From the GC Bulletin.
THE extension of light rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh has to be done in stages rather than close down the precinct for more than a year, a Bulletin election forum has been told.
The election forum, the first of six, was a sellout with 95 people pre-booking for the debate at the Kurrawa Surf Club for Division 10 and 12 which began at 6 last night.
Division 12, which covers north from Burleigh to Broadbeach, area councillor Pauline Young and candidates Cathy Osborne, Zac Revere and Scott Turner attended the debate.
Councillor Young at the forum last night said she would ask for the construction of the 6.2km track to be done in sections rather than have a stretch of the Gold Coast Highway restricted to traffic for up to two years.
“We don’t want the whole section closed off for two years. We want it done in stages,” Cr Young said.
The city’s chair of the transport committee said she supported light rail being built to the Gold Coast Airport but was opposed to compensation from council to businesses impacted in construction for a state-based project.
Candidate Cathy Osborne told a packed meeting of residents her policy was that businesses should be compensated.
She said she had spoken to business owners and many operators were concerned about losing their retail operation.
“I would say there should be some sort of avenue of redress for them,” she said.
Councillor Young said a team of six to eight officers were ready to start work and consult with up to 600 businesses on the rollout of the next section of light rail.
But Ms Osborne said businesses were not confident about the construction of the track.
“They fear the rollout. They hope it is not going to be as bad as what happened in Surfers Paradise,” she said.
Candidate Zac Revere said he had been a strong supporter of the extension of the trams to the airport. He admitted he was about “getting the job done rather than being popular”.
He said he had spoken to businesses and would introduce a management plan on light rail if elected to office.