Secret light rail tram property resumption

Southern expansion threatens kindy’s future

A POPULAR community kindergarten is in the path of light rail, fuelling fears it will be demolished when the trams reach the border.

The Bulletin in September last year reported that the final stage of light rail would extend beyond the police station and courthouse at Coolangatta and include nearby properties.

The locations have been kept secret but it can now be confirmed Transport and Main Roads officers met with the Twin Towns Kindergarten directors about a potential relocation.

Currumbin MP Laura Gerber in a Question on Notice to state parliament has asked Transport Minister Mark Bailey what early measures were being taken to secure land.

Mr Bailey’s response confirms Stage 4 preliminary business case planning will be completed by mid-2023.

Early discussions have begun on potential property impacts.

“TMR has spoken with the landowner and met with the management of the Twin Towns Kindergarten in Coolangatta to better understand the kindergarten’s requirements and future business plans,” he said.

“TMR will continue to meet with the kindergarten management to support its appropriate and timely relocation within the Coolangatta community, should GCLR4 progress.”

Mr Bailey has defended the process saying it was important for the Department to talk to property owners but Ms Gerber fears the kindergarten will be lost to families.

“There are families enrolled on the waitlist that are now uncertain and confused about the future of their kindy. If the Minister demolishes the kindy for the light rail, he must guarantee it will be rebuilt in Coolangatta,” she said.

“We don’t want some wishy washy statement that they’ll try down the track. The State government needs to start planning for this now. They need to find the kindy a home and give them some certainty.”

Ms Gerber accused the Government of refusing to extend or reopen community consultation.

“Locals deserve meaningful and genuine consultation, instead they are getting railroaded by a tired third term government that has stopped caring about or listening to our community,” she said.

Mr Bailey said two substantial length community consultations were staged in 2021 and 2022.

“Let’s be clear – light rail Stage four is in the very early planning phase and no decisions about property impacts have been made,” he said.

“The LNP always complain no matter how this process is done, it’s either we talked to people too late, or we talked to them too early but the truth is they just don’t want light rail built, because it’s in their DNA to cut it.

“TMR has already met with the kindergarten management, and we’ve committed to working with the kindergarten to support them through a relocation if it is required.”

Mr Bailey said stage four of light rail had “years to go” before funding would be possible.

Detailed design and construction was unlikely until stage three had been completed in 2025.

“Laura Gerber needs to stop the scaremongering. The fact is, congestion is a growing problem on the southern Gold Coast,” Mr Bailey said.

“But only Labor has a plan to fix it with the $1 billion M1 upgrade from Varsity Lakes to Tugun progressing well, light rail stage three well underway, as well as planning for light rail Stage 4 and heavy rail to the airport.”

Locals deserve meaningful and genuine consultation, instead they are getting railroaded by a tired third term government that has stopped caring about or listening to our community MP LAURA GERBER