WHAT YOU SAID
PALM Beach residents say Mayor Tom Tate’s proposed radical new Nineteenth Ave route is “worse” than the original plan to take the light rail south via the coastal Gold Coast Hwy. It was revealed Cr Tate’s proposal to end his war with anti-light rail “whingers” in Palm Beach would sidestep the coastal town altogether.
The Bulletin asked Palm Beach community Facebook members for their thoughts, receiving hundreds of responses.
●Danielle Boddy: “The 19th Ave is worse as it is right near a primary school, near more residents, brings the crime straight to our doors as well as the antisocial behaviour. Why not cut west before Tallebudgera, go past (Burleigh) Stocklands where the road is much better and to the hard (sic) rail on the M1. Seems a no brainer!”
●Another commented: “Most Palm Beach locals actually support the light rail. It’s just the crazy anti-vaxxers who think it will give them coronavirus if it comes near their $5 million dollar beachfront mansions.”
●Jacqueline Worrall said: “Take the light rail from Burleigh Heads out to West Burleigh and/or connect with heavy rail or continue light rail.”
● Eugene Semenikow: “The whingers would have a win but the rest of us and Palm Beach would lose. The whole idea of the light rail plan is to move people quickly and efficiently from the airport to the main Gold Coast accommodation areas. Coming through Palm Beach would allow holiday makers to be dropped off on the way through. These are the very people we want to come visit us here. You whingers came here yourselves once and loved the place and at the time your predecessors (whingers) also didn’t want you here. So now you’re here you want to shut the gate.”
●The West Burleigh proposal already has an existing corridor and would be way cheaper and far less destructive. (The West Burleigh road corridor runs directly south). Please put this alternate proposal to Tom Tate for a response.”
●Another said: “Does he think going west on 19th Ave is ‘sidestepping the coastal town altogether’?” Does he realise Palm Beach goes up to 28th Ave?”
●Steve Hornabrook said: “As far as Tom Tate’s statement goes then I respond by saying, talk is cheap and I wouldn’t believe a word of it until he shows some solid evidence to support a commitment to honour his claim.”