Queensland premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has urged the federal government to ‘get onboard’ and more than double its funding commitment for the next stage of the Gold Coast’s light rail line, after the state committed $351 million of its own money on August 7.
Stage 3A of the Gold Coast’s light rail line, the G:link, will take it seven kilometres further south, from its existing terminus at Broadbeach South to a new one at Burleigh Heads. The new section of line will add eight new stops.
“We’re all aboard, our funding is now on the table,” the premier said. “All we need now is for the federal government to get onboard too.”
Palaszczuk says she expressed the importance of the next stage of light rail in a recent meeting with the prime minister.
“The Reserve Bank of Australia has called on the Morrison Government to boost infrastructure spending to support the national economy,” she said. “Mr Morrison wants shovel ready projects to fund; we’ve got shovel ready projects galore.”
The estimated cost of Stage 3A of the G:link is $709 million. The federal government has so far committed $112 million, but the state wants to see that figure bumped up to $269 million.
“[The funding] the federal government has committed falls well short of a fair funding agreement and is just not good enough for the people of the Gold Coast,” the premier said.
“What we’re asking the Morrison Government to do is commit $269 million to the project which is the same proportion funding arrangement (38 per cent) they invested in Stage 1.
“This next stage is vital to creating even more jobs, connecting the southern Gold Coast to the rest of the line and getting even more people onto public transport.”
State transport minister Mark Bailey said light rail had proven itself worthy of more investment.
“It’s proven itself as not only a huge positive for locals, but also for the tourism industry, with visitors from across the world getting onboard,” Bailey said.
“Not only has Gold Coast Light Rail revolutionised public transport on the coast it’s also been a major job-creating project which is great boost for the local economy. I know [Gold Coast] Mayor [Tom] Tate is committed to getting this project built, and the City of the Gold Coast has committed to providing its fair share.
“If we can get a fair deal from Canberra, we can get on with it.”