Light Rail Stage four: Gold Coast locals respond to community consultation opening

A new State Government promise on the future of the Gold Coast light rail is not going down well with some city leaders.

A State Government leader says it will give more weight to southern Gold Coasters responding to consultation on extending light rail south to the airport, sparking a furious reaction from the Gold Coast deputy mayor.

On Friday morning, the state government announced it had opened a six-week-long community consultation process for Gold Coasters to have a say on the proposed Light Rail Stage 4 connection which will extend it from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta Airport along the Gold Coast Highway.

Queensland Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said everyone can fill out the consultation but southern Gold Coasters “will be taken into more consideration”.

Deputy Premier of Queensland Jarrod Bleijie, Member for Currumbin Laura Gerber and Member for Burleigh Hermann Vorster at Tallebudgera.

“I would encourage all residents of the southern Gold Coast to get online and have a say. They have to put their address in.

“Obviously we want to hear from the people of the southern Gold Coast and that’s why you have to put in your verified address Those residents on the southern Gold Coast will be taken into more consideration because that’s who we have committed this promise to. The website is publicly available, everyone can have a say.”

His wording prompted long-serving Gold Coast Deputy Mayor Donna Gates – also city councillor for the north – to say: “All ratepayers have contributed to the 11 per cent City of Gold Coast contribution to the entire light rail project which has always been one project, split into stages.

“It’s totally ill advised in my view to consult with only southern residents when this is a system for the city which already services northern Gold Coast at Helensvale and which has the potential for east west connections and extension further north in time. This will be the second case of half hearted consultation if residents across the city are not included in the consultation process.”

Artist impression of Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 between Tugun and Coolangatta, including Gold Coast Airport and the NSW border. Picture: Department of Transport and Main Roads.

Gold Coast’s sole Labor MP Meaghan Scanlon said: “This is just an excuse for the LNP not to spend any money on Gold Coast infrastructure.

“The LNP clearly have no intention to build it and will come up with any excuse under the sun to kill (light rail stage four).”

At his press conference on the Gold Coast on Friday, Mr Bleijie verbally attacked the former Labor government over what he dubbed “secret plans” to remove over 1000 car parks and resume up to 235 homes along the route.

“I stood in this very place during the election campaign and promised southern Gold Coasters we would listen to them,” he said.

Gold Coast Mayor Donna Gates says State Government deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie vowing the LNP will “give more consideration’ to southern Gold Coasters than the rest of the city of the extension of light rail south from Burleigh is “ill advised” and will result in “half-hearted consultation”. .

“This was a project the Labor Party forced on the southern Gold Coast without proper community consultation.”

On Friday at Tallebudgera beach, residents who attended were divided about extending the light rail to the airport.

Some suggested it stop at Burleigh Heads and continue on with buses and others said it should be rediverted through West Burleigh and follow the M1 to the airport.

Koala Park resident Ian Read approached Mr Bleijie after his press conference and asked if the state planned to have either option running by the 2032 Olympics.

Ian Read speaking to the deputy premier Jarrod Bleijie after the press conference about community consultation for Light Rail Stage 4

“I need to decide whether I stay or go,” he said.

Mr Bleijie and Member for Currumbin Laura Gerber both said they didn’t have an answer.

“We want to make sure we are doing the consulting before railroading the community, because (us answering) predetermines that we know the resolution, and we don’t,” Ms Gerber said.

Another Koala Park resident living in the area for 20 years was against light rail and didn’t believe community consultation would help.

“It more than likely will happen because the government basically does whatever they want,” he said. “It’s disgraceful they will be resuming homes and we will be losing all these carparks. If anything there should be more parking.”

The resident said a lack of people using buses on the southern Gold Coast was an indication on how successful the tram would be.

“I will personally buy Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate a go card to jump on the light rail to go to the chambers every time there is a meeting.

“He talks about Gold Coast residents giving up the love of the car. Really Tommy, how many Ferrari’s have you given up?” he said.

Two Currumbin mums who frequently visit Tallebudgera Creek said they sometimes have to wait up to an hour for a car park.

Currumbin locals, Lexie Povel (left) and Sarah Sutton (right) say they may have to go to northern NSW for the beach if the light rail stage four goes ahead.

“We both would probably choose to go elsewhere (once the tram is here), probably even northern New South Wales and away from the Gold Coast,” Sarah Sutton said.

Member for Burleigh Hermann Vorster said community consultation was important to determine whether Gold Coasters will use the light rail.

“We want to make sure public transport enhances our lifestyle and suits the needs of the community,” he said.

“Because if it doesn’t suit the needs of the community, they won’t use it and if they don’t use it … why build it?”

Mr Vorster said the review was about “protecting” the southern Gold Coast.

“The southern Gold Coast has its own character, its own lifestyle and its own precious environment but all of that was put at risk by a flawed process.”

At a Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce federal election candidates breakfast, LNP candidate for McPherson Leon Rebello was asked if - like his predecessor Karen Andrews - he would push to starve the light rail’s multi-billion dollar extenson south of Federal support or lobby for the project to go ahead.

Mr Rebello said he did not support the light rail project in its current form and the results of public consultation would inform his position.

Leon Rebello in Surfers Paradise for the Gold Coast Central Chamber of Commerce breakfast on Friday. Picture, Portia Large.

“I think that’s really key,” he said.

“I’m not suggesting that it ends at Burleigh, what I’m suggesting is that we consider the routes.

“There should be a full route review and we’ve got to take the community on the journey.

“Any political decision is not going to have everyone behind it, I’m totally aware of that, I’ve got political experience from back in the day.

“What I will say is that we do need to make sure we’re giving people an adequate opportunity to be a part of the process.”

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Originally published as Light Rail Stage four: Gold Coast locals respond to community consultation opening