Gold Coast Highway as originally proposed by GCC in 2015. Photo: Supplied.

“This suggestion of a longwinded western route for the light rail would be an absolute abuse of taxpayer funds and anyone who can even suggest that an additional expenditure of hundreds of millions of dollars is somehow good for the hard-working ratepayer needs to seriously reconsider their position,” he said.

The Mayor said a 2015 survey saw an “overwhelming majority call for the southern light rail route to go direct from Broadbeach down the Gold Coast Highway”. The 2015 survey attracted 3606 submissions with 79 per cent supporting the route heading south from Broadbeach to Burleigh.

But Mr Hart yesterday questioned the Mayor’s plan.

“The Mayor’s mandate I thought was on a cruise ship terminal. How’s that working out for him?” he said.

Mr Hart argued the 2015 council consultation did not specify the route enough for residents to make an informed decision. He said a light rail track down the M1 from Varsity Lakes would be cheaper if it was built as part of the $2 billion widening of the M1. “You know, build it all at once and save costs.”