Article: Gold Coast transport stalled for 30 years

[ozbob]

From the Gold Coast Bulletin click here!

Gold Coast transport stalled for 30 years

Gold Coast transport stalled for 30 years

Geoff Chambers   |  December 18th, 2009

PREMIER Anna Bligh has made a shocking admission that the embattled Gold Coast public transport system has not improved since the 1970s.

Speaking to The Bulletin yesterday, she said she was annoyed that the billion-dollar rapid transit project had been delayed by cross-government brawls.

"I can understand the impatience of many Gold Coasters to see the rapid transit started," she said.

"I share their impatience. I grew up on the Gold Coast.

"Public transport hasn't advanced much since I lived there as a little girl."

The revelation that the city's public transport network of buses and trains, had not improved for more than 30 years would not surprise most Coasters.

Ms Bligh, who attended Miami State High school in the 1970s, said she had staked everything in the Gold Coast rapid transit initiative.

"This will be the biggest public transport project outside a capital city anywhere in the country," she said.

The light-rail project was last month attacked by Property Council of Australia chairman and steering committee member Peter Trathen, after TransLink failed to deliver a $200 million early works program.

Mr Trathen accused the State Government of reneging on its promise to provide 1500 jobs during the early works phase.

The State Government blamed Federal Transport Minister Anthony Albanese for the work stoppage, after he blocked the early works program in November.

The Federal Government demanded that its $365 million contribution be considered an investment and not a grant.

Ms Bligh said they had since worked out a deal on the rapid transit system.

"There may be some capacity for a value uplift from the development property around the project," she said.

"There is no public transport service in Australia that delivers a profit. It's subsidised by the public and this one will be as well. Gold Coasters are entitled to that."

Ms Bligh said the early works program had been put to the market and would begin in January.

In total, 6300 jobs will be delivered during the five-year construction phase.

"What happened is that we ended up in an argument with the Federal Government about how they were going to provide their funds," she said.

"I found that very frustrating because it's a project that has to happen.

"While the early works package has suffered a little bit of a delay, that shouldn't affect the ultimate completion date of the project."

The Federal Government hopes to recover its investment through advertising and the establishment of shops and buildings along the light-rail route.

Land is being purchased to make way for the transport system, which will run from Griffith University to Broadbeach.

[Jon Bryant]

All levels of Goverment will recover their cost through reduced road spending, cost associated with deaths and trauma on our roads, improved health and fitness of the people, safer environments, etc., etc.

[#Metro]

Some of the improvements can be captured by development adjacent to the transit route. So the state might be able to claw some revenue back in the form of land taxes.

[Dean Quick]

Why is it that any rail/light rail project in this country is subject to numerous arguments,delays and cost blow outs and sometimes even cancelled whilst any road project just proceeds along smoothly without the same debarcles?