Gold Coast Light Rail

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

20th September 2016

Land Tax: Gold Coast Light Rail value escapes out of QLD Gov't Back Door!

Greetings,

An interesting piece in The Conversation about how Gold Coast Light Rail has escalated land values around LRT stations.

University of Queensland Economist Dr. Cameron Murray estimates that the Gold Coast Light Rail raised land values by around $300 million, or a whopping 25% of the cost to construct the Gold Coast Light Rail system.

This is a very significant amount of money.

Once a property is sold, these windfall gains are set to land in the private bank accounts of landholders along the Light Rail route. As the Light Rail was paid for using tax money, these value increases are really coming courtesy of the taxpayer.

The Gold Coast City Council's budget will also be boosted. Council rates are based on land values, so when land values go up, so does the rates revenue.

We think local government should contribute to public transport infrastructure and operations based on this simple fact alone.

Dr. Murray's article notes the many Queensland Government exemptions that sees revenue slip through the Queensland Government's fingers. The Queensland Government needs to reform its land value taxation regime. Queensland's newly created Productivity Commission would be well equipped to investigate the issue.

Taxing land makes buying a property more affordable, not more expensive.  The phased removal of stamp duties and the introduction of a land tax to residential properties within the ACT has reduced mortgage payments by around $2200 per year.

Land tax reform would also allow economically inefficient stamp duties on properties to be abolished.

How can the Queensland Government credibly claim that it has no money for essential state-building projects such as Cross River Rail or the Sunshine Coast Line upgrade, while at the same time, it lets hundreds of millions of dollars in untaxed land wealth walk out of the proverbial back door?

Reforming land tax, while removing stamp duties and other taxes would boost our economy and generate the revenue that our state needs for major projects like Cross River Rail and the Sunshine Coast Line upgrade.

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

References:

Gold Coast light rail study helps put a figure on value capture's funding potential
https://theconversation.com/gold-coast-light-rail-study-helps-put-a-figure-on-value-captures-funding-potential-65084

ACT land tax policies already cutting mortgage payments, report says
http://www.afr.com/real-estate/residential/act/act-land-tax-policies-already-cutting-mortgage-payments-report-says-20160911-grdrar

The first interval - Evaluating ACT's Land Value Tax Transition, Prosper Australia
https://www.prosper.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/The-First-interval-Evaluating-ACTs-Land-Valur-Tax-Transition.pdf

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 21st September 2016 page 15

Light rail boosts values, who pays?

[ozbob]

For value capture discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5883.msg180279#msg180279

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast light rail has raised the city's total land value by $300 million

PROPERTY industry and city leaders have declared the Gold Coast light rail a success, with new research showing land values along the tram route have spiked by around $300 million.

The city's $1.2 billion tram system, from Broadbeach to Griffith University, has been operational for more than two years and a stage two extension is under way.

University of Queensland economist Dr. Cameron Murray said the system was a success.

Writing for independent online website The Conversation, Dr Murray said his research had focused on changes in land values on the Gold Coast since July, 2014.

"My research on the Gold Coast light rail provides the figures to demonstrate the size of the gains to nearby land values, which were around 25 per cent of the $1.2 billion capital cost in stage one of the project," he said.

"I found that land within 400m of the stations increased in value by seven per cent more than land between 400m and 2km from the stations, in the year after the light rail began operation.

dr Murray said he has then used the price deviation to the total land value in those areas – a little over $4.2 billion in 2015 – to estimate the absolute change in land value was $300 million. ...

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Southport Spit light rail a 'viable option' for tackling congestion

A "feasible" three-to-four kilometre light rail project costing around $200 million is the Gold Coast's preferred solution to reduce traffic congestion on the Gold Coast's Southport Spit, not bridges over the Southport Broadwater.

That is laid out clearly in Gold Coast City Council's Transport Strategy 2031, but very rarely reported.

"By 2031, this transport strategy proposes that.... light rail branch lines are introduced between Surfers Paradise and Bundall, as well as between Main Beach and The Spit," the strategy says.

It is the number three "signature project" in the transport strategy, after extending the light rail south to Burleigh and the airport.

The Gold Coast City Council and the Queensland Government are now wrestling over a future master plan for the Southport Spit, which has a nominal three-storey development height.

Gold Coast City Council last week deferred a decision on a development application by Sunland to build two striking 44-storey towers, containing a three-storey aquarium, a museum and 340 units, valued at $600 million at Marina Cove on the Southport Spit.

The council then requested the Queensland Government help them master plan the Spit.

Sunland has since withdrawn their application.

The Queensland Government is also examining a bid by the extremely secretive ASF Consortia and James Packer's Crown Casino group to build a new "$2 billion plus" casino on state government-owned land on the Southport Spit close to Mariner's Cove.

That project in September 2015 engaged architecture designers Cox Rayner, who Fairfax Media has been told, proposes a bridge across the Broadwater.

The two are slow to formalise any "master planning steps".

Deputy premier Jackie Trad is overseas until October 1, State Development minister Dr Anthony Lynham says he is "willing to consider master planning", but Gold Coast City Council is slow to formally write and explain why master planning should proceed.

"The state government remains open to the possibility of a master plan for The Spit," a spokesman for Dr Lynham said.

Meanwhile Steven Jamieson, a Gold Coast public transport advocate for public transport lobby group Rail Back on Track said the proposed light rail on the Spit was "technically feasible."

"I think even if the Spit wasn't to be developed, I think it is still something worth looking into," Mr Jamieson said.

He said few people realised eight buses an hour now run along Seaworld Drive.

"So I think there is certainly potential for a branch line extension to get up there, even without Sunland or the ASF development," he said.

"I mean it's a tourist destination in its own rate.

"The issue is going to be the cost," Mr Jamieson said.

He said Gold Coast City Council was working on the assumption it will cost around $60 million a kilometre for light rail.

The light rail would also run past a proposed Gold Coast ocean liner terminal if approved.

Mr Jamieson said many traffic users on the Spit were "day trippers" not residents.

"So you would expect it would be reasonably well-patronised, but at that same time you wouldn't necessarily think it was going to solve congestion."

Queensland's Crime and Corruption Commission and the Electoral Commission of Queensland are both investigating donations to Gold Coast councillors and MP Stuart Robert linked to pro-development issues.

Gold Coast deputy mayor Donna Gates said transport problems were the main problem for councillors over Sunland's 44-storey towers in a stretch of the Gold Coast which is congested on weekends.

"That (the traffic) is the issue that has been most raised with me by members of the community," she said.

On Wednesday Gold Coast's planning committee chairman Cr Cameron Caldwell said 18 months ago (March 2015) Gold Coast councillors agreed to review building heights in the "coast and Broadwater."

"That work is yet to be completed but it will form an important part of the master planning process and city plan amendments into the future," he said.

"City Plan amendments can change any height limit anywhere in the city."

Meanwhile, Minister Anthony Lynham's department said they were still examining "a preliminary detailed proposal" for a five-hectare site between Sea World and the Gold Coast Fishermen's Co-operative.

It would not release any details of the submission. 

[ozbob]

Extra trams in the evening for #GC600 https://t.co/EerpN5Rn4e #ridetheg #race pic.twitter.com/0BcCbx8ybT

— G:link (@gclightrail) October 19, 2016

[ozbob]

Gold Coast tram commuters faced delays after a car became stuck on the tracks https://t.co/zRX9SKgqO2

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) October 31, 2016

[verbatim9]

Collisions with other traffic and other delays seem to happen quite regularly.

[achiruel]

I basically don't drive to/from/in Gold Coast anymore, I always take public transport, but is there anything that those familiar with the layout think could be done with regard to signage etc to reduce the number of incidents occurring? Also is there any information on wheter the motorists involved are locals or tourists (and if so, from where? intrastate, interstate, international?). Maybe if this information were available, awareness campaigns could be more specifically directed. Maybe local car rental companies for e.g. could give people a flyer about interacting with the LR.

[LRV 018]

I have no clue about the backgrounds of the people who've been involved in the incidents, but they seem to have been a mixed bag of locals and tourists.

I'm very familiar with the layout, and my view is that none of the incidents have been the result of having trams around, or the layout itself for that matter. I'd go as far as saying that all intersections are very well signposted (in some cases they've overdone it a bit imo!) Instead, I'm positive it's a result of reckless drivers who can't follow basic road rules. ALL incidents have been one of: illegal U-turn; turning across the tracks on a red light; or disobeying multiple 'no entry' signs and road markings.

The only thing that comes to my mind is the lack of 'no U-turn' signs. People SHOULD know that you can't make a U-turn unless it's signed, but some can't quite comprehend that. My solution would to be to install a number of flashing LED 'no U-turn' signs, like the ones found in Melbourne. Could start with the most problematic intersections to see whether it makes a difference, then roll them out to all intersections.

[ozbob]

G:link the #1 transport choice on the #GoldCoast #ridetheg pic.twitter.com/1X05EMzz0a

— G:link (@gclightrail) December 9, 2016

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

12th December 2016

Queensland Opposition does not learn

Good Morning,

The Gold Coast Light Rail has had a major service disruption the result of severe lightning events, nothing to do with maintenance as the the LNP has been bleating.

The Gold Coast Light Rail has an on time performance and service delivery that is the envy of all public transport operators in Australia.

Similar situation with the Queensland Rail issues on Thursday.  A train failed due to a battery issue (new batteries, they failed). There was a failure with a track weld.

Some OHT and power issues consequence of  lingering effects of weather events.

It is pathetic the way the LNP attempts to make political capital with their immature and dumb responses to events out of control of operators or Government.

Grow up LNP.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Suspended tram services on the Gold Coast caused by a freak event that couldn't have been foreseen @Mackenzie_Lyon
 https://t.co/kI9TL03UMZ

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) December 12, 2016

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Gold Coast tram review to look at lightning surge and safety

LIGHT rail bosses say a review into the embarrassing shutdown of the city's G:link service will focus on discovering why lightning surge protection failed to work.

Gold Coast trams lay idle for more than 48 hours after last week's storms caused damage to the line that ultimately caused the system to fail at 3.30am on Saturday.

Services only resumed at 5am yesterday after engineers spent the weekend battling to fix the problem.

GoldlinQ CEO Phil Mumford said a wideranging review would be undertaken to determine why the system was taken down.

Lightning strikes are usually grounded but it is believed the "intensity" of the strikes may have caused a surge.

"Surge protection is used on the Gold Coast light rail system and the performance of this system will be reviewed as part of GoldlinQ's review," he said.

The review, to be conducted by GoldlinQ, Keolis Downer and Bombardier, will look at the tram system's technical systems and processes, and at how passenger disruption could be minimised in future.

Mr Mumford said GoldlinQ had approached multiple light rail operators around the world and none had issues with lightning damaging the system.

He said it was believed the extreme nature of the storm had caused the issue, with faults found in the copper and electrical components of the communication system caused by multiple lightning strikes.

Repairs after the storm were able to get the system back running but did not stop the damage from spreading.

Cescom owner Erik Ceslis said his company had provided products which stopped electronic road signs from being damaged if lightning strikes near cables.

"The products minimise the damage by diverting the charge away from the cables," he said.

The tram outage comes after a series of bungles in the southeast Queensland's train network has left Gold Coast commuters feeling frustrated.

Embattled Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said while the G:link was privately operated the state government had been working closely with GoldlinQ to deal with the outage.

"They have learnt some great lessons out of this process," he said.

"That's important for the future operation of not only the G:link here in stage one but also stage two of operation as well."

Mr Hinchliffe said stopping the trams was the right thing to do in the circumstances.

"There was a risk to safety and we can't have that on our public transport network," he said.

Mr Hinchliffe said he was focused on making sure customers and commuters were properly advised of any issues.

[ozbob]

On the 1st day of Christmas my mate said to me, go ride the G: to surf all day at the beach #xmas https://t.co/GqBODbKBgH

— G:link (@gclightrail) December 13, 2016

[SurfRail]

http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/sun-community/gold-coasters-show-their-love-for-public-transport/news-story/ede4ddcf6946b8da16e4e0d1c05b16c7

[ozbob]

BREAKNG: A fire truck has collided with a tram on the Gold Coast. More to come @9NewsGoldCoast pic.twitter.com/GEcRpHplUR

— Phoebe Moore (@phoebe_moore) January 14, 2017

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Tram derailed after collision with fire truck on Gold Coast

[ozbob]

UPDATE: Work is underway to get the tram back onto the tracks, after a collision with a fire truck in Surfers Paradise @9NewsGoldCoast pic.twitter.com/sXylAFmSrB

— Phoebe Moore (@phoebe_moore) January 15, 2017

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Firefighters and conductor injured in fire truck and tram collision in Surfers Paradise

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Investigations into crash between Gold Coast tram and fire truck continue

A SURFERS Paradise local held his breath as a fire truck "ran a red light", turning in front of an oncoming tram yesterday morning.

John Zappa was on his way to St Vincent's Catholic Church when the incident unfolded in front of him on the corner of Hamilton Ave and Surfers Paradise Blvd just after 7.30am.

He said he was stopped at the traffic lights when it happened and he couldn't believe his eyes.

"The truck ran the red light," Mr Zappa said.

"It was such a stupid thing to do.

"The fire truck didn't have its lights or siren on.

"I wasn't scared as I knew I was safe but I was surprised by what happened." ...

[ozbob]

Blog: Gold Coast Light Rail - Melbourne's tram system can learn a lot from this. https://t.co/0JRJGqfRX2

— Daniel Bowen (@danielbowen) January 28, 2017

[ozbob]

Sunday Mail 29th January 2017 page 66

Traps Peter Cameron

Trams Unlock Southbank for the Spit

[verbatim9]

I bet council just didn't want the responsibility of cleaning the platforms. Especially gum LoL http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/gold-coast-light-rail-too-popular-for-new-stops-20170131-gu26db.html

Brisbanetimes --> Gold Coast City Council votes against light rail stop at Paradise Waters

No extra station will be added to the popular Gold Coast light rail project despite there being six high rise apartment towers near a suggested new stop and 1.35 kilometres between the two nearest stops.

With the longer stretch between Surfers Paradise and Main Beach, Paradise Waters residents want a new light rail stop.

The original light rail project documentation asks for a stop every 800 metres, several Gold Coast councillors told Tuesday's Gold Coast City Council meeting.

The motion to add a new station at Paradise Waters was lost because councillors believed it would be a case of slowing the ride and opening the door to the light rail project "being a victim of its own success."

They also believed the state government may ask them to pay for a new station.

Former Gold Coast mayor, now councillor Gary Baildon asked that an extra station be added at Paradise Waters, because it was included in the original plan, but later rejected by a previous state government.

Cr Baildon said there was a distance of 1350 metres between Main Beach and Surfers Paradise, when the original guidelines for the light rail argued for 800 metres between stops.

"I would like to see that wrong 'righted'," Cr Baildon said.

The former mayor said when the light rail project was first considered by council – and ultimately approved – a group of "noisy" residents opposed a station at Paradise Waters.

"So there is now a feeling that the people of Paradise Waters were punished because some of them opposed it at the time."

Mayor Tom Tate said he supported the idea because it was in the original documentation he saw when he was an engineering consultant before he became mayor.

Frank-talking councillor Dawn Crichlow also supported adding another station between Surfers Paradise and Main Beach because it was one of two changes made by the state government that were wrong.

"We even ended up with a stop outside a cemetery in Queen Street (Southport)," Cr Crichlow said.

"It is a joke that it is 1.3 kilometres between stations," she said.

"The rule of thumb for light rail stations is 800 metres between stations," she said.

Economic Development and Major Projects committee chairman Cr Herman Voster said – while he rarely opposed a local issue raised by the local councillor – adding another light rail station had broader ramifications.

"I am very nervous about voting to add another station at this meeting without it going through the rigour of our transport assessment team," Cr Vorster said.

He said he was wary that the State Government could "call the council's bluff" and ask Gold Coast City Council to pay for the new station.

"I would really hate for the light rail to become a victim of its own success," he said.

Cr Vorster said he was aware of the problem because veterans had already told him it was too far to walk from the light rail station to Cascade Gardens at Southport.

City Planning committee chairman Cr Cameron Caldwell also voted against the change because it had impacts on the complete light rail network, not only around Paradise Waters.

Cr Caldwell also questioned the impact on rising rates and charges on stand-alone residential homes in Paradise Waters as the impact of the light rail network evolved.

Cr Baildon said he was "disappointed" his motion to add a new station to the Gold Coast light rail network  was lost 12:3.

"All I am doing here is trying to right a wrong," he said.

Over 11 million passengers have caught the Gold Coast light rail stage one since it opened in July 2014.

A stage two extension is now under way on the northern edge from Gold Coast University Hospital at Southport to Helensvale and will open in early 2018.

Planning for a future stage three - running south - has begun, but is not funded at this stage.

[#Metro]

NIMBYs campaign against LRT, complain when no stop put in. 

Serves them right!!

Gold Coast light rail is just a little faster thanks to them.

Sucked in!!

[ozbob]

7 News at 6pm: The Gold Coast tram revolution driving up property prices. #7News pic.twitter.com/jUJeNie5ft

— 7 News Gold Coast (@7NewsGoldCoast) February 22, 2017

[#Metro]

Free taxpayer money boost thrown over the front fence I am afraid.

Should have land taxed it. Too hard in QLD, didn't want to get offside with the property owning class it seems.

The benefits of this are going to end up straight into private bank accounts and GCCC coffers.

[SurfRail]

Free taxpayer money boost thrown over the front fence I am afraid.

Should have land taxed it. Too hard in QLD, didn't want to get offside with the property owning class it seems.

The benefits of this are going to end up straight into private bank accounts and GCCC coffers.

Who funded 10%+ of the capital cost of Stages 1 and 2?  Who already has a transport improvement levy of over $100 per property per annum citywide?

The actual rates increases attributable to the project are nowhere near even the amount of GCCC's contribution.  Rates are already based on unimproved capital valuations, increasing land tax won't do anything that GCCC can't already do itself (and is doing).

You can't just whack huge additional taxes on people's properties like it's some kind of cure-all. 

[#Metro]

Who funded 10%+ of the capital cost of Stages 1 and 2?  Who already has a transport improvement levy of over $100 per property per annum citywide?

The actual rates increases attributable to the project are nowhere near even the amount of GCCC's contribution.  Rates are already based on unimproved capital valuations, increasing land tax won't do anything that GCCC can't already do itself (and is doing).

You can't just whack huge additional taxes] on people's properties like it's some kind of cure-all.

Never claimed it was a cure all.

Gold Coast light rail study helps put a figure on value capture's funding potential
https://theconversation.com/gold-coast-light-rail-study-helps-put-a-figure-on-value-captures-funding-potential-65084

The case for this type of "beneficiary pays" view is a moral one more than an economic one. The moral case is that publicly funded transport projects should not be undertaken for the benefit of a select group of landowners.

State Government is not very savvy. GCCC is. They have a very good deal!

This has implications for Cross River Rail too as you know. State Government pays but it is BCC that will collect the benefits through increased rates on inflated land values.

Overall, the land value gains from the Gold Coast light rail were around 25% of the capital cost. One of the simplest ways to capture these land value gains is to expand the existing state land tax system to remove exemptions. That would automatically capture 17-26% of the potential revenue from the value gains.

Do a deal - phase out stamp duties like ACT is doing.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament Hansard

Questions without notice

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2017/2017_02_28_DAILY.pdf

Gold Coast Light Rail

Mr KELLY: My question is of the Deputy Premier. Will the Deputy Premier update the House on
the success of stage 1 of the Gold Coast Light Rail project and the progress being made on the Gold
Coast Light Rail Stage 2.

Ms TRAD: I thank the member for Greenslopes for the question because, of course, he is a
passionate advocate for public transport infrastructure in Queensland. Wherever Labor governments
deliver them, whether it is in Brisbane, the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast or right throughout regional
Queensland, I know that Labor is passionate about public transport infrastructure.

This is fantastic infrastructure, once-in-a-generation infrastructure, that will finally link the Gold
Coast to Brisbane through light rail and heavy rail. This is a once-in-a-generation infrastructure project.
Stage 1 has been hugely popular. Since it opened in 2014 some 18 million trips have been taken on
Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 1. Seven of those trips were taken last week by the Leader of the
Opposition and some of the LNP MPs from the Gold Coast, as per a tweet, and I table it for the benefit
of the House. Here we have a picture of the Leader of the Opposition—

Tabled paper: Social media post, on 21 February 2017, from the Leader of the Opposition, Mr Tim Nicholls MP, titled 'Riding the
G:Link on the Gold Coast with our @LNPQLD MPs. We found the funding to make this happen. #qldpol #GoldCoast.'

An honourable member interjected.

Ms TRAD: I take that interjection. I too would destroy all my pictures of the Leader of the
Opposition if I were married to him for that long.

Last week the Leader of the Opposition took a trip on light rail with his merry band of LNP Gold
Coast MPs, but I was very concerned to see that the LNP Leader of the Opposition was claiming credit
for funding and delivering Gold Coast Light Rail. I was very interested to read that. The truth of the
matter is that it was a federal Labor government and a state Labor government that funded and built
light rail. Those opposite may have turned up at the completion of the project to cut the ribbon soon
after they were elected because that is what they were good at, but it was Labor that delivered this
project for the Gold Coast. It was the LNP who criticised and opposed stage 2 proceeding, but it is the
Palaszczuk Labor government that lobbied the federal Turnbull government for money for stage 2. This
project is going full steam ahead. It is so exciting that stage 2—

Opposition members interjected.

Ms TRAD: Maybe the Leader of the Opposition was a bit confused. Maybe someone handed
him the wrong envelope when he was travelling on Gold Coast Light Rail and said, 'Remember, Tim,
you did this. You did this, Timmy. Timmy from Ascot, you did this.' It is Labor governments that roll up
their sleeves and deliver these projects while those opposite crow and tweet about it

(Time expired)

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Crime at Gold Coast tram stations more than doubles in one year

CRIME at tram stations across the Gold Coast more than doubled in the past year.

The increase has given rise to concerns law and order problems will increase again once Stage 2 is complete and the light rail connects to the heavy rail at Helensvale.

Figures revealed to State Parliament show since the light rail opened crimes such as assault and theft have risen at almost every station.

Across the network more than 125 offences were recorded in the 2015-2016 financial year compared to just 50 in the previous year.

Broadbeach South station near Pacific Fair was the worst with more than 40 offences recorded in the 2015-2016 financial year. This compares to 25 offences at the station in the previous year.

Currumbin MP Jann Stuckey said she was concerned crime had risen so sharply in a short space of time.

"If we are going to increase our public transportation modes then we need to increase the security provisions for the stations," she said.

"What a terrible start that we could get before the Commonwealth Games with some on being stabbed or robbed."

Police Minister Mark Ryan brushed off the concerns.

"Policing on the Gold Coast is conducted in a dynamic and challenging environment and it is to be expected that increased population growth and substantial private infrastructure investment is going to have an impact," he said.

Mr Ryan said the city had received an extra 24 police officers in the past two years.

Top 6 stations for crime

    Broadbeach South: 40 offences in 2015/2016, up from 25 in 2014/2015
    Cavill Avenue: 15 offences, up from 4 offences.
    Cypress Avenue: 12 offences, up from 3 offences.
    Southport: 11 offences, up from zero offences.
    Florida Gardens: 9 offences, up from 2 offences.
    Surfers Paradise: 9 offences in 2015/2016 up from 2.

[SurfRail]

I wish Stuckey would pay more attention to service quality than the la la public order issues she worries about.  There are plenty of horrible bus services in her electorate.

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

The Conversation --> Why Gold Coast light rail was worth it (it's about more than patronage)

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> State and Federal Governments should have taxed Gold Coast land owners on light rail route: Report

LAND owners who benefit from property value windfalls brought by new public transport projects should pay more tax to ensure new systems can be built, researchers have found.

The study, to be released today, suggests a "value capture" model is fairer than simply relying on shrinking government budgets.

It says the State and Federal Governments missed the opportunity to recoup public funds used to build the first two stages of the Gold Coast light rail from landholders who made millions of dollars from the project.

Researchers from Griffith University, the University of Sydney Business School and the University of Queensland analysed two decades of sales for Gold Coast residential property within easy walking distance of a station.


While values rose sharply across the board, they found a "sweet spot" within 100-400m of stations where values increased 30 per cent more than they rose at 400-800m.

Gold Coast council already charges ratepayers a $123 annual transport improvement levy, reaping more than $29 million a year.

Project leader Associate Professor Matthew Burke said a system that recognised the benefits of each project were not shared equally between locals should be considered.

"For example you might ask people within a certain distance of a new station to pay a higher levy – but only where there's been research that demonstrates there will be a property value increase," he said.

Dr Burke said even a value capture yield worth 10 per cent of a proposed project's price could be enough to get it over the line, especially when it came to the often-contentious State-Federal funding split.

Value capture has been successfully used in cities including Melbourne, where commercial property owners were levied so the City Loop project could go ahead.

Heavy and light rail stations in Sydney have also been funded by targeted levies, while London, Hong Kong and the United States use various other methods to capitalise on the increased value of surrounding land.

The researchers unexpectedly found the biggest price spikes around the light rail occurred in the early planning stages – not once a project was funded, built or running.

"We expect that the building of the second stage to Helensvale is already having effects in that northern corridor through Parkwood," Dr Burke said.

"Land values at Nobby's and Miami are also likely rising now due to the planning studies under way to take light rail through to Burleigh Heads then on to the airport, given that now looks pretty certain to happen."

LIGHT RAIL FIGURES

* 12 per cent between 1996 and 2002 when planning began and priority corridor was identified;

* another 26 per cent 2002-2006 when the main planning study was completed;

* two per cent from 2006-2011 when funding was confirmed and construction began; and

* another 5.4 per cent from 2011-2016, when the light rail was launched.

Based on properties within 100-400m of a light rail station

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsGoldCoast/status/874903522818576385

[Cazza]

How do you manage to not see a massive yellow vehicle is beyond me. Not matter how much 'beware of the rhino' campaigning is done, you will still have oblivious people drive straight in front because they are the centre of the world and even if they get hit by a 40t tram, they will survive because the world loves them.

Um, yeah, think again sweety

[dancingmongoose]

https://twitter.com/7NewsGoldCoast/status/874903522818576385

Should be automatic loss of license for instances such as this. I don't care if they're a firie they clearly should not be on the road

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> The Gold Coast's trams are a success but research shows light rail is yet to make a dent on road congestion


The first track being laid at the intersection of Napper Rd and Smith St for stage two of light rail.

THE Gold Coast's trams are successfully attracting passengers but independent research shows they are yet to make a dent on road congestion.

The first stage of light rail from Parklands to Broadbeach has only switched regular public transport users from buses to trams.

Transport consultant Eric Keys, in a paper for the Australasian Transport Research Forum, wrote: "While the G: Link is enjoying healthy ridership the available evidence shows the project has failed to deliver the key outcome of increased regional public transport use."

Public transport lobbyists have told the Bulletin a poor system of bus transfers in stage one was the cause of the failure.

Mr Keys said investment in light rail was often controversial yet it could trigger urban renewal and was more affordable and popular than buses and heavy rail.

He said the $1.3 billion first stage of Coast light rail had "successfully delivered its outputs".

But the claim that "patronage continues to exceed expectations, with an average of more than 18,200 trips made on the G: each day" was at odds with original project estimates.

The Concept Design and Impact Management Plan had forecast a 59 per cent increase in daily regional public transport patronage from 124,500 to 197,750.

Department of Transport and Main Roads data reveals 6.18 million light rail passengers in the 2014-15 financial year — about 18,200 trips per day — but that was offset by a decline of 6.15 million bus users.

In 2008, TransLink forecast trams and the wider public transport network would remove 40,000 car trips.

"In practice it can be observed that there has been no material change in public transport use and so it seems unlikely any mode shift has occurred," Mr Keys said.

The stage two route to Helensvale due to be completed before Christmas would "provide some boost to patronage".

But whether it was a "cost effectiveTRAMS: solution" remained "a matter for conjecture".

RAIL Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow predicts that once all the tram routes are built "it will end up one of the great world light rail systems".

"You will have this hard core of light rail supported by buses. It will be attractive to people. What has to happen is buses have to be given road priority," Mr Dow said.

He said it was important to understand that it would be impossible to reduce the numbers of cars on the road "in an absolute sense".

Expanding the light rail system would reduce some of the anticipated increase in vehicles as population increased on the Coast.

"The bus network on the Gold Coast has been treated shabbily by TransLink. They have to increase the network, increase capacity and hours," Mr Dow said.

"I think with stage two in light rail there is an opportunity to increase bus networks. I think you will start to see significant gains in bus patronage.

"At the moment some bus routes stop at four in the afternoon. It's lunacy."

RAIL Back on Track's Robert Dow is a big supporter of Gold Coast light rail. Picture: Peter Cronin

[OzGamer]

Isn't the interesting thing the change in public transport patronage on the Gold Coast compared to the rest of the TransLink network?