Green heart for new rail bid

Tate flags garden plan

THE Gold Coast will get its own central park near Robina as business owners and residents cautiously welcome plans to send the light rail west.

The transformation of the city’s “green heart” into a large scale botanic garden and a migration of people to suburbs near the M1 are expected to be major spin-offs from plans to extend the trams to the city’s two stadiums at Robina and Carrara.

The Bulletin yesterday revealed the extensions would likely be completed by 2030.

Mayor Tom Tate said the new links, to be completed after extensions to Burliegh and the airport, would have many flow-on effects.

“We are going to see plenty of growth around Robina near the stadium which will finally activate our city’s green heart.

“It is a huge block of land which is under-utilised and we would look at a family park, similar to a botanic gardens.”

The final routes are yet to be determined but are expected to include Christine Ave from Miami to Robina, and to Nerang via Broadbeach-Nerang Rd. They will be the subject of community consultation.

Business owners yesterday said they were cautiously optimistic of the long-term benefits light rail would on the area.

Paddock Bakery owner Chloe Watts said based on the relatively positive effect at Broadbeach, she was hoping for an increase in trade.

“If it brings more people in through our doors, that’s great.

I just hope it doesn’t deter locals,” she said.

“I’m sure it won’t impact us directly, but it will impact parking. Surely they will have to strip the allocated parking (on Christine Avenue) and the area already needs more parking spaces.”

She said the bakery would be opening up more parking behind their cafe.

But Varsity Lakes mother of three Kirra O’Mullanie was less enthusiastic about light rail in her area, particuarly the noise and during construction.

“We’re not allowed to build a fence out (to block noise) ... and I wouldn’t buy a house with the light rail out the front.”

Leading demographer Mark McCrindle said more people would likely move to areas better serviced by public transport and the trams.

“We know from recent public transport infrastructure projects that convenient and easy transport systems speak the language of Australians today and allow for transport nodes,” he said.

“This would mean the light rail would be not just for tourists but for community and day-to-day use and would really connect the growing western parts of the Gold Coast.”