Latest on the Light Rail

Southern Gold Coast business owners are aghast at Mayor Tom Tate’s push for light rail to sidestep Palm Beach and its “whingers”, fearing they will miss a huge commercial bump.

Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, says he will end his war with anti-light rail “whingers” in Palm Beach by sidestepping the coastal town all together. Southern towns such as Palm Beach, Currumbin and Tugun will miss out as part of a radical new plan to get the trams to the Gold Coast Airport. The majority of a dozen Palm Beach, Currumbin and Tugun business operators, however, wanted the original track plan to go ahead, running along Gold Coast Highway. Newly opened Palm Beach fish and chip shop Hunky Dory owner Tory Trewhitt said he “can’t wait” for the light rail Stage 4 to Gold Coast Airport to follow the Gold Coast Highway as originally planned.

A fed-up Cr Tate has raised the prospect of light rail Stage 4 turning right on to Nineteenth Avenue after crossing Tallebudgera Creek and skipping Palm Beach and Currumbin. The line would then follow the heavy rail corridor and join up with the airport at Coolangatta. “People in Palm Beach are jumping up and down about the congestion (they think light rail will cause), well then we won’t go to Palm Beach — we’ll chuck a right at Nineteenth Ave. He wants to secure a business case study and community consultation before the October state election.

The State Government wants the light rail to follow the coast through Palm Beach, Currumbin and Tugun. You can see the multiple proposed routes here:

 

Have your say on our forum.

Our Valued
Platinum + Gold Members

These members are highly valued for their contribution to the
Southern Gold Coast Chamber.

LJ Hooker Commercial Southern Gold Coast Depth Financial Advice The Events Agency Queensland Airports Limited ATCO STRUCTURES AND LOGISTICS Rachel Daphne Coaching GM Advisory Architectus Conrad Gargett BG&E Pty Limited Neumann Group REM BRANDS Southern Cross University The Surf Club Coolangatta SEE Civil Pty Ltd Lee's Environmental RBR Property Consultants Cranfield Group CMW Geosciences Rydges Gold Coast Airport Currumbin RSL Effective Workplace Solutions Norths Collective Trading as Seagulls Club Fotoforce photography Employers Mutual Limited Currumbin Constructions Group To Be Continued The Pines Elanora Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary