Council axes $80m Burleigh light rail car park plan after report reveals high risk
Gold Coast ratepayers have dodged a $100,000-per-parking-space bullet after council abandoned plans for a Burleigh car park that experts say would never pay for itself.
A $50m multi-level car park for tram commuters at Burleigh is facing the scrap heap after concerns about its cost.
An investigation found there was no guarantee the facility would be successful, and it could have low patronage like council’s Bruce Bishop car park in Surfers Paradise.
Meanwhile, council officers updating on the investigation of the new tram precinct say a review on parking permits for residents is ongoing and will be completed next year.
The council in early 2024 released plans showing it would spend an estimated $80m on two multi-storey car parks for the southern rail route to the border.
A facility was planned for Burleigh’s Alex Black carpark, and the other at Palm Beach’s Joe Davidson car park.
But light rail Stage Four from Burleigh to Coolangatta has since been dumped by the Crisafulli Government. Stage 3 is being completed and expected to open mid next year.
City officers in a report to council’s transport committee on Tuesday told councillors an investigation found that due to limited availability and the high value of greenfield parcels, a traditional park ‘n’ ride facility would not be viable.
The Government and council had tactically decided not to replace or offset the on-street car parking spaces removed along the Highway.
Their argument was the high frequency trams would provide a viable and affordable alternative to car use.
An officer in a report said multi-storey car parks were the only feasible solution to deliver a meaningful increase in parking supply.
The office admitted “that on face value” a car park appeared to be a “straightforward and logical solution” to replace the 500 car parks.
“However, this is a common misconception. In reality, this is the most expensive, complex, and resource-intensive option available,” the officer said.
The cost to construct a multi-storey car park would be about $100,000 per parking pace.
“Replacing 500 car parks with a multi-storey car parking facility would cost in the order of $50 million plus land acquisition and ongoing operational and maintenance expenses,” the officer said.
A public-private venture would require high parking demand to be financially successful, and motorists to choose paying higher prices for the car park than on the street.
The City’s Bruce Bishop Car Park in central Surfers Paradise has an average occupancy rate of less than 40 per cent, and continues to create significant costs with repair works.
Council infrastructure chiefs predict is unlikely the City or a private sector operator will recover its investment in less than 20 years.
The Sunshine Coast Council’s multi-storey car park in Mooloolaba, which opened in December 2020 at a cost of $23.5 million, recorded an occupancy rate of just 12 per cent in its first year when the daily parking fee was $12.50.
Councillor Josh Martin, who attended the committee meeting but was not a voting member, said the parking challenges would be discussed at a full council meeting on Tuesday.
“With about 500 on-street parks removed under the State Government’s GCLR3 design, I completely understand why the community is concerned about doing nothing to increase that lost parking supply,” he said.
“We still need enough parking to support residents, local businesses and their staff, as well as the soon-to-come western based residents who will need to drive and park to get on the light rail once it opens next year.
“When Stage 3 begins running, it’s anticipated that some commuters will drive and park near the line. That is why the City will introduce 3P timed parking in nearby streets to protect residential amenity and make sure residents are not disadvantaged.”
Mr Martin said the bigger long-term issue was improving east west connections through better active travel links and stronger local bus services.
He had asked officers when a report on residential parking permits would be completed.
Officers said a review would be done by mid-next year with new laws in place by year’s end.
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Originally published as Council axes $80m Burleigh light rail car park plan after report reveals high risk
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