RETHINKING HOW WE GET AROUND
WHEN it comes to jumping in my car to go from point A to B, I’m as guilty as the next person. Often, the trip may only be a kilometre down the road to an appointment, on a sunny Gold Coast day. Old habits die hard.
The fact is – we all have to change the way we move about our city as traffic congestion and gridlock isn’t what any of us want.
Like any rapidly growing city, more people typically means more cars. But it doesn’t have to be with our city boasting around 2400km of cycleways and pathways, an evolving water-ferry service, e-bike share schemes and a light rail network spanning 20km (with 7km more being added).
In recent weeks, I’ve read commentary from some keyboard critics who bemoan the low, medium and highrise developments occurring along the light rail spine.
They would prefer one of two options: simply stop approving the developments; or, make people live further away from the coastline.
Firstly, we can’t stop approving developments that meet our City Plan. These developments are welcome given they ease the pressure on housing stock.
And creating urban sprawl by approving more and more pocket suburbs to our west would solve nothing yet wipe out vital green space and ensure that cars would remain the No.1 choice for commuters. No winners in that.
Sensible, well-planned residential developments close to our main public transport network is the smart approach. That way, families with teenage children all wanting a car as they get older have choice. Some family members will take the light rail for their commutes, or the family may carshare. Either way, these decisions will help the environment and take more cars off the road.
Let’s be clear: light rail is not the answer for all residents and that’s why we are partnering with the state government on a massive expansion of public buses across the north. This trial will give us vital data on public transport uptake in the rapidly growing northern area.
Wherever you live, we all need to think of active travel choices – like walking, rapid bus transport, ferries, cycling, carpooling and even autobuses. As mayor, I want to hear directly from Gold Coasters about how they want to shape our transport future.
Consultation is open and the results will shape our future transport strategy out to 2041.
We all live here for the city’s amazing lifestyle and it’s no wonder we’re estimated to grow from 650,000 people to more than one million by 2041. So getting transport right is critical as congestion is the No.1 bug bear I hear as I move about the Coast.
This is not about simply making roads wider or building more carparks. Those solutions sound great but they have to be part of a broader approach.
I believe, as a city, the “shift” has already started. In the second quarter of this year, 21,907 passengers used the HOPO Gold Coast Ferry with April a record month.
During the same period, there were 105,500 trips and 39,700 active riders using the city’s bike share scheme. On top of this, the city’s autonomous shuttle bus trial in Main Beach has seen more than 1300 passengers transported. It’s early days but let’s see where auto-technology can take us – literally.
To me, the future is a mix of technology and behaviour change. This consultation will help deliver a strategy for the future and we need community input to protect the lifestyle that makes the coast a great place to live, work and visit. To view the discussion paper and to have your say, visit gchaveyoursay.com.au/ transport