Voters on the line with trams

THREE McPherson voters offered contrasting views on the light rail passing through their backyard at pre-polling on Tuesday.

Liberal voter Norman Ford said “the minority needs to stop bellowing all their bulls**t about the light rail”.

“It’s progress. We are living in a metropolis now,” he said outside the Fradgley Hall pre-poll centre in Burleigh.

“When are people going to get it through their heads that it (the city) isn’t a sleepy little beach bum town anymore.”

Mr Ford (left) said he was “surprised” Karen Andrews had

backflipped on light rail going coastal through Palm Beach, but said “you’ve got to do what you have to do to get votes”. He said he voted to “choose what’s best for Australia”.

Colourful Burleigh identity David Hill said the light rail was a “bit redundant” and he wanted heavy rail extended from Varsity Lakes to Gold Coast Airport. “I just don’t think there’s a need. The system is quite limited in where it can go.”

Mr Hill also said he preferred the bus system: “I can catch one every eight minutes to go wherever I need and it’s very efficient, so why bring something else in?”

Mr Hill said he was voting for One Nation because he was a “Gemini” like leader Pauline Hanson. “I’d love to meet her. She’s a bit of a crackpot like me so I wish her all the best.”

Ross Kirwan said despite “sticking with” Karen Andrews, he was “surprised” she had “changed her tune” on light rail: “I still wouldn’t change my vote because the election is about the country ... My wife and I are for the light rail but we do think it’s going to be tight on construction and budget.”