AIRPORT TOLD TO PAY UP ON TRAM

CITY councillor Hermann Vorster wants the Gold Coast Airport to step up as the “fourth funding partner” to get light rail all the way south.

Cr Vorster has asked city officers about negotiating with the airport to help pay for the tram extensions to the terminal.

“The airport is a forprofit business, and it’s privately owned,” Cr Vorster told colleagues. “To my mind the airport stands to gain commercially by having light rail running through its property and interfacing through its customer base.”

Councillors are likely to debate funding options on Tuesday.

THE Gold Coast Airport will be asked to help fund the southern light rail expansion after plans show the trams arriving at the doorstep of the Coolangatta terminal.

Robina councillor Hermann Vorster, in a council transport committee meeting, asked officers about negotiating with the airport to help pay for infrastructure.

“The airport is a for-profit business, and it’s privately owned,” Cr Vorster told colleagues.

“To my mind the airport stands to gain commercially by having the light rail running through its property and interfacing through its customer base.”

Cr Vorster suggested the airport could be a “fourth funding partner” joining council, the state and federal governments in the final stage of light rail heading south along the Gold Coast Hwy.

Council officers confirmed the Transport and Main Roads Department were “managing the relationship” with the airport but talks had only just begun.

“I think it’s still early days but you’re right. Those conversations would have to happen somehow,” an officer told Cr Vorster.

Cr Vorster said the airport should be making some financial contribution given it would improve profits from more passengers accessing their facility.

“I’m not saying bleed them dry. The cost of bringing infrastructure on their site, to construct platforms, in my mind is most sensibly carried by the airport,” he said.

The airport’s latest master plan, which is being updated, considered forward planning across the next two decades. When it was written, light rail was “anticipated to occur by around 2031”.

The master plan says the light rail travels south along the Gold Coast Hwy and enters the airport just north of the Terminal Drive-Eastern Ave roundabout.

“It is proposed that the station be in front of the arrivals section, in the pedestrian plaza providing connectivity to the rest of the precinct.

“This station location will achieve the most convenient access to the terminal building for passengers with luggage, while providing a venture point for surrounding nonaviation developments, like the SCU (Southern Cross University) or the beach.”

The plan says it is likely the trams will leave the site to the south east towards Coolangatta and Tweed Heads.

“Public bus services and facilities (providing) public bus access to the airport is anticipated to continue to be important into the future,” the report says.

Councillors are likely to debate the light rail funding options when full council meets at Evandale on Tuesday.

Queensland Airports Limited CEO Chris Mills said light rail was a critical project with the potential to deliver significant long-term benefits for the region when once extended all the way to the airport and on to Coolangatta.

“Long-term airport planning continues to allow for light rail connection to the airport precinct.

We look forward to further engagement with the Queensland government regarding design planning for light rail stage 4,” he said.