Welcome to Mount Traffic Jam: the gridlocked green behind the gold of the Glitter Strip

WELCOME to Mount Traffic Jam — where the green behind the gold of the Glitter Strip is a steep rural road clogged with traffic.

WELCOME to “Mount Traffic Jam’’, where the green behind the gold of the Glitter Strip is a steep rural road clogged with traffic.

Between 15,000 to 20,000 people make their way up to popular Mount Tamborine on weekends, heading for tourism hot spots such as the produce markets and Gallery Walk — and creating two kilometres of gridlock, according to frustrated locals.

Tourists along Gallery Walk at Tamborine Mountain. Pic: Jaap Vogel.

More than a decade after turning their back on the Gold Coast, Tamborine residents are fed up and about to do a remarkable U-turn.

After rejecting the chance to be in the super council when the Albert Shire and Gold Coast City were merged in 2008, a majority of mountain ratepayers are now turning their backs on the Scenic Rim Council and looking east.

In a submission to the council boundary review before the 2020 local government elections, the Tamborine Mountain Chamber of Commerce has asked to be included in the Gold Coast, knowing its council delivers on transport infrastructure and tourism promotion.

Community leaders are backing up their pitch with Blueprint — The Voice of Tamborine Mountain, and this week presented the outcomes of surveys to Scenic Rim MP Jon Krause and will meet with area councillors in July.

COAST’S MOST POPULAR WEDDING VENUES REVEALED

The busy markets on Tamborine Mountain. Pic: Jaap Vogel.

The key future plans include:

. Creating pedestrian zones at Gallery Walk and two key streets, which could include registration boom gates to limit passing traffic.

. Building a nearby diversion road that would allow Gallery Walk to be “greened up’’ and become more planned, like the Sunshine Coast’s successful Montville commercial centre.

. A “two or four runs a day” bus service to the Gold Coast linking with Helensvale railway station.

. Walking and biking tracks to reduce dangers for cyclists.

. A 50km/h speed limit “on the entire mountain” and reduced heavy vehicle movements.

The Blueprint document briefly touches on the possibility of a cable car and says that although this “causes shudders and rumblings”, does not rule it out as a future transport option.

LIABILITY FIASCO CUTS OFF ACCESS TO POPULAR FALLS

Rachel Cunardo from Mount Tamborine cools off under the Curtis Falls — one of the many attractions on Mount Tamborine. Pic Tim Marsden.

Residents were concerned about the isolation of living on a plateau with no hospital and X-ray facility, and a lack of public transport for older, less confident drivers to get to the Coast.

The Blueprint covered a period of 12 years ending in 2030, and called for research on what population would be sustainable — with the mountain tipped to increase from 41,000 to 62,000 people.

The local government boundary review was told the region’s major hinterland tourism destination would face more planning problems if administered by a council only interested in agritourism.

WHY THIS COAST CRIM HAS BEEN DUBBED SPIDER-MAN

Paddock to plate — Mount Tamborine is renowned for its fresh produce. Pic by Luke Marsden.

Tamborine Mountain Chamber of Commerce president Alison Rip, in the boundary review, wrote: “The mountain’s tourism industry is almost entirely focused towards the Gold Coast — the Green behind the Gold.

“Better management of the local economy is much more likely if the Tamborine Mountain were to be included in the Gold Coast region.

“Tamborine Mountain covers 1 per cent of the area of Scenic Rim Council, comprises 20 per cent population, yet pays 24 per cent of the rates.

“Understandably, the overall relationship between Tamborine Mountain residents and the Scenic Rim Council has been strained.”

The chamber understood the Scenic Rim Council must have an agritourism focus, but suggested its ratepayer base could be compensated by including several areas of Logan.

Chamber executive member Jaap Vogel said a survey as part of the Blueprint found 52 per cent of residents believed “we should consider a move to another council”, with only 18 per cent rejecting the idea.

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The popular markets on Tamborine Mountain. Pic: Jaap Vogel.

Mr Vogel said surveying had dispelled the idea residents were either greenies or pro-tourism, when in fact they shared both views.

Speaking as a resident and not on behalf of the chamber, he said: “The problem is getting that balance right and we don’t end up the same way as Noosa, where over-tourism is a threat.

“We have a plan basically and it needs to be executed with more parking, better management of traffic and a bypass road. The community simply wants a solution. It’s a mess.

“You’re talking about 10,000 to 15,000 people coming here on a busy weekend. We have a traffic jam of two kilometres on a rural road.”

Hinterland-based Gold Coast councillor Glenn Tozer, who has the Springbrook community in his Coast division, had confidence in the boundary review by the Change Commissioner but cautioned that it would take time.

Jaap Vogel promoting Tamborine Mountain Scarecrow festival at Gallery Walk.

“I’ve long been an advocate for the Hinterland being part of our tourism marketing and, frankly, Destination Gold Coast is increasingly promoting it as a prominent focus of campaigns,” he said.

“Some Scenic Rim residents on the boundary have mentioned that they see benefit in being part of the Gold Coast. Others are happy with the representation of their existing councillors, such as Cr Virginia West, who works hard for her constituents.

“I wouldn’t principally object to including areas of Tamborine, Beechmont or Binna Burra, adjacent Division 9 which I represent, into the Gold Coast local government area but there are many more variables to be considered than simply tourism.

“In my view, it is unlikely any possible change will be actionable for the upcoming 2020 election.”