Gold Coast traffic: Unusual proposals to solve Surfers Paradise’s chronic gridlock

Congestion on the Gold Coast’s roads has sparked many ideas of how to solve it, while one prominent businessman insisted heavy traffic was “part of the Surfers Paradise’s charm”.

Congestion on the Gold Coast’s roads is something nobody enjoys but all too frequently experience.

The city’s population is growing rapidly and with it comes more cars on the road.

The light rail is just one of the solutions to this issue, particularly once its southern spine is completed and east-west links are established in coming decades.

Political leaders and transport experts for decades have pitched ideas on how to relieve pressure on our roads.

This week marks 10 years since Mayor Tom Tate proposed one such idea, making headlines with his call to turn Surfers Paradise into a helicopter zone.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate in 2013.

Mr Tate was given an aerial tour of the city aboard the CareFlight rescue helicopter in 2013 and inspired by the pilots he met.

“I have spoken with pilots who believe there should be more helipads on high-rise buildings because it would make it easier for emergency services choppers to land and pick up people rapidly,’’ he said at the time.

``It would be superior to ambulances because it would be both faster and avoid traffic congestion.

``I believe it would add value to some developments because of their greater accessibility’’.

Mr Tate at the time said helipads would be ideal for buildings between 70 and 80 storeys.

The idea was backed by town planner Noel Grummitt who cautioned it would also raise the cost of building towers.

``It is a brilliant idea and there would certainly be some people who would want a helipad,’’ he said.

``But the cost of putting one on a roof would be substantial and would likely result in extra body corporate fees, both upfront and ongoing.

``The issue will be trying to make such things work within the council’s planning scheme.”

The idea did not catch on with developers.

It wasn’t the first time bold ideas were proposed for solving the city’s traffic woes.

The Gold Coast and Surfers Paradise skyline in the 1980s. Hard as it is to believe, the city was already experiencing heavy traffic, Supplied by Gold Coast City Council

It was 35 years ago in August 1988 that Gold Coast Plaza Pty Ltd, a local consortium mooted building a tunnel under Surfers Paradise for cars.

The $65 million proposal would have seen a three-lane tunnel built between Elkhorn Ave and Hanlan St, with a landscaped public plaza built over the top.

The company claimed the project would come at no cost to either the council or the Ahern Government.

According to plans shown to the media in 1988, southbound traffic coming from Southport would enter the tunnel on the Gold Coast Hwy near View St and exit near Hanlan St.

Northbound traffic would have been unaffected and continue to travel along Ferny Ave.

Frank Goldstein fought against the plan to build a tunnel under Surfers Paradise.

The developer also planned a “Bicentenary Plaza, a Town Square and an All National Flag Court with an amphitheatre and stage” be built around Cavill Ave mall.

However the idea was slammed by local businessmen including long-time operator Frank Goldstein led Surfers Paradise Action on Conserving the Environment (SPACE) and slammed the proposal to relieve the gridlock with a tunnel.

“Let’s keep Surfers Paradise unique as things have never been better and are getting better all the time,” he said.

“The traffic is part of the drama, razzamatazz and showplace that Surfers should continue to be.

“Surfers is the Pall Mall or Piccadilly Circus or Sunset Strip of the Gold Coast and should not be blocked off to traffic. That’s what Surfers is all about.

“You can still drive through those famous places or have we forgotten about sightseeing – buses, cars, limos, Jags, Bentleys and Porches all together.”