COUNCIL ROAD RAGE
SEVERAL councillors are concerned today’s council budget will not go far enough in funding traffic congestion busters to ease the city’s gridlock.
Despite Mayor Tom Tate promising a big investment in local roads, at least one councillor is expected to speak out, claiming that more money needs to be spent on feeder roads to the M1 as it undergoes a $2 billion upgrade.
SEVERAL councillors are concerned today’s council budget will not fund enough traffic congestion busters to ease the city’s gridlock.
At least one councillor is expected to speak out, concerned that more money needs to be spent on council feeder roads to the Pacific Motorway as the M1 undergoes a $2 billion upgrade.
Despite divison between councillors, the budget is expected to be passed by a unanimous vote.
Mayor Tom Tate this month said $200 million of developer contributions would be used to upgrade some of the Coast’s most congested roads. Council itself will spend another $110 million.
The funding will cover planning to develop a concept design for a second bridge across the Nerang River to Isle of Capri.
But the Bulletin understands councillors have been divided in closed budget sessions about whether the focus should be on the $34 million bridge project, other major link roads or the cultural precinct.
Hinterland-based councillor Glenn Tozer yesterday said: “I don’t think we’re doing enough for traffic congestion projects given the hard work to establish cash reserves.
“Hinterland residents I’m representing are demanding we do more to improve traffic congestion on council roads feeding into the M1 from Exit 79 south. I’m with them. We can do more with our cash reserves.”
Council built up cash reserves of up to $950 million between 2012-16 and $630 million debt is considered to be in a “sound financial position” to undertake more road works.
Southport councillor Dawn Crichlow said she would prefer funding for the cultural precinct be directed towards major road upgrades.
“My concern is the cultural centre, the amount of money being spent there,” Cr Crichlow said. “I’d rather see the Isle of Capri bridge being done.”
Councillors backed planning for the Isle of Capri bridge upgrade in May last year. Construction was to start early in 2019 and be completed by 2021.
The plan by Mayor Tom Tate was to use funds from the Bruce Bishop Carpark sale to build the bridge and develop the cultural precinct without borrowing more money.
But council is involved in an ongoing legal row with Save Surfers Paradise – a powerful lobby group – which launched Supreme Court action to stop the sale.
The bridge upgrade is a pet project of area councillor Gary Baildon who made an election promise to improve road connections to Surfers Paradise.
Council insiders predict ratepayers will get a better picture in October of the status of many major projects.
“There’s going to be a September budget review. You can be 100 per cent certain that things will be dropped off. They will say you can’t do this, can’t do that,” the source said.