No price tag on safety

THE cost of 16 new security bollards in Surfers Paradise has more than doubled after the Gold Coast City Council was told the planned infrastructure was not good enough.

The council is now spending $1.095 million – about $580,000 more than originally budgeted – on the retractable bollards which will stop a truck in its tracks.

The price jump is due to advice from the Queensland Police Service Commonwealth Games security adviser who told the council to follow more stringent European guidelines rather than the Australian standard.

City Infrastructure Committee chairwoman Dawn Crichlow said the higher costs of

the bollards was “absolutely irrelevant” because of the safety concerns.

“This is the recommendation. You don’t go for the inferior ones,” she said.

The additional costs include more concrete and steel reinforcement, stainless steel finishing to cope with coastal weather, and freight.

The new bollards are strong enough to stop a truck travelling at 80km/h.

Cr Crichlow said Surfers Paradise was a vibrant area which needed to be made as safe as possible.

“The requirement for the bollards has come about by the heightened security tensions in the UK and Europe, together with recent events in Melbourne’s Bourke Street Mall and London Bridge,” the report said.

The bollards will be placed across the road on the northern side of the Hanlan St roundabout. A second group will be placed south of the Soul building.

The bollards can block traffic during major events or be activated by police in emergency situations.

The council is currently investigating other Gold Coast locations which might need retractable bollards with a focus on Broadbeach, Surfers Paradise and Coolangatta.