REMEMBER WHEN

GOLD COAST BULLETIN Tuesday July 20, 2004

ANOTHER Mayor, another idea to move people around the Gold Coast.

These space-age people pods were Mayor Ron Clarke’s answer to the city’s traffic woes.

Cr Clarke wanted to scrap the light-rail project, which was the baby of his predecessor Gary Baildon, and instead invest in an experimental technology being trialled in Sydney.

To mark his 100th day in office, Mr Clarke unveiled his plans for the elevated peoplemover that was developed by Sydney company Bishop Austrans Ltd.

Mr Clarke says he had already fielded interest from two potential investors and claims that the system would cost ratepayers nothing.

He wanted to initially build an overhead track from Gold Coast Hospital at Southport to Broadbeach, a trip he predicted would take just 12 minutes and cost $2.

Mr Clarke said the people pods were driverless and could carry 18 people at a time — nine sitting, and nine standing.

They could arrive at a station at 15-second intervals and could transport 10,000 people every hour.

He estimated it would cost about $100 million to install, which he said was one-third of the cost of light rail.

“I have spoken to two people who are definitely interested in financing it,” said Mr Clarke.

“We need to make sure it will work properly. It’s in no other country, they’ve only got an experimental one in Sydney but they’re selling them all over the world. We’re in the queue. We have to go down and have a look and make sure we can find a route for them.”