Gold Coast light rail Broadbeach to Burleigh line: Council roadworks to pave way for project

Council have announced a slew of roadworks will take place to pave the way for the next stage of the light rail. FULL DETAILS >>>

COUNCIL have announced a slew of roadworks will take place to pave the way for the next stage of the light rail.

Roads in Burleigh and Miami will be impacted by the works which are taking part ahead of the start of major work on the Broadbeach to Burleigh line.

Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Chair, Cr Pauline Young, said the works were “flow on” benefits to the Gold Coast from the light rail build.

“While these projects are on a smaller scale, they play an important role in maintaining the integrity of the light rail corridor and the surrounding infrastructure network,” Cr Young said.

“Major public transport projects such as the light rail allow us to bring forward works and renew our assets as we prepare for future growth in the city’s population.’’

The works are as follows:

• Miami Shore Pde: Stormwater drainage upgrade. September 2021-December 2021.
• Deodar Dr: Stormwater drainage upgrade. January 2022-December 2022.
• Tabilban St: Road reconstruction (West Burleigh Rd to Reserve St). January 2022-June 2022.

MAJOR LIGHT RAIL WORKS TO BEGIN BY CHRISTMAS

MAJOR light rail works between Broadbeach and Burleigh are on track to start before Christmas with the majority of businesses supportive, according to internal council briefing notes.

Councillors at a transport meeting next Tuesday will receive a briefing from council officers on light rail stage three, which outlines the result of community consultation.

While the report provides a positive spin on trams heading south, Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens in State Parliament said it is creating a “sardine city”.

The council update reveals the early works agreement began on June 7 and covered planning, design and “service investigations”.

Photographs in the report obtained by the Bulletin show water mains renewals and upgrades to road roundabouts near the Gold Coast Highway, and pressure monitoring for water leaks on 54 locations along the corridor. Site compounds are being built around the track.

At least 26,000 newsletters had been delivered to corridor businesses and residents and contractors John Holland had doorknocked traders in the area and invited them to fill out questionnaire.

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“Business sentiment majority positive or neutral,” the officers said, in their report.

Council is spearheading a campaign to “support local business” which included “dedicated business relationship managers” and releasing information packs.

Future works include surveying and inspection of footpaths, installing environmental monitoring instruments to check for water table levels and noise, and potholing more than 1000 locations throughout the corridor.

Mr Stevens in Parliament admitted Stages 1 and 2 of light rail were “a popular addition to public transport opportunities” on the Coast — but he called on the Government to set proper building densities around it.

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“However, that popularity is for one thing and one thing only. It is for its use as public transport,” Mr Stevens said.

“What our political leaders and private proponents aren’t admitting is that it is being used as a development density multiplier enabler to see more high-rise density built along the light rail corridor.”

The tram corridor was the most sought after and desirable real estate on the Gold Coast, being a short walk to the beachfront, he added.

Stage 3 requires a 6.7km track with the project — funded by the Commonwealth, State and council — likely to cost more than $1bn, up from the original $709m.

Ray Stevens — my electorate is going to turn into a Sardine City. (AAP Image/Dan Peled).

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“No-one of political significance is owning up to the real reason the governments are spending billions of dollars on this transport infrastructure because development apparently is a dirty word,” Mr Stevens said.

“The council blames the State Government for planning density outcomes and as a child of State Government, the Gold Coast City Plan must be endorsed by the State Government.”

Mr Stevens said the Government determines the densities under the South East Queensland Regional Plan and the only area on the Coast that fits public transport requirements for increased population was along the light rail corridor.

“If the Gold Coast Council doesn’t agree with these increased densities for the construction industry, which is the second biggest employer on the Gold Coast, the State Government will not approve the Gold Coast City Planning documents,” he said.

“The main objections, I believe, to Light Rail 3 and the proposed Light

Rail 4 come from residents opposed to turning the Gold Coast into a Sardine City.

“I am calling on the Palaszczuk State Government to set in stone the current building densities to protect residents in my electorate and the southern electorates to the airport, to prevent the Gold Coast Highway – with 93 per cent of residents driving a car, as per the

Department’s own figures – from becoming a parking lot.”

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Originally published as Gold Coast light rail Broadbeach to Burleigh line: Council roadworks to pave way for project