Gold Coast Light Rail

[ozbob]

Crocs must like trams and things too?   

[colinw]

I thought it was the source of the crocodile tears your posted at the top of this page :-)

[red dragin]

Had to head down the GC this morning, took the chance to follow the route where possible.

Lots of track in place, and workers everywhere.

25 min from northern side of Surfers to Pac Fair sucked though. Lots of people waiting for buses stuck in the same traffic jam.

No pics as driving, but looking forward to taking a ride upon completion.

[colinw]

The Bulletin -> Fast-track for Surfers light rail

Plus the usual whining from the usual posters. You would think they would have given up and accepted they can't stop it by now.

[SurfRail]

A few Paint drawings I made during my recent travels.  The Gold Coast one is from The Ghan, and the Brisbane one I knocked together on the Overland (happily was situated in Red Premium seat 2 with an open GP socket behind me to keep the laptop going for most of the trip).

I've already realised I don't like my Brisbane T5 line north of the city too much.  If I could be bothered redrawing it again I would actually just run it the same as the Hamilton route and turn left onto Brunswick St and up Bowen Bridge Rd.

[Golliwog]

The first thing that drew my attention on the Brisbane map was T1 ending at Toowong. Maybe ok to begin with, but if you're trying to take over the main haulage bus routes then I'd aim to go to Indooroopilly so you have a decent hub for them to all terminate and change at (though arguably that should be down at the heavy rail instead, in which case it should go to UQ). Other thing is I'm not sure how the two Annerley routes would work with the busway

[Set in train]

The Bulletin -> Fast-track for Surfers light rail

Plus the usual whining from the usual posters. You would think they would have given up and accepted they can't stop it by now.

I would've prefered 24/7 construction from the get go. The whinging posters do have one thing right, the glacial progress; there have been numerous project management problems, the southern early works contractors BH were nowhere near equipped to handle such a project. Utility relocation with SW as the lead contractor for the SPTMS (mirroring much the same route) ran much smoother, closer to budget and time than this ever has.

[SurfRail]

The first thing that drew my attention on the Brisbane map was T1 ending at Toowong. Maybe ok to begin with, but if you're trying to take over the main haulage bus routes then I'd aim to go to Indooroopilly so you have a decent hub for them to all terminate and change at (though arguably that should be down at the heavy rail instead, in which case it should go to UQ). Other thing is I'm not sure how the two Annerley routes would work with the busway

T1 is just a light rail version of the 199/CGL with a green bridge to Toowong instead of ending at West Rnd ferry.  Maybe extend to UQ via Sir Fred, and extend over the river to Oxford St at the other end. 

These don't use any part of the busway network whatsoever.  That would be converted to an automated light metro - Loganholme to Carseldine, and Capalaba to Indooroopilly (or beyond)...

[colinw]

A map of Brisbane circa 1954 would do as a good starting point. Then fix the bits that don't make sense in 2013.

[colinw]

I would've prefered 24/7 construction from the get go. The whinging posters do have one thing right, the glacial progress; there have been numerous project management problems, the southern early works contractors BH were nowhere near equipped to handle such a project. Utility relocation with SW as the lead contractor for the SPTMS (mirroring much the same route) ran much smoother, closer to budget and time than this ever has.

Early works have been slow, particularly the Government contracted ones which ran into particular problems at the southern end of the route.  I believe they also had issues with inaccurate mapping of services to be relocated, and with underground services that were in far worse condition than expected and needed expensive & slow remedial work.

As someone from GoldLinkQ said to us when we did the site visit: this is basically a major municipal infrastructure renewal project with a light rail track stuck on top of it.  The actual track laying is a relatively small part of the corridor works, but the most visible.

[Golliwog]

The first thing that drew my attention on the Brisbane map was T1 ending at Toowong. Maybe ok to begin with, but if you're trying to take over the main haulage bus routes then I'd aim to go to Indooroopilly so you have a decent hub for them to all terminate and change at (though arguably that should be down at the heavy rail instead, in which case it should go to UQ). Other thing is I'm not sure how the two Annerley routes would work with the busway

T1 is just a light rail version of the 199/CGL with a green bridge to Toowong instead of ending at West Rnd ferry.  Maybe extend to UQ via Sir Fred, and extend over the river to Oxford St at the other end. 

These don't use any part of the busway network whatsoever.  That would be converted to an automated light metro - Loganholme to Carseldine, and Capalaba to Indooroopilly (or beyond)...

Woops, should have looked more closely at which streets you wrote next to the line. I just assumed "straight line, ending at Toowong = Coro Drive"

What I meant about the busway was about competing for passengers, particularly the Ipswich Rd route which is mirroring the SE busway and isn't that far from the existing stations. If you're going to retain the busway/upgrade it, surely this new light rail route should be serving a different catchment? Though I will give you it would serve a different market in terms of CBD area served so on that basis it could be ok.

[SurfRail]

The first thing that drew my attention on the Brisbane map was T1 ending at Toowong. Maybe ok to begin with, but if you're trying to take over the main haulage bus routes then I'd aim to go to Indooroopilly so you have a decent hub for them to all terminate and change at (though arguably that should be down at the heavy rail instead, in which case it should go to UQ). Other thing is I'm not sure how the two Annerley routes would work with the busway

T1 is just a light rail version of the 199/CGL with a green bridge to Toowong instead of ending at West Rnd ferry.  Maybe extend to UQ via Sir Fred, and extend over the river to Oxford St at the other end. 

These don't use any part of the busway network whatsoever.  That would be converted to an automated light metro - Loganholme to Carseldine, and Capalaba to Indooroopilly (or beyond)...

Woops, should have looked more closely at which streets you wrote next to the line. I just assumed "straight line, ending at Toowong = Coro Drive"

What I meant about the busway was about competing for passengers, particularly the Ipswich Rd route which is mirroring the SE busway and isn't that far from the existing stations. If you're going to retain the busway/upgrade it, surely this new light rail route should be serving a different catchment? Though I will give you it would serve a different market in terms of CBD area served so on that basis it could be ok.

The busway really doesn't have any clashing stops in the area though.  There's only Buranda, the Gabba and Mater Hill, all of which could do with some relief (especially the Mater).  both lines to Annerley would probably have more closely spaced stops than this.

My thoughts are that the Brisbane one would be somewhere in between the Gold Coast and Adelaide - somewhere between absolute line-haul (Gold Coast) and inner-city distributor (Adelaide), but avoiding the pitfalls Melbourne has with too many stops.

[SurfRail]

A map of Brisbane circa 1954 would do as a good starting point. Then fix the bits that don't make sense in 2013.

There are certainly echoes of it in there as you will see.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> http://tools.goldcoast.com.au/photo-gallery/photo_gallery_popup_preview.php?category_id=42979&offset=0

[ozbob]

Minister for Education, Training and Employment
The Honourable John-Paul Langbroek

New skills for light rail workers

Education, Training and Employment Minister John-Paul Langbroek has congratulated 20 Gold Coast light rail workers for completing vocational qualifications in rail infrastructure.

Minister Langbroek visited the Paradise Waters construction site this morning to inspect progress and present certificates to the first 20 graduates of GoldLinQ's construction partner McConnell Dowell's up-skilling initiative.

"It is wonderful to see a project of this scale employing local workers and providing opportunities for those workers to gain qualifications that will serve them into the future," Mr Langbroek said.

"The Gold Coast light rail project is the perfect place to nurture much-needed skills for Queensland's rail industry.

"Industry-led training initiatives like this are an important part of the Newman Government's plan to grow a strong four pillar economy and reduce the state's unemployment.

"The next 12 months will be a critical time for the light rail project and skilled workers will be needed to get the job done quickly, safely and with minimal disruption to the local community."

Gold Coast light rail project director Simon Bradbury said another 39 workers were undertaking civil construction traineeships.

"More than 80,000 hours have been invested in training so far, utilising two dedicated training facilities and a full-time trainer," Mr Bradbury said.

"We have taken steps to make sure our work sites have a culture of skills recognition and career-long learning.

"We are working with the Transport and Logistics and Industry Skills Council, Rail Skills Australasia and Construction Skills Queensland to ensure that qualifications are recognised and transferrable."

GoldLinQ Chief Executive Officer Phil Mumford said 90 per cent of the goods and services for the project had been sourced locally.

"Local businesses have already benefited from more than $70 million worth of business and there will be more to come," Mr Mumford said.

Stage one of the Gold Coast light rail project, estimated to cost around $1 billion, is jointly funded by the Queensland and Australian Governments and the Gold Coast City Council.

[ENDS] 8 February 2012

[colinw]

The Bulletin -> Rail works close streets, congest traffic

TRAFFIC chaos has erupted on the Gold Coast as light rail works shut down main streets in the tourist heart of the city.

Underground works have been under way in Surfers Paradise for months, but roadblocks put in place on Surfers Paradise Blvd and Elkhorn Ave last Friday caused massive congestion across the city for weekday traffic.

Surfers Paradise and Chevron Island have been reduced to car parks during peak periods and suburbs as far west as Parkwood are experiencing longer delays than usual.

Some Surfers Paradise traders lobbied for full street closures so work could be finished faster, but Chevron Island business owners are worried the prolonged gridlock will scare their customers away.

Traders in the village-style shopping centre have only just recovered from reduced trade and parking caused by roadworks and beautification in their area.

Chevron Island Cafe Alfons owner Jonathan Ede said he had noticed an increase in east-bound congestion this week.

"There has been an increase east-bound, but it will take at least a week for businesses to gauge the full effect the road closures in Surfers Paradise will have," he said.

Traders along Surfers Paradise Blvd are bracing for four months of no drive-through traffic and minimal foot traffic.

Byron Namenyi, from Crossfire Tattoos in Surfers Paradise Boulevard, said it would be a hard four months with a massive fence just metres from their front door.

"It will definitely be tough and we have noticed less people in the area than usual already," Mr Namenyi said.

"Many of them are very worried. I have walked through the area and it is a ghost town," he said.

"Unfortunately, there is nothing council can do to help and GoldLinQ are doing their best.

"Traders will just have to try and hang in there. Once the works are done things will improve."

GoldLinQ CEO Phil Mumford said there had been no complaints regarding traffic.

"The project has had no traffic-related complaints since the work started last Friday," Mr Mumford said.

"Every trader in the area has been personally visited before and during these works."

Mr Mumford said the work in Surfers Paradise Blvd would be finished by June, as promised.

[Jonno]

This area was a congested mess before the light rail works.  Funny how congestion from cars on the road is just progress and Govt not spending enough! Yet when it is exascerbated to by  light rail works it is untolerable, undemocratic and the end of the world!

[colinw]

Good old Bulletin & Dawn Crichlow.  "Outrage" because a street will be turned into a pedestrian mall & light rail station - exactly the kind of development around light rail that works really well.  What kind of regressive backwater is this country?  I'm starting to think that Australians are as dumb as planks.

The Bulletin -> Outrage over mall and light rail kiosks

PART of Nerang Street in the Southport CBD will be turned into a mall to allow two light rail platforms and a station to be built.

To add insult to injury, the station will include a shop that will be in competition to local traders who are suffering badly while the rail link is built.

Veteran city councillor Dawn Crichlow, business leaders and the struggling traders are furious about the loss of car spaces and future competition from the train station shop.

The furore has erupted after Gold Coast Rapid Transit executives gave an update to councillors on the progress of the $1.6 billion project.

The Bulletin has learned the section of Nerang Street between Davenport and Scarborough streets is to be permanently closed to through traffic.

Cr Crichlow fears a repeat of the Southport Mall disaster which led to Nerang Street being re-opened in 1998, 12 years after the mall was built.

"I'm trying to stop this from becoming a mall. The people went broke (back then). This is the most hideous thing I've seen," Cr Crichlow said.

Southbound traffic along Scarborough Street will not be able to turn right into Nerang Street at the Cecil Hotel corner.

Cr Crichlow said traders would be confronted with the brick walls of the station and platform structures.

"We have not seen the plans. We don't need ice creams sold at any of these places. You don't need any food. All you need is shelter," she said.

A trader, who asked not to be named, told the Bulletin: "We're losing a lot of money each day because there are no car parks outside our shop."

Atlantis Music store owner Neville Kajewski says some businesses have experienced "downturns of 30 per cent or greater".

Committee for Southport chairman John Howe acknowledged rapid transit builders GoldLinQ had constraints on releasing commercial information but he implored the consortium and authorities to begin giving out more details.

"I would think with the level of concern present in the business community in Southport, the more transparency and public consultation that can be done the better," Mr Howe said.

"Disclosure of the facts are critical at this stage. Businesses are on their knees. They're worried and they need to know if they can recover from this process."

GoldLinQ chief executive officer Phil Mumford said the State Government project team working with Translink and the council had determined the location for the light rail station at Southport.

"It was also decided at that time that this section of Nerang Street would be turned into a low-speed light rail-pedestrian mall, allowing local access only and removing all other vehicle movements," Mr Mumford said.

Plans were being finalised for kiosks at some of the 16 stations, similar those at other stations along the southeast Queensland rail network, he said.

"These kiosks would provide items like bottled water for the comfort of passengers during the summer season, coffee and packaged sandwiches," Mr Mumford said.

International research showed light rail systems had increased pedestrian flow through precincts, he said.

[#Metro]

It's do damn hard to get past people's loss aversion reactions when you try to make proper changes that will ultimately leave things better off in the long run. 

In economics and decision theory, loss aversion refers to people's tendency to strongly prefer avoiding losses to acquiring gains. Some studies suggest that losses are twice as powerful, psychologically, as gains. Loss aversion was first convincingly demonstrated by Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman.[1]

[SurfRail]

It's because all the traders have ever known is that "cars = customers".

They don't understand where their interest really lies, eg pedestrian footcount, which GoldlinQ will deliver to them in greater numbers than they have ever experienced.

I'm tired of arguing with people.  The line's being built and will speak for itself.

[somebody]

It's do damn hard to get past people's loss aversion reactions when you try to make proper changes that will ultimately leave things better off in the long run. 

In economics and decision theory, loss aversion refers to people's tendency to strongly prefer avoiding losses to acquiring gains. Some studies suggest that losses are twice as powerful, psychologically, as gains. Loss aversion was first convincingly demonstrated by Amos Tversky and Daniel Kahneman.[1]

Much more than that I would have thought.

[colinw]

The Bulletin -> Court case may delay light rail

February 18, 2013

THE Gold Coast's controversial $1.2 billion light rail project is facing "critical delays" as a court case over two bridges on the Nerang River drags on, risking a multimillion-dollar blowout.

New court documents lodged by Gold Coast Rapid Transit reveal the project is getting close to breaking point and has been put behind schedule by the ongoing dispute.

McConnell Dowell, the construction arm of contractor GoldLinQ, has been battling the Gold Coast City Council through the Planning and Environment Court over design details.

The council opposed parts of the bridge design, fearing it could cause flooding upstream on the Nerang River.

Only a handful of pylons at the Southport bridge site have been built in the 11 months since construction was to start. One of the bridges will be for light rail, the other for pedestrians.

In a sworn affidavit, Gold Coast Rapid Transit joint venture project director Simon Bradbury said the delays risked holding up the opening date of the light rail, currently expected in June 2014.

"The late start to the bridge construction has already had a significant impact on the completion date and a further delay to start of piers two and three will cause additional critical delays," Mr Bradbury said in the affidavit.

The court needed to give urgent approval for McConnell Dowell to build more pylons of the bridge to "prevent significant multi-million financial impacts", he said.

Mr Bradbury's statement showed the council and McConnell Dowell were in "advanced stages" of negotiations in an attempt to settle the long-running court case.

"These negotiations have centred on an infrastructure agreement which would ultimately resolve the appeal and allow for the (Gold Coast Rapid Transit) project to be completed," he said.

According to the documents, the agreement being negotiated is in relation to the bridges potentially causing flooding upstream.

Court documents show the pylons that have already been placed would have to be pulled out if McConnell Dowell lost the case, or if it is approved with a different design.

A special 55m barge, had also been hired for construction.

The documents show the subcontractor could move it to another project in Australia or overseas if it had to stand down for too long while the court battle continued.

[colinw]

The Bulletin -> Traders consider light rail class action bid

TRADERS crippled by the billion-dollar light rail construction are considering taking legal action against the State Government.

Southport-based law firm Evans Lawyers has called on business owners and traders who have been financially affected by the project to join a proposed class action bid for compensation.

CEO Troy Manhire said many Southport businesses had been "devastated" during the light rail's construction and a class action against the State Government, the Gold Coast City Council and consortium GoldLinQ was "worth exploring".

"Our firm is based in the heart of Southport and we have been very disturbed by the number of businesses that have closed or been affected by this construction," Mr Manhire said.

"We think what is going on, in good conscience, is simply not right." Mr Manhire said "a number" of Southport traders had committed to the legal action and he expected more would come forward.

"We will explore whether these retailers have a course of action -- if they do, we will go for it," he said.

"If they do not, at least they will know once and for all."

One trader who has joined the action and who asked not to be named, said he felt he had "no other choice".

"We are barely surviving," he said.

"I don't even know if we will be able to hold out until (the project) is finished.

"It has been tough.

"We're just hanging in and so many people have their backs to the wall."

Southport Chamber of Commerce president Laird Marshall confirmed the chamber had been approached to join the lawsuit.

"It is a shame that it has come to this, but I would have thought it would happen sooner than this, to be honest," Mr Marshall said.

"Obviously these traders feel aggrieved and believed they have a course of action -- that is their right."

Mr Marshall said the construction phase had been "a real nightmare" for traders.

Compensation measures were not built into the construction contracts.

GoldLinQ did not respond to requests for comment.

[ozbob]

Channel 10 News ran an item on this last evening.  It is a disruption, but they do stand to make a lot of windfall gains down the track.

Maybe some scheme to advance loans, no interest and repay when things boom which they will.

[colinw]

The Bulletin -> Ship terminal, rail are 'musts', says Howes

My goodness those Gold Coasters are a bunch of negative ninnies.  Except SurfRail of course.

AUSTRALIAN Workers Union national secretary Paul Howes says the extension of the light rail to the airport and the development of a cruise ship terminal are "must-do" projects for the Gold Coast.

Speaking exclusively to the Bulletin, Mr Howes said new tourism infrastructure projects were crucial to keep the industry alive and to create construction jobs on the Coast.

Mr Howes, who will leave Broadbeach today following the four-day Australian Workers Union national conference which attracted key Labor MPs, including Prime Minister Julia Gillard, said if Australia was going to be a "high cost" destination then new hotels, attractions and a higher standard of service were needed.

The public union figure said the country could not escape the high-cost reputation while the dollar remained so strong, and drew parallels between the city's tourism industry and the manufacturing industry.

"We have had a lot of focus on manufacturing in this conference but the impact the dollar has had on manufacturing is the same impact it has had on tourism," he said.

"And Gold Coast has the double whammy problem of it's so much cheaper to go and have a holiday in Hawaii or LA, rather than coming up here.

"Equally, for those coming from Japan or China, it is that much more expensive."

Mr Howes said the light rail was "a really smart thing".

"Having the ability to go from Broadbeach to Surfers to Southport and so on without having to hire a car or get on five buses is a really positive thing for the region," he said.

"We would also support the development of a cruise ship terminal.

"Frankly, when you have Campbell Newman cutting 17,000 jobs out of the public service, having a few construction jobs helps."

Mr Howes said just like the struggling manufacturing industry, tourism needed more investment.

"We need to see better facilities, better hotels, more attractive parts of the country to visit and recognise if we are going to be a high-cost destination to visit, we need to make sure we provide in terms of infrastructure and service," he said.

"Frankly, Sydney should have first-class facilities and attractions. The same applies for Queensland."

He said he hoped the Newman Government would not follow the footsteps of the conservative NSW and Victorian regimes.

[petey3801]

THIS tram will soon be gliding through the streets of the Gold Coast.

The 43m vehicle is in final stages of completion in Europe and will be shipped to Australia in August from the Port of Hamburg, Germany.

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/03/01/447964_gold-coast-news.html

Some of the typical negative comments on the page already. One includes "This is not light rail. These trams are very heavy... Only 30% of a full load will be seated.... The sick will have to stand for a 14km journey for 45 mins to go to hospital. This tram must seat more patrons." as well as someone asking our very own Surfrail to come up with an answer as to why the trams weren't built in Maryborough..

[SurfRail]

I don't believe any of my responses ended up being posted.

For what it's worth, I basically accused Whiteside of, amongst other things, being an economic caveman and a protectionist moron with no idea about procurement or engineering.  His claim to fame is that he worked on trams in Christchurch...

I'm also continually disappointed that Dougo continues to oppose the project.  He always has, and it's the sinlge most disappointing thing about living in his electorate for me.

[huddo45]

I don't believe any of my responses ended up being posted.

For what it's worth, I basically accused Whiteside of, amongst other things, being an economic caveman and a protectionist moron with no idea about procurement or engineering.  His claim to fame is that he worked on trams in Christchurch...

I'm also continually disappointed that Dougo continues to oppose the project.  He always has, and it's the single most disappointing thing about living in his electorate for me.

I've read that some Council officers are rather disappointed by the lack of support within the GCCC.
   
  "The dogs may bark, but the caravan rolls on." -  Ancient Persian proverb.
   

[SurfRail]

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/03/07/448252_gold-coast-news.html

Light rail offer in bid to extend contract

Lucy Ardern   |  12:15am March 7, 2013

THE consortium that holds the contract for the $1.2 billion first stage of the Gold Coast's light rail system, GoldLinQ, has offered to cover most of the cost of the second stage to link it to the heavy rail network.

One of the finance options put forward by GoldLinQ to the State Government would see the second stage of the tram system built from Griffith University to join up with the heavy rail at a new station at Parkwood.

But it wants its operational contract extended from 15 to 28 years.

GoldLinQ would need to raise $400 million on the private capital market and the deal would be dependent on it receiving lucrative service fees from the government.

But if the proposal went ahead, the immediate cost to Queensland taxpayers would be a fraction of the original figure expected and work on the second part of the project could start next year when stage one was up and running.

There was no fixed timeline on the previous plan to link stage two of the light rail to Helensvale train station, which had an estimated cost of between $800,000 and $1 billion and was likely to require funding from all levels of government.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has confirmed meetings with GoldLinQ chairman John Witheriff and CEO Phil Mumford about the proposal, while local MPs and councillors also admitted to having closed-door meetings about it.

Cr Tate told the Bulletin this week he supported the plan, since it would ensure the light-rail project was commercially viable.

"I think we should extend their contract," he said.

"It makes a lot of sense."

Taking stage two of the light rail from Griffith University to a station at Parkwood was the preferred route identified in the council's draft transport plan, released late last year.

Cr Tate said building a new station at Parkwood, instead of connecting the light rail to Helensvale, would reduce the cost of the second stage significantly since it was a much shorter route.

Member for Gaven, Alex Douglas, agreed, saying the Parkwood connection was the logical next step for the light rail.

"Right now the light rail is connecting to nowhere and only able to pick up people in Southport, Surfers and Broadbeach," he said.

Southport Councillor Dawn Crichlow said the light rail needed to be connected to the heavy rail before the 2018 Commonwealth Games and the best spot was Parkwood.

"That station makes a lot more sense than Helensvale," she said.

A 6000-space park and ride station has already been planned for on land next to the proposed Parkwood station, which would be reduced to 2000 spaces after the Games.

GoldLinQ said it was not in a position to comment.

[ozbob]

[SurfRail]

Taken by a friend in Southport.  The catenary poles are up right behind/nearby where he was when this was taken.

[SurfRail]

http://www.goldcoast.com.au/article/2013/03/01/447964_gold-coast-news.html

My responses and those from people of like mind are now up - long after the small-minded rage has subsided of course...

[HappyTrainGuy]

Taken by a friend in Southport.  The catenary poles are up right behind/nearby where he was when this was taken.

Not having a front wheel seems like the most logical reason for going over the handlebars.

[Gazza]

Waiting for anti LRT people to pick that up as a reason to hate on it even more...Danger to cyclists.

[SurfRail]

Waiting for anti LRT people to pick that up as a reason to hate on it even more...Danger to cyclists.

As if.  Cyclists are the enemy too for these folks.

[huddo45]

First overhead installed today. Not catenary but using double contact ears at each pole.
These two photos were taken this morning in Queen St Southport by Richard Youl. It's all happening, folks!

[HappyTrainGuy]

That would be a fun portion of the trip 

[SurfRail]

^ San Francisco on the Gold Coast...

Thanks for these photos John and Richard.  I only regret I'm so busy these days I've taken virtually no photos of the works to date.

[Jonno]

http://www.railpage.com.au/news-12282.htm

Light rail offer stretches to the south

IT has emerged that GoldLinQ's offer to extend the light rail stretches further than originally thought -- with plans under way to also take trams south.

The company this week said it was willing to cover the capital cost of connecting with the heavy rail system north of the original design -- if its operational contract was extended from 15 to 28 years.

Gold Coast business leader John Howe said GoldLinQ would not only build the second stage of the light rail from Griffith University to a new station at Parkwood, but would also extend the line at the other end from Broadbeach to Nobby Beach if their contract proposal was accepted.

"GoldLinQ would also go south (on the Gold Coast Highway) and we would encourage that," he said.

The longer route was confirmed by other public figures, including Steve Harrison from the Urban Development Institute of Australia.

But the company would need to privately raise $400 million if the deal is going to move ahead and it would be dependent on GoldLinQ receiving extra operational fees from the government.

Mayor Tom Tate came out in support of the idea this week and the business community got right behind it as well.

Mr Howe, who heads up the powerful business lobby group Committee for Southport, described the idea as a "no brainier" and said there was no time to waste getting things moving.

"Southport is on its knees right now," he said.

"It is essential that this is done as soon as possible.


"The light rail project must be accelerated.

"The proposal that has been put forward by GoldLinQ could be done at minimal cost, so lets get on with it."

Southport Chamber of Commerce president Laird Marshall said the proposal was "terrific".

"I really like the concept and it is something we should be looking at," he said.

"There is no money available from the state and federal government for it.

"So I don't know where else the funding is going to come from.

"This seems like the only way to get it operational before the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games."

Mr Harrison said the financing option for the light rail was a great opportunity.

"I think there should be whole-hearted support for the idea," he said.

"It would mean more of the city gets benefit from the light rail."

[#Metro]

May as well sign on the dotted line. Any operational fees payable should be split with GCCC I think as well as the development that would come from that would flow to GCCC.