Gold Coast light rail stage 4: What Coolangatta residents think of tram extension
The results are in and Coolangatta residents have revealed what they think about the light rail transforming their suburb, as the first community consultation sessions begin. SEE WHAT THEY SAID.
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SOUTHERN Gold Coasters have overwhelmingly backed light rail to the border as community consultation on the multi-billion project begins.
Dozens of locals, both for and against the project, flocked to the first feedback session at Coolangatta this week, with more forums to come.
The feedback will help form the business case for the Tugun to Coolangatta via Gold Coast Airport stretch of the tram network, which is expected to be completed in mid-2023.
Tweed residents Fred and Marianne Melnikas said they were “all for” the light rail expansion, and hope it will extend across the border in due time.
Mr Melnikas says he could see the light rail benefiting “a lot of people” but especially the large population of retirees in the region.
“For older people who have lost their licenses and can’t drive anymore, it gives them a chance to have an outing. They can go somewhere,” he said.
“You must sell it to young people that you won’t be young all your life, and you can’t be dependent on your kids to drive you around.”
Kirra retail worker Mark Roberts said the tram line would offers benefits for the city’s south.
“The route they’ve chosen is obviously the best, it can’t go anywhere else and that’s the best way for locals and for visitors,” he said.
“It just upsets me that people can’t see ahead 20 or 50 years down the track because we just need it to get people around.
“We can’t all drive cars in the next 20 years when it’s just going to get too congested, so I think the population is the biggest issue why we need it.”
Others fear the tram will bring crime to their suburbs.
“We’re just a bit concerned by … (whether the trams) attract some people we’d prefer not to have around – that’s just my opinion,” said Tweed’s Brett Eagleton.
“I think the rail itself will be great, but like with the one up at Broadbeach that goes to Southport, my only concern is if you’re in a car it does affect the overall traffic because the tram gets priority over the lights, (we) just wanted to see where it (the rail) was going.”
The start of the consultation sessions comes as a new poll of more than 360 Bulletin readers found 65 per cent were in favour of the extension.
Transport Minister Mark Bailey said early feedback from locals had been largely positive.
“We’ve been getting really positive feedback from people on the first ever flyover for this part of stage four, which includes how light rail could link the airport to the rest of the coast,” he said.
“I was lucky enough to be on the coast for the Gold Coast 500, and took the tram to the track with thousands of happy punters heading to the Supercars.
“Light rail was packed when I was down there, so I wasn’t surprised when I found out it was actually the biggest weekend on light rail ever, outside of the Commonwealth Games.”
October’s GC500 weekend saw the trams record their highest-non Commonwealth Games patronage weekend since its launch in July 2014.
More than 196,254 trips were recorded over the three days, with 74,143 recorded on the Saturday alone.
Mr Bailey said the system was going from strength to strength.
“We expected it to be a busy weekend with the Supercars returning to the Gold Coast for the first time since 2019 and the Groundwater Country Music Festival also held at Broadbeach, but even so, the numbers are incredibly impressive,” he said.
The plans for the tramline were unveiled in late October, depicting for the first time how the tram will reach the border.
No time frame has been given for the project but it is expected to be completed in time for the 2032 Olympic Games, with construction to begin after 2025.
‘Nightmare’: What Coolangatta really thinks of light rail plans
COOLANGATTA residents fear the multi-billion extension of the light rail to the border will create a traffic nightmare.
Community consultation on the Tugun to Coolangatta via Gold Coast Airport stretch of the tram network begins on Monday, with political leaders of all stripes urging locals to have their say.
The feedback will help form the business case for the project, which is expected to be completed in mid-2023.
State Transport Minister Mark Bailey has vowed the process will be “gold standard” while area residents and the local federal MP say they have been given too little time to weigh in.
Southern Coast residents Max and Karen Shaw have lived in the area for nearly 50 years and feared the light rail’s progression south would destroy the look and feel of their home.
“I’d rather it not come, but it is. It’s so hard to get through Burleigh and Palm Beach even now, it would just be a nightmare,” Mrs Shaw said.
“When they did it through Surfers, all those shops went broke because there was no way to access them. So many businesses never came back.
“They’ll ruin it, the whole ambience of (Coolangatta).
“For the people who live around this area and the businesses, it’s just going to ruin it. It’s basically just there for the tourists, isn’t it?”
The couple said alternatives such as extending the pre-existing train line further south along the highway or a monorail should have been considered before another light rail development.
The plans for the tramline were unveiled in late October and depicted for the first time how the tram will reach the border.
No time frame has been given for the project but it is expected to be completed in time for the 2032 Olympic Games, with construction to begin after 2025.
Others, including Xenia Coolangatta bar manager Beaudeen Germano say they are excited about the prospect of more tourists coming to their suburb.
“This area was struggling after the border closures – everyone around here got hit pretty hard, so it’ll be a good opportunity to get more people down the Coast,” the Bilinga resident said.
“It’s not bringing any more cars and it’s not bringing any more traffic, it’s just bringing more people.”
McPherson MP Karen Andrews warned the “so-called” consultation appeared to be “reasonably rushed” despite concerns from residents.
“What has been proposed is really information sharing rather than consultation and I don’t think this will deal with the broader issues of transport infrastructure on the Southern Gold Coast,” she said.
“Doing eight sessions in the lead-up to Christmas is very limited and this is taxpayers money so if the government wants to spend billion on light rail, questions need to be asked about if they are future-proofing the city and it raises issue over parking.
“Whatever is built needs to be fit-for-purpose, cost-effective and provide for the future of the Gold Coast.”
Ms Andrews, who declared her opposition to the route of Burleigh Heads to Tugun section of Stage 4 through Palm Beach just weeks out from the May federal election, said she was reserving her opinion on the project.
“I reserve my opinion until we head what the community has to say,” she said.
Mayor Tom Tate urged locals to have their say on the project
“I welcome the community consultation and urge everyone with an interest in the Tugun-Coolangatta section to have their say,” he said.
“Light rail will benefit all Gold Coasters and it’s great to see the state leading this latest round of public consultation.”
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Originally published as Gold Coast light rail stage 4: What Coolangatta residents think of tram extension
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