Want to STOP LIGHT RAIL
down the Gold Coast Highway? Then it's time to be heard!
Time to consider how much will you
sacrifice for "a tram to Tugun"?
TMR TELLS US THEY WILL LISTEN,
SO LET'S MAKE SURE THEY HEAR WHAT WE HAVE TO SAY!
Community Consultation - now closed however we're not finished!
What exactly is QLD TMR actually offering the residents of Burleigh to Tugun?
A TRAM TO THE AIRPORT!
Is it worth what we will sacrifice?
Take all the window dressing out of the attractive, visual promises, ‘possible’ ocean walks, ‘possible’ boulevards, ‘possible’ cycle ways, 'possible' native animals overhead safety bridge, ('possible' but not probable) and at the end of the day what have we lost in exchange for a tram?
Will it get you to work? Save you driving the kids to school? Get you to the shops, medical services?
Will you give up your car because Light Rail down the Gold Coast Highway will get you where you need to go?
No it's not pretty. No it's not rapid transport, top speed due to the urban environment of pedestrians, intersections, number of stops it can never exceed 25kms per hour. Why? Simply too heavy, takes too long to stop.
TMR proposed Light Rail is planned to run the east (ocean) side of the existing Tallebudgera Bridge - extra width required is approximately 20 metres plus cycle and pedestrian lane.
From months of research and listening to the community S.T.A.R. already knows the ‘ISSUES’ and ‘IMPACTS” are many.
Traffic congestion, little or NO parking anywhere along the highway or near the creeks and beaches; TWO lane traffic reduced to ONE will force overflow onto surrounding residential streets; undermined livability, cause environmental destruction, undesirable visual impact, cultural and heritage factors just to name a few.
We implore, in fact we demand State Government TMR try harder. Is this the best they can do? ONE solution, a tram to the airport straight down the Gold Coast Highway robbing the community of valuable parking and access to the street front shops and retailers?
A solution that fails to deliver what the majority of residents want and need - rapid, seamless, affordable, flexible transport that moves us all to where we need to go.
There are alternative solutions
If there has to be a light rail to the airport then take it where it will do the most good.
1) CHANGE THE LIGHT RAIL ROUTE. S.T.A.R. has suggested 3 and there have been several more appear in the media.
2) CHANGE THE MODE – high grade, modern technology abounds from electric buses, no fixed rail, far less expensive, flexible and faster, yes faster just ask the Brisbane City Council, they seem to prefer Electric buses to anything else.
VIABLE ALTERNATE ROUTES utilising the existing M1 corridor.
If the government of the day are constrained and locked in by PPP contracts costing millions to get out of then let’s investigate alternate routes that better serve the wider community, less destructive, saves our renowned pristine environment like Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creeks and recreational areas. TMR tell us alternatives have been investigated but to date have not disclosed the research and finding conducted on what alternatives were even considered.
MODES - electric/hydrogen/solar buses, trackless trams are a few examples. E.g., an electric bus that runs completely on solar-generated power with a range of 300klm on one charge hit the streets of Brisbane in April. Why have these solutions not been offered to our community? Mr Bailey was quoted as saying “Under our plan, every new bus that is added to the state’s fleet of urban buses in south-east Queensland from 2025 will be a zero-emissions bus.” So why can’t we embrace this technology here on the Gold Coast in place of the light rail?
Via Bermuda route
Via West Burleigh route
Via Varsity route
THE INNOVATION OF TOMORROW IS HERE TODAY! WHY NOT ON THE GOLD COAST? CHEAPER, FASTER, BETTER!
Brisbane Metro - new electric buses
Each with a capacity of 150 people - will run across 21 kilometres of existing busway every three minutes during peak hour. They will be 24 metres long and split into three carriages.
The University of Queensland will add two hydrogen fuel cell buses to its fleet by 2022, expected to be the first of their kind in the state.
Local officials in many urban areas have become smitten with the hope that “light rail” will provide the solution to urban transportation problems. This dream is based on myths, and will be rudely shattered when the realities reassert themselves.