GRIDLOCK IS BIG CONCERN

FINDINGS from a State Government survey support what proponents of sensible development around the Broadwater and Spit have been arguing for years.

Despite fierce opposition from interest groups, most residents, businesses and tourists either are staunchly backing or are generally in favour of development, which indicates public acceptance of major projects like those proposed by ASF for a $3 billion resort just south of Sea World.

There is also strong support for tower development – 78 per cent – that should give heart to companies like Sunland, which has a $600 million project proposed for a site close to Main Beach.

The Bulletin has long argued that the city needs to take its tourist attractions to a new level. Future prosperity depends on it. Sensible, quality development in the Broadwater-Spit area has the potential to do that.

But as this newspaper has also argued, and as the survey undertaken for the Department of State Development has found, drastic action is needed to fix existing traffic problems on The Spit and around Main Beach. And even if enough is done now just to address those issues, transport infrastructure still has to be taken to the next level to head off gridlock when major projects come online. Adding another lane or two will not solve existing and future congestion. Other means of allowing people and traffic to move freely have to be introduced.

It will require radical thought. Proposals including ferries and a new bridge have been floated. Perhaps a tunnel should still be part of the mix, and more than one bridge. Developers should consider multistorey carparks close to ferry terminals on the Southport side of the Broadwater to help keep traffic off The Spit. Constant ferry services across the water would become tourist attractions in their own right.

The survey found 21 per cent of respondents believed funding and delivering such infrastructure should be the sole responsibility of developers, while 31 per cent said it was the responsibility of all stakeholders. The fact just 17 per cent thought the council should be involved in that, and just 3 per cent thought ratepayers should cough up, sends a strong message.

Transport is an urgent priority. Infrastructure must be in place first. Developers have to take the lead in funding it.