ALL SMILES AS MAYOR RUNS INTO STAUNCH ANTI-LIGHT RAIL CRITIC
MAYOR Tom Tate has come face-to-face with one of his staunchest critics.
But rather than have tomatoes thrown, as he challenged anti-light rail advocates to do in late July, they posed for a quirky selfie.
Nicolle Archer, who has challenged the proposal to extend the light rail south to Gold Coast Airport via Palm
Beach, said her meeting with the Mayor on Wednesday morning was “serendipitous”
“I was in Burleigh for a dental appointment and I saw the media set up at the pavilion. It was funny, I heard the voice and thought ‘I know who that voice belongs to,’ she said.
“I went and asked if I could get a selfie and he was quite friendly. He wasn’t rude at all.
“I have to admire him – he suggested we hand my phone to someone to take the photo to adhere to COVID-safe precautions.
“Someone kindly took our photo.”
Cr Tate was in Burleigh Heads to inspect sand replenishment works.
The Gold Coast Mayor in July urged robust debate between “keyboard warrior”
critics and the entire city as it maps out a preferred route for the final stage of the trams from Burleigh Heads to Gold Coast Airport.
His call for the anti-light rail movement to bring tomatoes – “so I can catch them and throw them back at you” – divided residents.
It comes as Cr Tate and Transport Minister Mark Bailey will on Thursday announce council and the State Government will jointly fund a business case into stage 4 of the tram system, which will run to Coolangatta. Community consultation will be held as part of the study.