CALL FOR STAGED TRAM EXTENSION
PAUL WESTON, ANDREW POTTS, BRIANNA MORRIS-GRANT
THE extension of light rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh has to be done in stages rather than closing down the precinct for more than a year, a Bulletin election forum has been told.
The election forum, the first of six, was held at the Kurrawa Surf Club for divisions 10 and 12 on Tuesday night.
Division 12, which covers north from Burleigh to Broadbeach, had area councillor Pauline Young and candidates Cathy Osborne, Zac Revere and Scott Turner attend the debate.
Cr Young said she would ask for the construction of the 6.2km track to be done in sections rather than have a stretch of the Gold Coast Highway restricted to traffic for up to two years.
“We don’t want the whole section closed off for two years. We want it done in stages,” Cr Young said.
The city’s chair of the transport committee said she supported light rail being built to the Gold Coast Airport but was opposed to compensation from council to businesses affected by construction of a state-based project.
Ms Osborne said her policy was that businesses should be compensated regardless.
She said she had spoken to business owners and many operators were concerned about losing their retail operation.
“I would say there should be some sort of avenue of redress for them,” she said.
Cr Young said a team of six to eight officers were ready to start work and consult with up to 600 businesses on the rollout of the next section of light rail.
But Ms Osborne said businesses were not confident about the construction of the track.
“They fear the rollout. They hope it is not going to be as bad as what happened in Surfers Paradise,” she said.
Candidate Zac Revere said he had been a strong supporter of the extension of the tram line to the airport.
He admitted he was about “getting the job done rather than being popular”.