REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Wednesday, Dec 8, 2004

THE State Government intervened in the Surfers Paradise Transit Centre row after a plea from Mayor Ron Clarke.

Queensland Local Government Minister Desley Boyle met Cr Clarke after he fired off a letter to her, explaining the council’s position after a major public backlash to the proposed sale of the centre.

Senior planners from within Mrs Boyle’s own department agreed to help the council to reassess the best options for the prime site. The council voted to sell the Transit Centre and demolish the Bruce Bishop Car Park, effectively robbing Surfers Paradise of 600 car spaces.

It sparked public anger, led by local councillor Susie Douglas, who says businesses will leave Surfers Paradise because they will have no parking.

Former premier Rob Borbidge said the city was being run by the Beverly Hillbillies and has not ruled out running for mayor.

Mrs Boyle said that the council’s handling of the controversial Transit Centre issue had gone “too far and too fast”.

“I thank the Mayor for inviting me to meet with him,’’ she said. “This whole issue has gone too far and too fast.

“I am pleased to commit some of my planning staff to assist them.

“I hope what we can do is slow it down. It’s all gone out of hand and much too fast.”

Mrs Boyle said the most important issue was public space in public ownership.

“There’s no doubt, my heavens, that it can be improved,” she said.