Light rail works to begin by Christmas

MAJOR light rail works between Broadbeach and Burleigh are on track to start before Christmas with the majority of businesses supportive, according to internal council briefing notes.

Councillors at a transport meeting next Tuesday will receive a briefing from council officers on light rail stage three, which outlines the result of community consultation.

While the report provides a positive spin on trams heading south, Mermaid Beach MP Ray Stevens in state parliament said it is creating a “sardine city”.

At least 26,000 newsletters had been delivered to corridor businesses and residents and contractors John Holland had doorknocked traders in the area and invited them to fill out questionnaire.

“Business sentiment majority positive or neutral,” the officers said, in their report.

Mr Stevens in parliament admitted Stages 1 and 2 of light rail were “a popular addition to public transport opportunities” on the Coast – but he called on the government to set proper building densities around it.

“However, that popularity is for one thing and one thing only. It is for its use as public transport,” Mr Stevens said.

“What our political leaders and private proponents aren’t admitting is that it is being used as a development density multiplier enabler to see more high-rise density built along the light rail corridor.”

Mr Stevens said the government determines the densities under the South East Queensland Regional Plan and the only area on the Coast that fits public transport requirements for increased population was along the light rail corridor.

“If the Gold Coast Council doesn’t agree with these increased densities for the construction industry, which is the second biggest employer on the Gold Coast, the state government will not approve the Gold Coast City Planning documents,” he said.

“The main objections, I believe, to Light Rail 3 and the proposed Light Rail 4 come from residents opposed to turning the Gold Coast into a sardine city.”