GROWTH IMPEDED BY VILLAGE MENTALITY

IN the early days, the Gold Coast grew by way of the Gold Coast highway. A link that brought in tourists and future residents.

The manner of the city’s growth was influenced by its natural diversity, linear geography and political boundaries that generated a culture of distinct village nodes.

We’re all proud to call ourselves Gold Coasters but that village mentality dominates, manifesting itself in a fragmented attitude to development, growth and the implementation of infrastructure. That geography, growth, prior development and village mentality makes the Gold Coast a challenging city to govern.

All these factors have combined generating a focus on the southern route of the light rail and what it will bring. What is perceived as benefits to some becomes an impost on lifestyle to others.

I have never forgotten the apprehension in council when Transport Minister John Mikel told us to make up our minds or he would take the significant state light rail funding elsewhere. The city’s business community offered the minister a solution and the rest became a history of success with almost 13 million passengers using the light rail last year.

Unfortunately, those same arguments that disturbed Minister Mickle still exist today with suggestions of buses, monorails, underground rail and diversions. All were vigorously discussed and dismissed. The light rail offered the best solution based on economy of scale and logistics.

The latest suggestions revolve around a city population cap. This brain snap forces me to consider the parallels between that and the absurdity of holding back the tide. Growth and change are inevitable. If we are to remain relevant as a vibrant city and the tourism capital of the nation, we need the attractions, infrastructure and workforce to support it.

We cannot ignore the benefits of tourism and construction nor the flow-on jobs and economic benefits they bring to other industries, commerce and professions.

So, we come to the light rail, where it should go and the position of the various villages it is proposed to travel through and to. Southern Gold Coast are desperate for it to reach them and possibly beyond to the Tweed. Palm Beach residents would like it to be diverted to Robina to meet up with a further extension of the heavy rail with the latter continuing onto the airport. And the reason? Palm Beach residents are concerned about the proliferation of high-rise development and the obstruction of traffic along the proposed route. They have every right to express their concerns. But are they in the best interests of our city?

Our city looks very different to when I first saw it. In another generation, it will look different again. It’s the result of growth and development. We can be proud of the localised community we live in. It is no different where I live. But we are also a part of a city with an international reputation and reap significant benefits from that. That conglomeration of villages makes us different. it is part of our city’s character but there comes a time when we must consider the whole for the welfare of all.