Minister: ‘Don’t drive in Surfers’

QUEENSLAND Roads Minister Mark Bailey warns motorists not to drive through Surfers Paradise via Gold Coast Highway if you don’t need to during the Commonwealth Games.

The Gold Coast Highway’s “Games lane” bypassing the tourism hub kicks into effect today and Mr Bailey said: “It will be very tight through Surfers Paradise during the Games with one lane.

“If you don’t need to go through Surfers then don’t. There are going to be 670,000 visitors coming, the traffic is going to be very different.”

Mr Bailey also urged Games goers to book their park and ride spots earlier to avoid missing out ahead of Games events.

Meanwhile, police yesterday revealed officers had moved 55 motorists out of the orange Games lanes around the city but had yet to dish out any $252 fines to offenders using the lanes.

Deputy commissioner Steve Gollschewski said: “We are taking an educative approach at the moment but if people persist in going against the law we will have to take action.”