Gold Coast Light Rail

[colinw]

The Bulletin -> Coast light rail's $86m budget blowout

Very misleading article. 

[Golliwog]

The Bulletin -> Coast light rail's $86m budget blowout

Very misleading article. 

Damn that horrible light rail project and their common sense approach to upgrading the older services under their tracks while they're in there. Obviously they should have just left them there and someone else could deal with it later.

[colinw]

QLD Parliament Record of Proceedings (Hansard), June 19, 2012, Page 796 -> click here

Mr STEVENS (Mermaid Beach—LNP) (9.11 pm): I rise to speak on the light rail proposal that terminates in my electorate of Mermaid Beach, just in front of Pacific Fair Shopping Centre at Broadbeach. I have been inundated with senior community members demanding that the project be aborted. I am here to confirm that the birth of the light rail will be on time and on budget and it will have a pain-free delivery. The pain will start after the birth, when taxpayers are forced to stump up the extra funds that will be required to support this public transport option.

The history of the light rail goes back a long way to the mayoral days of Gary Baildon, when the Gold Coast City senior planner of transport, Mr Rodney Grose, drove this project, in company with the CEO of the Gold Coast Bulletin, Mr Roy Miller. They put the light rail option on the agenda. The federal Howard government funded a $1.25 million dollar study that was supported by the federal Gold Coast members for the electorates of Moncrieff and Mcpherson, to see how the light rail would address the issues of public transport on the Gold Coast.

I have never supported this option as the most financially prudent option for public transport on the Gold Coast. Quite clearly, this option was very limited in terms of movement numbers, it was very limited in terms of the number of people it would serve and it was what the Labor Party called an 'iconic project' to try to gain votes on the Gold Coast. However, on the Gold Coast the LNP achieved a perfect score. We have 10 out of 10 LNP members representing the Gold Coast, so their strategy around the light rail project did not work.

We have written the contracts, we have written the cheques and there is no going back from the Gold Coast light rail as a major project. It is a $1.6 billion project on the Gold Coast. There is no opportunity to revisit the matter. We look forward to the opening of the light rail to provide transport from the Gold Coast University Hospital and the university itself down to Pacific Fair at Broadbeach, which is the end point of the rail line. I assure people that any long-term proposal for extending the light rail will be extremely limited. We have to live with the project that we now have on our back doorstep. We will enjoy it to the best of our capacities and we will utilise it to the best of our capacities.

Why so negative about extension? 

He seems to me to be implying it is a dud because (in his opinion) it doesn't serve enough people, then in the same breath pooh-poohs any suggestion of extension. Just, bizarre!

[ozbob]

Media release 17 July 2012

SEQ: Gold Coast Light Rail on track!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has said there has been steady progress with the Gold Coast Light Rail project(1).

Robert Dow, Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The light rail system will be transforming for the Gold Coast (1)."

"A group of RAIL Back On Track members visited the project on Friday last to observe the present construction activities (2)."

"Construction is disruptive for the community, but the gains will be very significant in terms of direct economic benefit and improved mass public transport options."

"During our visit, it was obvious what a serious problem road congestion is on the Gold Coast. The light rail system will help considerably in driving increased public transport usage, and in so doing improve the quality of life for all, residents and tourists."

"Gold Coast Light Rail will show Queensland and Australia what modern light rail is all about.  We believe it will the first of many new light rail systems to follow in all major and regional cities."

GoldLinQ Communication and Stakeholder Director Jason Ward said:

"It's exciting to welcome visitors on to the construction corridor and show how the project is really progressing now."

"We look forward to hosting more corridor tours with interested groups in the future."

References:

1. http://goldlinq.com.au/

2. http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8522.msg104093#msg104093

Contacts:

Steven Jamieson
Gold Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

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

[colinw]

 

[ozbob]

As a promotional item, cardboard models of the FlexiCity 2 tram are available at the light rail visitors centre at Surfers Paradise.  I think it is somewhere between N and HO scale.





Photographs R Dow 17th July 2012

Footnote:  There was a scream from Mrs Ozbob " there is a train on the buffet cabinet! " 

"No, it is tram  darling ... " 

[O_128]

QLD Parliament Record of Proceedings (Hansard), June 19, 2012, Page 796 -> click here

Mr STEVENS (Mermaid Beach—LNP) (9.11 pm): I rise to speak on the light rail proposal that terminates in my electorate of Mermaid Beach, just in front of Pacific Fair Shopping Centre at Broadbeach. I have been inundated with senior community members demanding that the project be aborted. I am here to confirm that the birth of the light rail will be on time and on budget and it will have a pain-free delivery. The pain will start after the birth, when taxpayers are forced to stump up the extra funds that will be required to support this public transport option.

The history of the light rail goes back a long way to the mayoral days of Gary Baildon, when the Gold Coast City senior planner of transport, Mr Rodney Grose, drove this project, in company with the CEO of the Gold Coast Bulletin, Mr Roy Miller. They put the light rail option on the agenda. The federal Howard government funded a $1.25 million dollar study that was supported by the federal Gold Coast members for the electorates of Moncrieff and Mcpherson, to see how the light rail would address the issues of public transport on the Gold Coast.

I have never supported this option as the most financially prudent option for public transport on the Gold Coast. Quite clearly, this option was very limited in terms of movement numbers, it was very limited in terms of the number of people it would serve and it was what the Labor Party called an 'iconic project' to try to gain votes on the Gold Coast. However, on the Gold Coast the LNP achieved a perfect score. We have 10 out of 10 LNP members representing the Gold Coast, so their strategy around the light rail project did not work.

We have written the contracts, we have written the cheques and there is no going back from the Gold Coast light rail as a major project. It is a $1.6 billion project on the Gold Coast. There is no opportunity to revisit the matter. We look forward to the opening of the light rail to provide transport from the Gold Coast University Hospital and the university itself down to Pacific Fair at Broadbeach, which is the end point of the rail line. I assure people that any long-term proposal for extending the light rail will be extremely limited. We have to live with the project that we now have on our back doorstep. We will enjoy it to the best of our capacities and we will utilise it to the best of our capacities.

Why so negative about extension? 

He seems to me to be implying it is a dud because (in his opinion) it doesn't serve enough people, then in the same breath pooh-poohs any suggestion of extension. Just, bizarre!

These senior citizens are idiots. How dare a light rail line terminate in front of one of the biggest trip generators on the coast....IDIOTS,

[colinw]

Ray Stevens has a dodgy record on public transport issues. He has opposed bus lanes & other measures on Nerang - Broadbeach road, for example.

[WTN]

I just hope that these complainers will see the value of the light rail service once it's up and running, not itching to tear it down.

[Stillwater]

Mr Stevens seems to be having two bob each way -- appealing to both sides of his constituency.

[beauyboy]

in other words he is a hypercrit?

Donald

[O_128]

I bet all these seniors invested all their cash in airport link shares 

[SurfRail]

I suspect Ray may still be slightly bitter Gary Baildon defeated him and that something Gary was always in favour of is now happening.

Some politicians can carry grudges like earwigs - hence all the rubbish directed at Peter Wellington when he asks sensible questions on behalf of his constituents.

[colinw]

The Gold Coast Bulletin -> Rail works to stop in Surfers over Xmas

LIGHT rail construction work in the centre of Surfers Paradise will stop for six weeks over the Christmas-New Year period in a win for struggling retailers.

The State Government has officially signed off on the change of timetable, which GoldLinQ implemented following ongoing consultation with businesses that have long been concerned about the impact on their busiest time of year.

Surfers Paradise Alliance and Surfers Paradise Precinct Advisory Group were involved in the process.

Work between View Ave and Beach Rd will now stop from December 16 until January 29.

The stoppage will not affect the overall timetable of the light rail but GoldLinQ is now assessing what parts of the route it can work on while the Surfers Paradise work is stopped. Surfers Paradise Alliance boss Mike Winlaw said the decision had averted a major disaster.

"With things as they stood, Surfers Paradise businesses would have gone broke," he said.

"Day and night work was scheduled throughout the heart of Surfers.

"No one would want to holiday in the middle of that.

"We have been working closely with GoldLinQ in the past few weeks and finally common sense has prevailed. I truly believe businesses would have been in serious trouble.

"The Christmas period is where traders make their money.

"We are thrilled with the outcome and know traders will be too."

GoldLinQ CEO Phil Mumford said he wanted to work with businesses, not against them.

"We want to support business to take advantage of their busiest trade times

" I think this a great outcome for the city," he said. "This will not affect overall delivery of the project as we have 13 kilometres of underground services, civils and track works to get on with to make sure trams are operational come mid-2014."

Stage One of the Gold Coast light rail is a $1 billion project, consisting of 14 trams and 16 stations stretching a 13km route between the Gold Coast University Hospital and Broadbeach.

[Jonno]

I just love Ray Stevens' comment that running the tram will cost money ...because once you build a road there is absolutely no running cost ... It is what makes them the marvel of this Century.

[HappyTrainGuy]

If it was in Brisbane that would certainly be the case. Some of the roads are just shocking before repairs are even thought of. It wasn't until kids started using the turning lane at the Stafford/Webster Roads intersection as a halfpipe before they attended to mark the drop ins with spraypaint.

[colinw]

The Gold Coast Bulletin -> Traders 'prisoners' of light rail works

August 1, 2012


Bakery owner Huong Huy said she doesn't know how her business will survive.
Pic: Scott Fletcher

SOUTHPORT business owners have likened their light rail limbo to a detention camp, saying the fences erected for the transport project in the CBD make them feel like prisoners.

Work on the Southport section of the $1.2 billion Gold Coast light rail project will continue for the next 12 months with a station on Nerang St expected to be finished in late 2013.

The metal fences have taken out half the road and all on-street parking on Nerang St between Davenport and Scarborough streets.

Traffic can still access Nerang St but in October the road will be permanently closed to make way for the light rail station.

The strip of shops in the project zone, once a busy part of the CBD, have been in steady decline since work started in 2010.

Many long-time traders have closed their doors and those remaining are beginning to panic.

Takeaway store and hairdresser owner Sidney White said the impact was felt on the day the fences went up.

"We could not even sell a $3 coffee and only made $280 for the entire day," he said.

"The rent here is $1200. That is not even enough to make ends meet, we just don't know what we are going to do.

"I have asked the landlord to drop the rent, it's just not going to work, it's like we are in a prison, or a detention centre."

Mr White said he was frustrated by the lengthy work schedule.

"I am told this work will take eight months, then on Monday night I see workers in the fenced-off area sitting around and eating.

"Maybe if they got on with the job it wouldn't be so painful."

Southport Home Bakery owner Huong Huy said she had no idea what she was going to do, or how she would survive.

"I lay awake at night, worrying," she said. "All the parking is gone and people do not want to park down the street and walk a long way for a coffee and one pie.

"I have been here three years and even after two days of the fences being up business is down."

Both owners said they were excited about the light rail and what it would bring to the area -- but surviving construction was the concern.

GoldLinQ CEO Phil Mumford said contractors had been working closely with business owners.

"We have been in touch throughout the project and will be erecting signs at every corner to indicate which businesses are open," he said.

"We will also cover the wire fences in white mesh with advertisements for businesses."

Mr Mumford said the newly fenced areas streets were critical areas for light rail construction.

"In Nerang St we will build a key station, after civil works under and above the ground," he said.

[ozbob]

 

[colinw]

Yeah, boo hoo!  If we reacted that way to every infrastructure project then Scarborough St would be a dirt road and the shops would have water troughs and posts to tie your horse up out the front.

[achiruel]

The Gold Coast Bulletin -> Traders 'prisoners' of light rail works

August 1, 2012

"I am told this work will take eight months, then on Monday night I see workers in the fenced-off area sitting around and eating."

So workers aren't even allowed to have meal breaks now? 

[O_128]

The Gold Coast Bulletin -> Traders 'prisoners' of light rail works

August 1, 2012

"I am told this work will take eight months, then on Monday night I see workers in the fenced-off area sitting around and eating."

So workers aren't even allowed to have meal breaks now? 

They have a point, this project is agonisingly slow. Southport has been ripped up, repaved, ripped up and repaved 3 times now and will be ripped up again soon to put the tracks in.

[ozbob]

Most of the project has been an extensive upgrade of all the underground utilities for the future.

The actual light rail is really a minor component.  Once the utilities are all finished, the track will appear rather rapidly from that point.

[colinw]

This opinion piece in The Bulletin mentions the light rail, and appears to be arguing in favour of its extension although it is negative about Stage 1.

The Bulletin -> CHAMBERS: No half-baked pies in sky

Geoff Chambers   |  12:01am August 7, 2012



GUGGENHEIM museums, cruise ship terminals, cultural precincts and casinos. In theory, they're great concepts.

But in reality they aren't natural fits for the Gold Coast.

The city's 530,000 residents demand that their politicians, business leaders and bureaucrats get the basics right.

Police and emergency services, health, transport and education will always be the most important issues for Gold Coasters.

These key service areas have not been perfected by the council or State Government.

The M1 remains a patchwork quilt. We still haven't got our new hospital delivered and when we do finally get it, it won't be able to sustain the city's health demands.

Our schools are overcrowded. And the east-west bus connections are Third World -- students and pensioners are forced to hop on and off buses and spend hours in transit.

Why haven't we got aerobridges at the Gold Coast Airport? Let's get the simple things right and show the world we are a fair dinkum city.

Serious questions need to be raised about whether the Gold Coast can sustain and afford multiple casinos with our existing transport and services infrastructure.

A cruise ship terminal is a great idea. But can Tom Tate deliver it in 30 months and on budget? That's seriously doubtful.

It is absolutely critical that we do not deliver a white elephant marquee project, so let's put a few things in perspective.

The Guggenheim is in New York -- a major developed metropolis that has a market and tourism interest to support it.

The Gallery Of Modern Art and the state's art precinct is based in Brisbane, an hour up the highway.

Unless we can persuade an eccentric millionaire such as David Walsh to build a world-class compound like his Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, we will end up with a half-rate arts precinct.

We need the "wow" factor. We need to have a must-see arts precinct. If we don't have a cultural precinct that gets a plug in the Lonely Planet guidebook, it's a complete waste of time.

If we can't get the funding, we'll end up with our own version of Tropical Fruit World. The Gold Coast has had enough gimmicky tourist attractions.

The light rail project has provided a much-needed lifeline for some of the city's tradies. But the construction contracts will not be around forever.

There are serious concerns that the light rail route is flawed.

Griffith University to Broadbeach will not help fix the east-west bus headaches.

It will also freeze out many thousands of residents who do not live along the route.

If you live a few kilometres south of the Broadbeach depot and you want to get to Brisbane, are you seriously going to drive to the station, hop on a tram, get dropped off at Griffith and catch a bus to the heavy rail station? The answer is no.

There are dozens of other scenarios where Gold Coasters will not drive, tram or bus. Or drive, tram, walk.

Instead of funding vanity projects, let's get the heavy rail down to Coolangatta. Let's get the light rail linked to the heavy rail and running further south along the coast.

The Gold Coast has a history of doing things in half-measures. If we seriously want to mature as a city, our leaders and residents need to embrace the big-ticket projects and roll them out in full.

The Gold Coast has never automatically qualified for state and federal funding.

That is why if the conservatives take power at both levels, our MPs need to grow a pair and actually fight for the city.

Because if they don't, they'll get the boot. And deservedly so.

[nathandavid88]

I read this article on the GC Bulletin website...the guy sounds like he's almost contradicting himself in half of it, and sounds like he doesn't have a clue for the other half in my opinion, particularly on light rail.

"Griffith University to Broadbeach will not help fix the east-west bus headaches." Ummm...yes it will. It will free up buses from the North to South 700 series routes that will be replaced by the light rail, buses which can then be redeployed on the east west routes.

"It will also freeze out many thousands of residents who do not live along the route." The light rail isn't a feeder route, it isn't supposed to go to people's houses. It's a trunk route. It's designed to replace the buses on routes that together carry more people than any others on the coast, a route that is lined with dozens and dozens of highrises, the most densely packed area of the coast. The new east west buses will be connecting to the Light Rail, allowing those "frozen out residents" to access it.

"If you live a few kilometres south of the Broadbeach depot and you want to get to Brisbane, are you seriously going to drive to the station, hop on a tram, get dropped off at Griffith and catch a bus to the heavy rail station? The answer is no."  Well obviously not! If you live in Broadbeach, you'd get the 745 to Nerang Station. The light rail couldn't possibly be the answer to all of the coast's PT issues. It is a single (albeit extremely vital) project!

"Instead of funding vanity projects, let's get the heavy rail down to Coolangatta. Let's get the light rail linked to the heavy rail and running further south along the coast." You've got to start somewhere, and in this case that somewhere is doing the most disruptive works through the tourist strip first. Yes, I would agree that the first stage should have taken it all the way to Helensvale, but still, better something than nothing. He wants to have his cake and to eat it too! We need to be realistic, especially with regards to the financial state of the council and Governments. And some of these vanity projects, like the Cruise Ship Terminal, have large investors/companies pushing them who will largely/fully foot the bill. It's not like the government is going to plunge billions into them, if they do eventuate!

[huddo45]

Uh, oh, another nutter trying to throw a spanner in the works....

From the Couriermail click here!

Court bid to halt $1.6 billion Gold Coast light rail project

Court bid to halt $1.6 billion Gold Coast light rail project

A GOLD Coast man is suing federal Treasurer Wayne Swan in a bid to stop the Glitter Strip's $1.6 billion light rail project in its tracks.

Self-employed carpenter and self-proclaimed "truthologist" Bruce Jeffree has launched legal action against Mr Swan, federal Finance Minister Chris Bowen, the Gold Coast City Council and light rail company GoldLinQ.

He alleges government funding for the project is unconstitutional and is seeking an injunction to have it frozen. A hearing has been set down in Southport District Court this month.

Mr Jeffree is a member of a group called Truthology, which opposes the levying of taxes and charges and advises people how to take on banks and avoid paying debts and fines.

In affidavits filed with the court, he alleges the light rail project is a state responsibility and the council cannot legally invest $120 million in it on behalf of ratepayers.

"To (my) knowledge and understanding, the (council) has no jurisdiction to commit revenue collected as rates for what is a state issue to the benefit of the state of Queensland has a whole," Mr Jeffree states.

"Therefore, it is submitted that such action to commit monies from such charges may be unlawful."

Mr Jeffree says the council has committed to compensate GoldLinQ for any losses on the light rail for 18 years.

"All such losses will in part be borne by the ratepayers of the Gold Coast and paid through revenue which could be disguised as rate charges," he says.

He says the Federal Government has no constitutional power to use taxation money to benefit a single state.

"It is further alleged that the Federal Parliament enacted no law for the appropriation of funds, alleged to be $365 million,for the purposes of building a Light Rail Transport on the Gold Coast and therefore, such appropriation ... should be deemed unlawful," Mr Jeffree submits.

He says all efforts and requests to view the light rail contract have been denied on grounds including it is 'commercial in confidence'.

Mr Jeffree states that because the council and Federal Government cannot legally deal with a state issue, the contract 'was entered into deceptively and/or unlawfully'.

He has quoted the Australian Constitution and High Court decisions concerning federal powers in support of his application.

Mr Jeffree has asked the District Court to invoke federal jurisdiction and in the meantime prohibit the council and Federal Government from funding the light rail.

His challenge comes as work steps up on on the controversial 13km electric tram link from Griffith University to Broadbeach.

The project has come under fire from critics including residents caught in roadworks gridlock and small business owners on the rail route who have closed their doors due to disrupted trade.

The project, which is a private-public partnership, is due for completion next year.

Mr Swan, Mr Bowen, the council and GoldLinQ are yet to respond to Mr Jeffree's court action.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Scott Emerson
08/08/2012

Student design short-listed for light rail uniform

Two Gold Coast Institute of TAFE students may soon see their design become a reality after their ideas were short-listed for the Gold Coast Rapid Transit staff uniform.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Scott Emerson congratulated Kelsey Ingram and Sue Paul at Ashmore campus while inspecting drawings of their design for GoldLinQ tram drivers and operational staff.

"It is pleasing to see these students make the shortlist out of 11 local designs," Mr Emerson said.

"Kelsey and Sue and some professional industry work wear providers each have a good chance of their names being weaved into the history of Queensland's first light rail project.

"Regardless of the outcome Kelsey and Sue can be justifiably proud of their designs making the short list.

"This is another unique example of the local opportunities being created by the light rail project."

The TAFE students completed their designs in pairs as part of their semester course work.

GoldLinQ operations partner KDR Gold Coast provided the brief to students and industry professionals which included the colours, comfort and budget to create a uniform staff could wear with pride.

KDR Gold Coast Managing Director Vivienne King said short listing the designs came down to matching the brief.

"All the uniforms designs we received were of a professional standard and it certainly made our decision a difficult one," Ms King said.

"However, it has been wonderful to have to consider so many good uniform ideas and I think the Gold Coast staff who will wear the final choice will be excited with the one we choose."

The 11 design ranges must be whittled down to one for tram drivers, line officers, customer service officers, maintenance workers and other operational staff.

Of the 120 operations staff, 101 are expected to wear a uniform from April 2013.

[ENDS] 8 August 2012


Background

Consisting of 14 trams and 16 stations, the light rail system will service a 13-kilometre route between the Gold Coast University Hospital and Broadbeach. Patronage numbers are expected to grow to 50,000 and GoldLinQ will be able to cater for up to 75,000 passengers per day.

The Gold Coast Rapid Transit project is being delivered in a Public Private Partnership between the Australian Government, the Queensland Government, Gold Coast City Council and GoldLinQ.

In June 2011 GoldLinQ was awarded the contract to design, build and operate Stage One of the Gold Coast light rail system. In partnership with the State Government and Gold Coast City Council, GoldLinQ will deliver a $1 billion world-class public transport system for the Gold Coast that is scheduled to commence operations in 2014.

The GoldLinQ consortium consists of McConnell Dowell Constructions (Aust) Pty Ltd, Bombardier Transportation Australia Pty Ltd and KDR Gold Coast Pty Ltd.

For more information visit the project website www.goldlinq.com.au or phone the project hotline on 1800 967 377.

[SurfRail]

Truthology = "truthiness".

What a pillock.

[nathandavid88]

I'm so sick and tired of all these efforts to kill the Light Rail! Do these idiots not realise just how advantageous this project will be to the Gold Coast??? What goes through their minds???

On the flip side, I do like that they are using the GC TAFE students to design the uniforms. They seem to be going out of their way to get elements of the local community involved in the development of the project, which I think is a great thing to do!

[colinw]

Truthology = "truthiness".

What a pillock.

This guy is as mad as a meat ant, but does represent an emerging political trend that we don't need here in Australia.. Hopefully this will be summarily dismissed with costs awarded against this bone head & his group.

It is sad that we are now getting these "tea party" like anti-Government type nutters here in Australia. In the USA these types of groups are rampant, and seem to particularly love targetting transit projects, especially ight rail.

What is it about light rail that draws the lunatics out from under their rocks?

This legal action will go nowhere, it is just an annoying side-show.  In the outrageously unlikely chance it was successful it would basically halt all Government investment in services & infrastructure - is that really what these nuts want?

[Stillwater]

I hope the court costs are huge and are awarded against Mr Jeffree when his court bid fails.  Being a crackpot, he probably won't recognise the jurisdiction of the court, or somesuch. 

[colinw]

Good old Gold Coast Bulletin.  Put up this article, accepted one foaming anti light rail comment, then closed off further comments. 

[SurfRail]

I expect it will keep a District Court judge busy for all of 10 minutes before the action is dismissed.

Pfft.

[colinw]

The Gold Coast Bulletin -> Sneak peek at light rail

August 9, 2012


An artist's impression of the light rail in Surfers Paradise
Pictures: Sneak peek at light rail

THIS is the first glimpse of the Gold Coast's new face once the city's $1.2 billion rapid transit system is built.

The artist's impressions, given exclusively to the Bulletin, show a transformed Surfers Paradise Blvd with light rail cutting through the heart of the city.

Contractor GoldlinQ hopes these images -- showing no fences, roadworks or mayhem -- will help lift the morale of struggling business owners.

GoldlinQ chief executive Phil Mumford said the draft designs showed a transformed Surfers Paradise with a world-class light rail in a key shopping and tourist precinct.

He said the images demonstrated the scale of the tram in relation to the surrounding buildings.

"These images are to scale and show how well the trams will blend in to the environment," he said. "You can see in the images the proposed layout of a station, how the intersections will work and the southbound traffic lane operating with pedestrian flows."

Surfers Paradise business owners were dreading the start of work in the area, originally scheduled to begin just before Christmas. But after months of negotiations, major works have been put off until after December, leaving the precinct untouched for the summer holidays.

Mr Mumford said underground work would begin on the intersection of Surfers Paradise Blvd and Elkhorn Ave this month.

"We will complete the replacement of pipes and vital underground services in this area before the Christmas holiday period," he said.

"The same works have already been completed in front of the Marriott -- upgrading underground services has been an important part of the project."

Mr Mumford said the finished product would include the reinstatement of palms and vegetation. "We aim to provide the highest quality design and landscape options that reflect the character of the precinct and a safe integration for pedestrian access, traffic and trams in public spaces," he said.

Final designs for the Surfers Paradise section of the light rail will be completed at the end of the year.

[colinw]

The Bulletin -> Switch of rail plans for track out to airport

August 16, 2012

THE Gold Coast City Council has created secret plans to dump the heavy rail extension to the Gold Coast Airport.

The line would end at Elanora under the new proposal, which instead calls for an extension of the light rail from Broadbeach, where it is planned to end, to the airport.

While heavy rail is a State Government responsibility, the new option is part of the council's draft transport plan.

Council representatives also saw Transport Minister Scott Emerson last month to lobby for the light rail option.

Council projections indicate a heavy rail link from Varsity Lakes Rail Station to Coolangatta would only get 7000 passenger trips a day by 2031 but a light rail link going up the coastal strip would get closer to 50,000 passenger trips.

It is understood the proposed light rail route would run from the Gold Coast Airport, up the eastern side of the Gold Coast Highway to Tugun, before heading to the proposed Elanora rail station via Stewart Rd.

The Gold Coast City Council is expected to lodge funding submissions for more studies into a light rail link to the airport with the Federal Government and Federal Opposition before next year's election.

Extending the light rail from Griffith University to Helensvale Rail Station before the 2018 Commonwealth Games is also on the city's funding wish list.

Coolangatta councillor Chris Robbins said people getting off planes at the Gold Coast Airport wanted to travel up the coastal strip, not through the city's west.

"Heavy rail is about getting workers in and out of Brisbane, whereas the light rail is city building, moving people around the city," she said.

While previous state government timelines show a heavy rail extension to the airport by 2031, Cr Robbins said a light rail extension to the airport was needed well before then.

"With the growth the airport is experiencing and the new Cobaki Lakes development, the capacity is there to fill those light rail cars," she said.

The Gold Coast Airport's master plan has forecast aircraft movements to increase from today's 90 a day to 222 a day by 2031.

A spokesman for Mr Emerson said money was still a big issue.

"While we fully support stage 1 we have made it clear that due to the poor state of Queensland's finances we are not currently in a position to contribute funding to future stages," he said.

[SurfRail]

^ This is news to me.  The "secret plans" I have been privy to show nothing of the sort...

[colinw]

My comments on the above article:

• Heavy rail only going as far as Elanora for now wouldn't be a disaster.
• There's little point extending the heavy rail any further until capacity problems are fixed in Brisbane (CRR).
• A southern interchange between heavy & light rail at somewhere like Elanora, or maybe Robina, would be a good thing.
• The airport is a good place to terminate the eventual heavy rail line, but would be a dumb place to finish the light rail.  LRT should go to downtown Coolangatta, or via Coolangatta / Twin Towns to the Tweed Mall if NSW can be convinced to co-operate.
• Northern extension of the LRT is also important, both to pick up Harbour Town as a destination, and to provide a northern interchange point with heavy rail.

[somebody]

My comments on the above article:

• Heavy rail only going as far as Elanora for now wouldn't be a disaster.
• There's little point extending the heavy rail any further until capacity problems are fixed in Brisbane (CRR).
• A southern interchange between heavy & light rail at somewhere like Elanora, or maybe Robina, would be a good thing.
• The airport is a good place to terminate the eventual heavy rail line, but would be a dumb place to finish the light rail.  LRT should go to downtown Coolangatta, or via Coolangatta / Twin Towns to the Tweed Mall if NSW can be convinced to co-operate.
• Northern extension of the LRT is also important, both to pick up Harbour Town as a destination, and to provide a northern interchange point with heavy rail.

2 - Absolutely.  CRR will also make the line faster, which will aid patronage.
4 - Perhaps the line should go into Tweed, ignoring state borders.

[colinw]

4 - Perhaps the line should go into Tweed, ignoring state borders.

I would be in favour of this if it gave us the potential for an eventual line to Byron Bay or Ballina (by 2051?)

The problem is the reserved alignment via the Tugun Bypass would require a reversing move at Coolangatta Airport. Not the end of the world, and indeed many UK train services do it, but still not ideal.

Alternatively, perhaps the heavy rail should follow the old ROW along the eastern side of the airport (Adina Ave), although that would probably involve tunneling under Tugun or mass resumptions if running on the surface.

I really hate the idea of the LRT terminating at the airport rather than continuing to Coolangatta/Tweed Heads.

[somebody]

I really hate the idea of the LRT terminating at the airport rather than continuing to Coolangatta/Tweed Heads.

Concur.

[#Metro]

The LRT line should not be deviated. It is likely the airport terminals will be upgraded and rebuilt during such a wide time frame anyway. I would suggest taking the LRT and having moving long walkways to it, rather than deviating the line (line can be deviated, but not too much).