No sense to rail delay
Mayor warns a Stage 4 pause would blow out costs
Mayor Tom Tate is warning anti-tram candidates it makes no sense to pause building light rail south to border, saying delays will create huge cost blowouts.
The majority of southern council candidates are opposed to light rail’s extension to the airport – wanting a red light to trams or to push the yellow pause button for a rethink of all public transport options and routes.
The large number of candidates in opposition to the trams was revealed when they were grilled at the Southern Chamber of Commerce breakfast at the Currumbin RSL.
Of the four southern divisional candidates, only sitting Coolangatta councillor Gail O’Neill at Wednesday’s breakfast said she supported light rail’s extension, promising to push for financial support for businesses impacted by construction.
Mr Tate on Thursday said it might sound like an electorally popular move but it made no sense to “pause light rail”.
“Firstly, light rail to the airport and Coolangatta was a project agreed upon by all three tiers of government in 2009,” he said.
“It is a single project being delivered in stages. To pause it is like putting a pause on pregnancy, just before the baby’s delivery date.”
Mr Tate said that council was currently partnering with the state government on design planning for Stage 4.
“As this progresses, the community will be heavily consulted on the final design, route, station locations, streetscaping and parking options.
“This is exactly the same process as Stages 1, 2 and 3. Importantly, any delay in Stage 4 would incur huge cost blowouts.”
The mayor has previously estimated the cost blowout could be as high as $100m.
In February 2022, a deal was finally done to build Stage 3 of light rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh – but it cost $500m more than first thought.
The state government signed the contract for the 6.7km tram extension, after more than 18 months of haggling with builder John Holland Group.
The final cost to build was $1.2bn, up from $1.04bn in 2021 and the $709m originally forecast in 2018.
Mr Tate said there was never a better or cheaper time to build Stage 4 than now.
“If I am re-elected on March 16, I am confident the new council will be well educated on this exciting city-building project, once they have been briefed,” he said. “My strong view is we don’t need a pause. What we need is to have Stage 4 shovel ready once Stage 3 arrives in Burleigh in 2025. That way we will have the entire system in place and operating well before 2032.”