Tate set to head for border
Fourth-term Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate says he’s more enthusiastic than ever about extending the light rail to the border, telling critics he has “a mandate”.
Light Rail Stage 4, from Burleigh Heads to the border via Gold Coast Airport, is one of the city’s most contentious issues, as the state government continues to review the business case for the project.
Critics have called for a halt to the proposal in the wake of March’s election result, which saw Mr Tate record less support in southern suburbs where the route will go. Pro-light rail councillor Gail O’Neill only just hung on to office after suffering a double-digit swing against her.
The Mayor said both he and Ms O’Neill had a mandate to deliver on the multibilliondollar project. “That’s what democracy is all about and now the election is over, the people who have the seat at the table get to have their say,” he said.
“I ran heavily on light rail all the way to the airport at Coolangatta and I beat my closest opponent by 100,000 votes, so that’s a mandate for a wholeof-city project.
“My enthusiasm for public transport remains on track.”
Mr Tate proposed in March that the state government and council push forward with Light Rail Stage 4 to the border initially without federal funds in an attempt to fast-track construction.
While the detailed business case will be completed in mid-2025, just months before construction of Stage 3 between Broadbeach and Burleigh comes online, Mr Tate wants to get the ball in motion to fund at least some parts of the work between Burleigh Heads and the border to ensure its completion by 2030.
Sources have previously told the Bulletin funding for the project would need to be locked in from all three levels of government by the end of 2025 to allow construction to begin in 2026 or early 2027 before being completed in 2030, enabling trams to be tested and bedded-in before Olympic Games.
A spokeswoman for state Transport Minster Bart Mellish last month confirmed the extension was under active consideration.
“A preliminary evaluation (also known as preliminary business case) for Light Rail Stage 4 – from Burleigh to Coolangatta – was completed in June 2023, following community consultation in 2020, 2021 and 2022,” she said. “This evaluation is currently with the Department of Transport and Main Roads for review.
“We know there are a wide range of opinions about extending the 2032 light rail to the NSW border, and there will be further planning, including public consultation, before any decision is made to proceed to a detailed business case.”
It will have 15 stations between Burleigh and the border, two new bridges and a wildlife overpass. The bridges across Tallebudgera and Currumbin creeks are understood to be among the most challenging aspects of Stage 4.
Anti-tram activists oppose the location of the bridges, warning they will have a significant and negative impact on the environment.