Mayor sets timetable for funding
GOLD Coast Mayor Tom Tate wants Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to commit an extra $45 million to the third stage of the light rail by 9am today.
The Federal Government and Opposition are under pressure to end the funding impasse, with Gold Coast business and political leaders saying the project is pivotal to the future of major developments such as the Gold Coast Airport upgrade and easing traffic congestion.
The funding stoush between the federal and state governments, as revealed in yesterday’s Gold Coast Bulletin, means work to extend the track is on hold.
Council’s Transport and Infrastructure Committee yesterday voted to lobby the Morrison Government and Shorten Opposition to make a pre-election funding commitment.
Cr Tate sent formal letters to both late yesterday.
The Mayor said the money for the Broadbeach to Burleigh tram link could be sourced from the Federal Government’s recently announced $4 billion Urban Congestion Fund.
“We want bipartisan support for the Gold Coast,” he said. “Don’t take us for granted and do the fair thing by allocating the funding.
“We deserve to have this funding for light rail Stage 3 so we can get it going.”
Cr Tate said he wanted a prompt response from by Mr Morrison and Mr Shorten.
“9am (today) is good – there are not a lot of calculations to do, we just want $45 million.
“Timing is everything and with an election around the corner, I am asking for the one thing which is most important for our city – the transport infrastructure.
“If you are serious about a fair go for the Gold Coast, come out and say we will put forward the additional funding.”
The tram extension was originally costed at $660 million, but has now increased to $741 million.
Both sides of federal politics have pledged $112 million, about 15 per cent of the total cost and far below the 22 per cent put forward for Stage 2.
Labor has not commented while the Coalition has refused to commit the funds.
State Transport Minister Mark Bailey has warned “it will be difficult to make light rail happen” without the Federal Government coughing up more money.
Councillors will hold an emergency meeting next week to determine how much money the City will put towards the project.
Gold Coast City Council is expected to match its Stage 2 commitment of 10 per cent – initially budgeted at $66-72 million but now likely to be $74 million – and the State Government will bear the remaining costs.
Councillors yesterday discussed whether the tram extension would need to be scaled back if all three levels of government failed to agree.
Cr Tate dismissed the talk, saying it would be “foolish” to consider.
“The State Government may delay the project, which would not be good for the Gold Coast or they may cancel the project,” he said.
“I think this has put an additional burden on the State Government and it is unfair on them to have to find an additional $45 million.”
The delay means the tram system would be unlikely to be completed until late 2022 or even early 2023.
A $10 million business case was due to be released in January but the funding standoff means the public is yet to see its full results. Stage 3A will run from Broadbeach South station at Pacific Fair along a 6.4km route to Burleigh Heads and will create up to 2400 jobs during construction.
City leaders say it is an essential step towards a tram connection to Gold Coast Airport and relieving traffic congestion along the coastline.
Queensland Airports chief executive Chris Mills said the light rail was a key plank of multimillion-dollar plans to upgrade Gold Coast Airport.
Gold Coast North Chamber of Commerce president Martin Brady said ongoing delays to the tram system’s construction would have a domino effect and increase congestion.