What Gold Coast needs to build a Golden Age

THE Gold Coast is growing fast – but our infrastructure is failing to keep pace.

The M1 and arterial roads are choked each day, the light rail system is not expanding fast enough and potential solutions such as ferries and trains remain untapped or underused.

The Gold Coast Bulletin conducted a detailed survery of residents and the result was overwhelming – you want change.

So today, backed by some of the city’s leading business figures, we launch our ‘Golden Age’ campaign, designed to force the investment that this city badly needs.

Backed by expert opinion and the clear demands of our readers, we will put forward workable solutions and demand that politicians act on them.

Readers responded to 55 questions in our survey, the results of which we will examine in detail as we roll out our campaign in coming weeks.

The results reveal:

● How poorly the city’s residents rate the M1.

● How dangerous the off-ramps on the MI are.

● Where residents believe the light rail system should travel next.

● Which are our worst arterial roads.

● Whether you support a cruise ship terminal and cable car to Springbrook.

The Bulletin has a track record on delivering a fix on the city’s biggest challenges.

After we campaigned on the frustrations of under-resourced police in tackling the scourge of domestic violence, the Government brought in reforms which saw new laws ushered in, increased funding, a DV court and police taskforce.

With our ‘Missing Link’ campaign this newspaper also put huge pressure on all levels of government to have the light rail extended to meet the heavy rail at Helensvale ahead of the Commonwealth Games. The extension opened on December 17, more than three months before the Games began.

We campaigned just as hard to secure funding upgrades on the M1 from Brisbane to Tugun.

After years of campaigning with reports highlighting both the dangers and economic cost caused by congestion on the M1, the State Government finally agreed last month to a 50-50 funding split with the Turnbull Government to fix the highway.

The M1 will be widened between Varsity Lakes and Tugun from four to six lanes, with a new off-ramp built in the northbound lanes to connect with South port Bur leigh Rd. The Brisbane stretch between Eight Mile Plains and Daisy Hill will be widened from six lanes to eight.

Work is under way to widen the M1 from four to six lanes between Mudgeeraba and Varsity Lakes, and the further upgrades will start after that project winds down in 2020.

But fixing the M1 and transport congestion is not enough.

The Gold Coast Bulletin is determined to ensure this city’s bright future, and our ‘Golden Age’ campaign will deliver on that.

A ferry service, upgrades to the Gold Coast Convention and Exhibition Centre, expansion of the Gold Coast Airport, new tourist attractions – all these potential projects are put to a vote of readers.

Your concerns about crime, need for new schools and health services, are also rated.

The timing for the series could not be more perfect.

Several councillors have been calling on ratepayers to put forward a list of potential projects which require investigation and possible investment.

Several tourism leaders in the past week have made submissions at City Hall calling for more money from the budget to be allocated to promoting the city to ensure there is no Commonwealth Games “hangover”.

Tourism increased by eight per cent last year and while confidence remains high, we cannot remain complacent as the city grows around us.

The time to champion this city’s strengths and secure our Golden Age is now.