Southern traders: Build it and they will come

COOLANGATTA businesses are ready to reap the benefits of a light rail connection – if it ever comes to fruition.

Bureaucratic back-andforth has stalled construction of a tram line from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads and it may not be ready before 2023.

This means a further conGOLD nection to Coolangatta via Gold Coast Airport remains something of a pipedream for now.

“It’s completely unacceptable,” said restaurateur Scott Littler, owner of Choofas Smokehouse & Seafood in Coolangatta.

Mr Littler urged politicians at a state and federal level to “get it built already”.

He said businesses in Coolangatta had been united in their support of the project.

“The rail line is a way to increase the accessibility of Brisbane people to the Coast and now they’ve delayed it. I just find it absolutely bizarre.

“Everyone down here is of the same opinion. People coming from the north are a significant portion of the viability of the businesses on the southern end of the Gold Coast.

“We have a lot of regulars that come down, but we don’t see them during school holidays because the traffic is so bad. The rail system would allow easy access here.”

Ian Grace, vice president of the Greater Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce, said a rail connection to Coolangatta would likely be a boon for business, though some worry about a drop in trade during construction.

In 2016, Gold Coast City Council endorsed planning for Stage 3 of the light rail from Broadbeach South to Coolangatta via Gold Coast Airport. The NSW Government plans to connect to the light rail line from Tweed Heads.