Opposition calls on Crisafulli Government to budget for improved east west bus routes
The State has been urged to stump up cash for east-west transport links amid accusations the Gold Coast is being ‘short changed’ on public transport. Here’s where the new transport corridors would be built.
Transport
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The Opposition says the State Government is short changing the Gold Coast compared to the Sunshine Coast and wants it to stump up cash for east-west transport corridors ahead of the Olympics.
Gaven MP and Labor frontbencher Meaghan Scanlon, with shadow treasurer Shannon Fentiman, on Thursday called on the Government to provide funding for the project in its budget to be handed down on June 24.
The East-West Bus Priority Corridor – which will reportedly connect Nerang and Broadbeach and Robina and Miami – featured in the Crisafulli Government’s Brisbane 2032 delivery plan but it did not have costings or a time line.
Ms Fentiman said Labor in government had provided $2 million in funding for a feasibility study for what it regarded as a priority project.
“The Gold Coast is a growing community. It’s the sixth largest city in Australia. We need better public transport options here on the Gold Coast,” Ms Fentiman said.
The Government was short on details and funding needed to be in a June budget, she added.
“For the most part, residents here on the Gold Coast voted for the LNP except for the good people of Gaven who elected Meaghan Scanlon. It’s about time the LNP delivered here for families of the Gold Coast,” Ms Fentiman said.
The Government’s brochure says: “Bus priority measures will be implemented to improve east-west connectivity on the Gold Coast between Nerang and Broadbeach and Robina and Miami.”
Ms Scanlon accused the Government of being “too busy whipping up hysteria on the next stage of light rail” and of dropping the ball on high frequency transport connecting the east to the west.
“They spruiked this transport solution as part of their Games delivery plan and yet we’ve seen no detail from the LNP,” she said.
“Labor started the planning on this, but if the LNP fails to invest, and invest now, it’s the Gold Coast who will suffer.”
Ms Scanlon said the Government had promised the Sunshine Coast heavy rail to Maroochydore, which the LNP was now backtracking on.
“What did the Gold Coast get – a survey,” she said, referring to the consultation on Stage Four of light rail to the border.
“The Crisafulli Government must also fund a business case to deliver heavy rail to the border if they’re serious about investigating all transport options on the southern Gold Coast.”
A spokesperson for Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg said the East-West Bus Priority Corridor was announced in the 2032 Delivery Plan to provide better public transport options on the Coast as a “lasting legacy for the Games and beyond”.
“We have been clear with our Delivery Plan, unlike Labor who wasted more than 1200 days and never provided Queenslanders with a plan to deliver the Olympics.
“Further details of the Olympic Plan will be announced in due course to keep the community informed on progress,” the spokesperson said.
City transport officers, in a briefing to councillors late last year, said rapid bus transit routes with their own lanes will be built east-west across the Gold Coast before being transformed for tram tracks, in a council bid to fix the city’s gridlock.
Talks had begun with the Government planners on creating bus lanes to later convert to more expensive light rail links.
The City’s proposed 2031 public transport plan includes protecting light rail corridors between Robina to Nobby Beach, Bundall to Southport and north from Parkwood to Biggera Waters.
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