Mayor’s $540m transport scheme

MORE than half a billion dollars will be spent upgrading the Gold Coast’s transport infrastructure under a proposal put forward by the city’s mayor.

Budget boss Tom Tate will propose a record spend in this year’s council budget to help ease congestion on the city’s roads and fund major projects such as Stage 3A of the light rail.

Just days after warning that the average rates bill could go up by 4 per cent this year, Cr Tate said a greater transport spend could be delivered without forcing charges up beyond inflation.

“I will propose to council that we put $541 million into our transport agenda over the next four years,” he said.

“I will be proposing $165 million this financial year. People will say it is a lot of money but it is required and it is affordable.

“People want us to plan for, and have, a transport strategy into the future because they recognise that beating congestion is vital to maintain the lifestyle we have.

“If we do not plan for this properly, things will get bogged down and I recognise that we have to plan and budget for the future, not just the political cycle like the federal and state governments.”

The Gold Coast City Council is preparing to hold the first of its budget deliberation sessions next week.

The proposed transport projects in the next financial year include:

● $10 million for another lane on Southport’s Sundale Bridge.

● At least $70 million for light rail Stage 3A.

● Funding for maintenance and ongoing running of the Gold Coast ferry service set to launch before Christmas.

Money will also be set aside for the continued construction of the Gold Coast city parklands at Robina and attracting major events following the successful bid to have rock royalty Queen play at Metricon Stadium in February.

Gold Coast North Chamber of Commerce president Martin Brady welcomed the increased road spending and said it was long overdue.

“This is the kind of longterm planning which we have not had with projects like the M1,” he said.

“It provides certainty which is what businesses are looking for when it comes to infrastructure. It is hard to plan if you don’t know what is coming.

“Long-term commitments such as this are welcome rather than the yearly bun fight.”

The council budget will be brought down in late June.