Exclusive: ‘Light rail is working and we must finish the job’

Mayor Tom Tate has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier David Crisafulli telling them “light rail is working and we must finish the job”.

Mayor Tom Tate has written to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Premier David Crisafulli telling them “light rail is working and we must finish the job”.

The letter to “Albo” and the Premier includes a copy of the City’s light rail community representative research which showed majority support for the trams being extended from Burleigh to the border, the Bulletin can reveal.

The contents shed light on a private meeting between Mr Tate and Mr Crisafulli on January 9, where the Mayor was prepared to be open to “other options” – but it also confirms his current belief that a bus interchange at Burleigh will be “very difficult”.

Mr Tate advised Mr Albanese the State Government and council was currently working on finalising the detailed business case for the Stage Four Burleigh-to-border extension.

“Prime Minister, light rail is working and we must finish the job,” he wrote.

During a visit to the Gold Coast disaster centre during Cyclone Alfred, Mayor Tom Tate and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese synchronise watches. Picture: Glenn Hampson.

He added Mr Crisafulli had recently admitted, given the south’s population growth and traffic congestion, “doing nothing is not an option”.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity. The project can be delivered with minimal disruption using the existing corridor,” Mr Tate told Mr Albanese.

“It will boost visitation, improve mobility for locals and ensure the southern Gold Coast receives the public transport it deserves - linking our communities and connecting to the airport.”

Projected route of stage four of the light rail.

Mr Tate urged the Commonwealth to continue to support light rail and work closely with the State and City to deliver the critical infrastructure.

The Mayor outlined from the City independent survey:

* 77 per cent of residents say they will use the trams once Stage Four is completed with 82 per cent living on the corridor expected to use it.

* 51 per cent of residents strongly support completion to the airport, and 49 per cent strongly support the extension from Burleigh along Gold Coast Highway.

* support is strongest among renters (78 per cent), retirees (78 per cent) and residents without a car in the household (84 per cent).

* primary concerns - both in support and opposition relate to perceived impacts on roads and traffic.

The Bulletin in January first revealed Mr Tate, after meeting with the Premier, was “open and persuadable” to using buses instead of trams between Burleigh and the Airport.

He remained steadfast in working with State Government on a Stage 4 business case but indicated it would, in leading the project, need to resolve how to create a large transit centre in Burleigh’s heart if light rail was to link to airport buses.

New graphic showing light rail stage four Gold Coast, and how the trams will cross the Currumbin Creek.

Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie later that month admitted “everything is on the table” in regards to transport modes on the southern Coast as two investigations started up. The Government was also conducting community consultation in the south, an election promise.

In his letter to Mr Crisafulli, Mr Tate said he was seeking continued support for “public transport” on the southern Coast and finalising the light rail business case.

“While I remain open to considering other options, as agreed when we met on 9 January 2025, I note the very strong community support for light rail and the challenges in providing a change of mode in the relatively confined area where Stage 3 terminates at Burleigh Heads,” he wrote.

“Our preliminary investigations indicate providing a seamless mode change at Burleigh Heads will be very difficult and is likely to create a range of other amenity, mobility, land tenure and broadwater network issues.

“Premier, the light rail is working and the Gold Coast community supports finishing the job.

Plans for light rail Stage Four through Palm Beach, showing a pedestrian mall and medium high rise buildings.

“The project can be delivered using the existing corridor. It will boost visitation, improve mobility for locals and ensure the southern Gold Coast receives the public transport it deserves - linking our communities and connecting to the airport.”

The Mayor asked the Government to “make their intentions known at the earliest opportunity” given the city’s growth. The mayoral office is awaiting a response to the letters.

Queensland Airports Ltd CEO Amelia Evans has recently said the airport favours light and heavy rail connections in the absence of a viable alternative, and that existing bus and rideshare/taxi options were not adequately serving visitor needs.

A packed meeting at Palm Beach where the State Government hosted a forum on light rail Stage Four to the border.

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Originally published as Exclusive: ‘Light rail is working and we must finish the job’