Get on board with Games benefits and enjoy the ride

LAST Sunday, LNP Shadow Minister Steve Minnikin said on ABC news that the Commonwealth Games were three months away.

Yesterday (GCB, Letters) he got other basic facts wrong. The transport operations plan for the games was released last year.

Last Sunday we released the final public transport timetables confirming high frequency, 24hour heavy and light rail services and shuttle buses connecting major venues and precincts, as part of an integrated public transport plan, with free travel for event ticket holders and volunteers.

With 600,000 Games visitors and six million extra trips expected, transport and traffic changes were always going to be necessary to meet the huge demand. Gold Coast residents and visitors will have two whole months to become aware and plan ahead.

The transport plan could never have been achieved without Labor’s Gold Coast infrastructure investments which will benefit residents for decades to come.

The Palaszczuk Government majority funded and built Light Rail Stage Two in only 18 months, connecting to Helensvale heavy rail station. It opened two months ago and already patronage on the light rail system is up 27 per cent with 245,000 extra trips. Light rail will run at six-minute frequencies nine hours a day during the Games and is co-located with the soon to open Helensvale Bus Interchange.

Labor’s $163 million duplication of heavy rail between Coomera and Helensvale – more vital infrastructure ignored by the LNP – will allow eight trains an hour between the Gold Coast and Brisbane during the Games.

Our first budget funded a $160 million road package which was finished more than two months ahead of the Games. These upgrades at Gooding Dr Roundabout, Southport-Burleigh Rd, Olsen Ave and other roads will be long-term infrastructure legacies benefitting Gold Coast motorists.

These infrastructure investments by Labor followed a neglectful Gold Coast LNP record.

Given the long lead-in times for major highway upgrades, if the LNP had spent a single new dollar upgrading the M1 when they were in government instead of ignoring it, we’d all be better off. The LNP should be apologising, not criticizing.

The Games will be an exciting and proud moment in the Gold Coast’s history, and travel will be very different leading up to it and during it. Now is the time to get informed of the massive boost to public transport and changed traffic arrangements, and plan ahead for the biggest sporting event in Queensland’s history. Visit getsetforthegames.com for more information.

MARK BAILEY, MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS