Rail a terminal solution

Trams among plans to beat Spit cruise ship gridlock

LIGHT rail has resurfaced as the solution to gridlock that could be created at Main Beach by a proposed oceanside cruise ship terminal.

Residents are opposed and several councillors concerned that the city council’s transport budget will be plunged into improving roads and bridges around the planned terminal at Philip Park opposite Sea World.

A consultant’s report to the State Government reveals the main intersection leading into Sea World Drive exceeds capacity on busy weekend days “during the warmer months”.

The council has put forward modelling that argues that an additional lane on Sundale Bridge and upgrade of the Gold Coast Highway-Waterways Drive intersection could accommodate 2300 vehicles an hour. And while the council maintains in its business case that an upgrade could handle a 2500-passenger cruise ship drop-off, consultants have looked at a much bigger terminal to handle 4000 tourists on larger ships.

“The Spit master plan consultant team has proposed an alternative light rail arrangement which could reduce the impact of the subject site,” the report said. “It is proposed that a single track only be provided on The Spit except at stations and at the southern end of The Spit. This will require further detailed analysis during the next stages of the master planning process.”

Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer, who opposes the terminal and does not believe it would be commercially feasible, has raised concerns that ratepayers would have to pay for the infrastructure upgrades. In February Mayor Tom Tate promised ratepayers they would not tip in one cent for the building of the terminal.

But Cr Tozer said: “If the Government is the funding source for the required funding solution, then other priority transport projects in the city will be deferred in favour of it.”

He said if the future proponent of a terminal was to build the upgraded roads or light rail, residents should be told how it would “profit” from the project on ratepayer and taxpayer-owned land.

But Cr Tate said it was premature to comment on proposed traffic solutions until the final master plan was signed off.