GOLD COAST LIGHT RAIL IS NO LIGHTWEIGHT
Bob Janssen, Gold Coast & Hinterland Business Alliance President
The concept of a Gold Coast Light Rail project has been around since the mid 1990s. It took another 13 years of planning and reviews before the project was ready for serious consideration.
During the public consultation process in 2008 and early 2009, Transport Minister John Mickel threatened to withdraw funding due to a perceived lack of local support. The city’s business community rallied behind the project allaying Minister Mickel’s concerns and the stage 1 construction phase of the University Hospital station began in July 2010.
Businesses along the route suffered unavoidable disruption leading to a loss of custom and revenue that resulted in some closures. Public outcry over the closures, gridlock and lengthy traffic delays generated negative publicity with claims that the project was a ‘white elephant’.
How wrong those negative predictions were.
Five years later, the fully functional stage 1 light rail is a resounding success. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who is known to use public transport is a self admitted fan.
To achieve its full potential, the light rail required extension to a heavy rail link at Helensvale in the North and a link to the airport at Coolangatta in the South.
The successful bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2018 seemed an obvious catalyst to generate funding for these extensions but the economic downturn determined otherwise.
Prime Minister Turnbull in partnership with the State and local governments reversed the former administration’s policy by jointly funding the stage 2 extension to Helensvale.
Projected development, growth and employment opportunities along the light rail corridor has already begun demonstrating that this project delivers more than a mode of public transport. Gold Coast City Council has changed the Town Plan to accommodate higher density development along the route. The light rail is no lightweight in securing long term economic growth in a city that unfortunately is burdened by a high unemployment rate.
Federal government investment in the right infrastructure projects such as the light rail will generate future job creation and a solid foundation for sustainable economic growth.
The Gold Coast is considered the tourism capital of the nation and as such for many visitors, an introduction to the Australian character and way of life.
Opportunity knocked and our government answered the call. Now all that is left is the extension to the airport and East-West connections to complete a whole of city fully integrated public transport network.
© Copyright 2015 Gold Coast & Hinterland Business Alliance Inc. | www.gchbusinessalliance.org.au
During the public consultation process in 2008 and early 2009, Transport Minister John Mickel threatened to withdraw funding due to a perceived lack of local support. The city’s business community rallied behind the project allaying Minister Mickel’s concerns and the stage 1 construction phase of the University Hospital station began in July 2010.
Businesses along the route suffered unavoidable disruption leading to a loss of custom and revenue that resulted in some closures. Public outcry over the closures, gridlock and lengthy traffic delays generated negative publicity with claims that the project was a ‘white elephant’.
How wrong those negative predictions were.
Five years later, the fully functional stage 1 light rail is a resounding success. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull who is known to use public transport is a self admitted fan.
To achieve its full potential, the light rail required extension to a heavy rail link at Helensvale in the North and a link to the airport at Coolangatta in the South.
The successful bid for the Commonwealth Games in 2018 seemed an obvious catalyst to generate funding for these extensions but the economic downturn determined otherwise.
Prime Minister Turnbull in partnership with the State and local governments reversed the former administration’s policy by jointly funding the stage 2 extension to Helensvale.
Projected development, growth and employment opportunities along the light rail corridor has already begun demonstrating that this project delivers more than a mode of public transport. Gold Coast City Council has changed the Town Plan to accommodate higher density development along the route. The light rail is no lightweight in securing long term economic growth in a city that unfortunately is burdened by a high unemployment rate.
Federal government investment in the right infrastructure projects such as the light rail will generate future job creation and a solid foundation for sustainable economic growth.
The Gold Coast is considered the tourism capital of the nation and as such for many visitors, an introduction to the Australian character and way of life.
Opportunity knocked and our government answered the call. Now all that is left is the extension to the airport and East-West connections to complete a whole of city fully integrated public transport network.
© Copyright 2015 Gold Coast & Hinterland Business Alliance Inc. | www.gchbusinessalliance.org.au
