OUR ORIGINAL “STOP LIGHT RAIL” WEBSITE HAS BEEN RELOCATED from
www.stoplightrail.com.au to
www.stoplightrail.comParadise Waters Action Group Inc (PWAG Inc) and the Gold Coast Public Transport Alliance (GCPTA) jointly operate this new site and apologize for any inconvenience to our many website users.
The old site was very recently taken over without notice by a young engineer from Southport Queensland. Website users were then automatically redirected towww.goldcoastrapidtransport.com.au, a pro light rail website run by the Australian Government, Queensland Government, Translink and the Gold Coast City Council.
The person involved was recently in the employ of Queensland Rail. We believe the actions taken may be a deliberate attempt by the three levels of government TO STIFLE FREEDOM OF SPEECH BY OUR VOLUNTARY COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION. We think it likely that person was not acting on his own volition but was prompted by those governments desperate to destabilize our criticism.
(On the morning of 4 March, soon after we spoke with a journalist from the GC Bulletin newspaper, the redirection ceased and the old website appeared inoperative. Nevertheless our investigations into possible government encouragement, inducements and benefits to the person directly involved will continue.)
As users can see, we place importance in properly referencing our data and opinions.
We believe, having never received any such contrary data and verifiable facts from those three layers of government, that they are frustrated by the untenable position they now occupy. Their responses are simply qualitative platitudes yet they think they can drive on with the project.
So what have they been up to recently?
They have all insisted on being equity partners so they can share the spoils of Gold Coast Light Rail. They’ve got to be kidding! As even the Mayor Ron Clarke remarked, such infrastructure projects never turn a profit. No Mayor, but as equity partners they are entitled to see all of the accounts and can track who’s getting what out of the project and future operation.
The three equity partners are currently looking for private partners to bear some of the risks.
PRIVATE PARTNERS BEWARE, you may be in for more than you bargained. When this caper comes unstuck, as it surely will, it will cost the private partners a lot. Because governments control legislation, they can change the laws at any stage to zap any unwanted behaviour by the private partners.
The ongoing ham fisted efforts of Translink and the Queensland Government deserve special mention. After years of evaluation they have decided that Stage 2, from Helensvale to Griffith Uni, will go via Harbour Town and Olsen Avenue (rather than the more western route along Smith Street). Twenty properties may have to be resumed – but they haven’t decided which twenty – so they sent out resumption advice to 840 households! Consequently an entire neighbourhood of residents and businesses is in limbo while the ‘highly skilled professionals’ work their way through the problem entirely of their own making. In short, it is the most recent disaster but will be far from the last.
IF YOU LIVE ANYWHERE WITHIN 500m EITHER SIDE OF THE NOMINAL ROUTE FROM HELENSVALE TO COOLANGATTA (and maybe beyond), BE VERY AFRAID because of resumptions, consequent changes to traffic patterns and extreme real estate volatility.
As one of our members remarked,“Do you think we need to be more careful who we elect?”
If you would like to help us convert the governments’ plan to one that will actually benefit Gold Coast residents, businesses and visitors, please contact us byE-mail.
PWAG Inc has today started a newspaper advertising campaign. We aim to inform the people in South East Queensland of the many problems that light rail will create for us all.
This initial phase will concentrate on
1. Irresponsible financial shortcomings
2. Extremely serious safety and security issues.
Our advertisements will quote reputable sources for data presented (unlike the bulldust spread by the authorities).
The Queensland Government has endorsed an American style at-grade system that will kill and maim more people than ever before.
The hypocrisy of that government is manifest when you consider their spin about concern for the rising road toll.
They can talk about saving lives but they are trying to introduce a transport system that is a proven killer.
In the near future we contemplate additional media to
1. Question the social credentials of this aberrant government
2. Pinpoint the financial effects on Gold Coast residents and businesses
3. Satirise the glaring inconsistencies between what the Bligh government says and what it actually does.
4. Continue driving for improved integrated public transport - without the monstrosity of light rail.
If you can help, please contact us byE-mail.
A large and passionate crowd of almost 500 people endured record temperatures on Saturday to attend a public meeting urging the Gold Coast City Council and the Queensland State Government to stop and rethink the proposed Rapid Transit System for the city.
The public meeting, organised by the recently formed Gold Coast Public Transport Alliance (GCPTA), heard presentations from transport experts, local business people and state and local politicians, all criticising the State Government's handling of the project and its lack of proper community consultation.
Member for Surfer's Paradise, John-Paul Langbroek, Mayor Ron Clarke, local councillors Dawn Crichlow and Susie Douglas, Ian Solomon from the Southport Chamber of Commerce and mayoral aspirant Tom Tate all spoke and endorsed bus transport as the preferred option for the system, saying light rail would be far too expensive and disruptive to the city.
Councillor Rob Molhoek was the only speaker who supported light rail as the preferred option amidst the agitated pro bus transport crowd.
GCPTA spokesperson Kevin Cooke, who also spoke at the meeting, said it was very clear from the turnout that there was not only widespread dissatisfaction with the way the project has been handled, but frustration with insufficient consideration of critical information regarding the rapid transit system, creating an overwhelming bias towards light rail.
"We have been kept in the dark and fed misinformation for too long. The large turnout on Saturday demonstrates that Gold Coast residents and the business community demand better consultation," Mr Cooke said.
"It was apparent from many of the speakers that the project has been ill thought through, has no real leadership and that the range of alternatives and options for the route and the type of transportation to be adopted have not been properly investigated."
"So far the proposed route does not take into account any of these issues, even though we have been raising our concerns about them for some time, which has forced us to make ourselves heard through avenues such as public meetings."
Michael Apps, a member of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) Taskforce and executive officer of the Bus Industry Confederation, told the meeting that the city would choke from transport gridlock within 12 years if something wasn't done, with bus rapid transit the best option for the city due to its flexibility and lower capital and operating costs.
"BRT can cost a third less than light rail which is enough to make ratepayers stand up and demand that a more affordable, environmentally friendly and modern public transport option be considered," Mr Apps said.
"The choice is clear - spend billions of dollars on a light rail system that requires unsightly overhead power lines and rail tracks that affects property access and visual amenity, or bring in a more cost effective BRT system that can be phased in and improvements made gradually, making it much more flexible."
Mr Cooke said taking no action was not an option, a proposal put forward by Cr Molhoek in his address to the meeting. Mr Cooke confirmed that a better public transport system serving the needs of the entire city was required through wide spread consultation.
"We are right behind the development of a world-class public transport system for the Gold Coast, however it must service the needs of the entire city, not just a small segment, and must properly consider the potential adverse impacts on local residents, businesses and public land," Mr Cooke said.
"More than $2 million has either been spent or allocated to community consultation on this project, however we hear from the Southport Chamber of Commerce that the current proposal was first floated some nine years ago, and that the planned route is no different to what was proposed back then."
"It beggars belief that so much time and taxpayers money can be spent without adequate consultation which may result in a public transport system with an unsuitable route, a method of transport that is inappropriate and unnecessarily costly, and potentially cause long term damage to many parts of the Gold Coast."
'Stop light rail, Rethink Gold Coast transport' is the message behind the GCPTA, whose growing membership includes the Paradise Waters Action Group Inc, Chevron Island Village Association Inc, Main Beach - Tedder Avenue Association Inc, high rise residential buildings, sporting and social clubs and the Surfers Paradise and Southport Chambers of Commerce.
The GCPTA will continue its campaign to ensure council and State Government consider all viable options for the most cost effective mode of transport via the most suitable route through an ongoing series of meetings and proposals.
