Plans to extend the southern Gold Coast’s multi-billion-dollar light rail project have been scrapped by the Queensland government.<\/p>\n
Stage four of the light rail \u2014 a 13-kilometre tram track from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta \u2014 was estimated to cost between $3.1 billion and $7.6 billion.<\/p>\n
But Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie said a Department of Infrastructure and Planning review found that cost could have blown out to $9.8 billion.<\/p>\n
Mr Bleijie also cited significant community opposition to the tram line being extended further south.<\/p>\n
“This is a line in the sand for the community that we promised we would review it independently,” he said.<\/p>\n
“The overwhelming opposition from residents on the southern Gold Coast was clear.”<\/p>\n
Mr Bleijie said the state government would instead look at rolling out a “multi-model transport corridor” including more frequent bus services.<\/p>\n
But the southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce has described the decision as “one of this government’s greatest failures”.<\/p>\n
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Opposition to light rail on the southern Gold Coast has been vocal. (ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale)<\/p>\n
Gold Coast faces growing pains<\/p>\n
The Gold Coast’s population is expected to increase from about 650,000 to 1 million by 2041.<\/p>\n
Transport experts have consistently regarded the light rail as a vital way<\/a> to reduce congestion.<\/p>\n It would have provided a direct line for the more than 6 million people who travel through the Gold Coast Airport every year.<\/p>\n Stage four also would have provided an alternative to cars for residents in growing southern suburbs such as Palm Beach.<\/p>\n But it also caused significant community backlash, with concerns that the light rail would promote overdevelopment in beachside suburbs.<\/p>\n There is a light rail station in Broadbeach. (ABC Gold Coast: Dominic Cansdale)<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the new Liberal National Party (LNP) state government announced two separate reviews into stage four.<\/p>\n It also undertook a new round of community consultation, which prioritised feedback from residents living along the proposed route over that from other parts of the city.<\/p>\n That drew sharp criticism from Mayor Tom Tate<\/a>, who accused the state government of casting stage four in a negative light and setting it up to fail.<\/p>\n “A lot of people don’t want short-term pain for long-term gain in their backyard,” Cr Tate said today.<\/p>\n Mr Bleijie said two-thirds of the 5,600 submissions opposed stage four, while 60 per cent felt they had not been adequately consulted by the former Labor government.<\/p>\n He also said a shortage of skilled workers in Queensland meant delivering stage four by the 2032 Olympics appeared “problematic”.<\/p>\n “There was no money in the budget for Gold Coast light rail stage four,” he said.<\/p>\n Bus depot for Burleigh Heads<\/p>\n The decision means the light rail will end in Burleigh Heads \u2014 a popular retail and recreational area \u2014 with a new bus depot needed <\/a>to cater for 11,000 daily commuters.<\/p>\n Mr Bleijie said the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) would determine where that depot would be built.<\/p>\n But Tom Tate repeated concerns that the Burleigh Heads bowls club may have to make way for the depot \u2014 a claim the state government has previously denied.<\/p>\n “The decision today leaves me with a lot more questions than answers,” he said.<\/p>\n Cr Tate said light rail was always envisioned as running all the way to Coolangatta and now “another solution has to be found”.<\/p>\n “I really worry that the lifestyle will be diminished for Palm Beach and down further,” he said.<\/p>\n “If you’re going to get out of the house and get on the highway \u2026 plan and double your time \u2014 you’ll see the increase in traffic congestion.”<\/p>\n TMR will also examine the viability of a heavy rail link to the Gold Coast Airport \u2014 a project that has been considered on and off for decades<\/a>.<\/p>\n The Gold Coast’s light rail will end at Burleigh Heads. (Supplied: GoldlinQ)<\/p>\n Stage four is not the first rail project the state government has walked back on in favour of buses.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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