STAR VS GOVT
FIGHT OVER ACCESS ROAD
THE Star is fighting a State Government decision to close off a key road intersection for its Gold Coast casino, saying it will cost $14 million and add 22 million extra kilometres to trips each year.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads made the decision on June 29 to close the right turning lane from Casino Dr on to Hooker Blvd with the left-turn lane open temporarily.
The intersection has been described as one of the city’s most notorious and is known for red light running.
TMR’s decision follows calls by veteran Gold Coast MP Ray Stevens to curtail the right-turn option after warning there would be a fatality if something wasn’t done.
Star, in an appeal filed on September 3 to the Planning and Environment Court in Brisbane by its lawyers from HWL Ebsworth, said the closure would result in more crashes by rerouting traffic on to roads less able to accept heavy traffic such as Sunshine Blvd.
Star does not object to removing the left-turn lane.
Star’s lawyers said the TMR decision was unreasonable because the intersection did not have a “critically high crash rate and is, therefore, not unsafe”.
The appeal says the lane closure would result in an increase in “casualty crashes” on nearby roads and would not lead to fewer crashes.
Star’s lawyers argue it would increase kilometres travelled by motorists in the area by 22 million a year and add 4000 tonnes of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.
It also says it would cost the Gold Coast community between $13 million and $14 million a year in additional travel time.
It would also negatively impact traffic to and from the casino as well as construction of the Dorsett tower currently under way.
Star is asking the court to set aside the TMR decision and retain the right-turning lane while relocating traffic lights and realigning the lane for a more “perpendicular” approach to the road.
It says these measures and others would be a preferable solution.
A Star spokesman on Wednesday said: “We’re in the appeals process and have no comment to make at this time.”
TMR did not respond to Bulletin questions by deadline.
The matter will return to court in November.
The dispute comes as The Star seeks to recover from the shutdown of its Gold Coast operation on March 23 due to the spread of the coronavirus.
The company, which also has casinos in Brisbane and Sydney, reported in August a full-year loss of $95 million.
However, it said since reopening gaming revenue was showing positive signs of improving and was down 20 per cent in July compared to the same time last year and on reduced capacity.
Star is building the 53-storey Dorsett hotel and residential apartments tower, which is scheduled for completion by 2022. It is the first of five towers planned for Broadbeach Island.