Trams are running but the Gold Coast's light rail fight is not over

The Gold Coast's latest mass transit system, the light rail, has begun operation after $1.55 billion and four years of construction. Stage 3 connects Broadbeach's shopping area to Burleigh Heads' beaches, with the state government anticipating two million monthly riders. Urban planning consultant Ned Wales, who worked on the project, praised light rail's reliability but highlighted its high cost and the challenges of dealing with outdated infrastructure.

The first stage, a 13-kilometre line from Gold Coast University Hospital to Broadbeach, took three years and $1.61 billion to build. Initially, the 6.7km stage 3 was estimated to cost $709 million. Light rail operator GoldLinQ revealed that 48km of utilities were relocated or upgraded, and 137 power poles were installed for 60 percent of stage 3.

The project disrupted businesses, but some, like vintage clothing shop owner Jess Firkin, reported increased trade. Business owners were urged to take accountability for disruptions. The LNP government cancelled stage 4, which would have connected Burleigh Heads to the airport, citing local opposition and high costs. However, Queensland Labor senator Murray Watt suggested that the stage 4 business case had not been provided, making it impossible to estimate the cost.

The state has left the light rail corridor open for a future government to revive the project. The GC Surfer, a network of larger buses, will carry passengers south of Burleigh Heads, linking inland suburbs that wouldn't have been feasible with light rail. Labor's only Gold Coast MP, Meaghan Scanlon, called the stage 3 launch "bittersweet" but stopped short of committing to stage 4.

She emphasized that the city's hesitation towards public transport must change, as light rail is crucial for efficiency and economic development in major cities worldwide.