5 years ago
FEDERAL LABOR COMMITS TO GOLD COAST LIGHT RAIL
BILL SHORTEN MP
A Shorten Labor Government would invest $112 million to support the delivery of Stage 3A of the Gold Coast Light Rail project - extending the network from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads.
We would work with the Gold Coast City Council and the Palaszczuk Labor Government to deliver the 6.4 kilometre extension, with construction to create 2,400 jobs and underpin ongoing growth and job creation in Gold Coast tourism.
In 2009 the former Federal Labor Government provided $365 million to deliver the first stage of Gold Coast Light Rail, which was a critical component of the success of last year’s Commonwealth Games.
At the time, the Federal LNP opposed the project, although its MPs have since elbowed each other out of the way to claim credit for this important piece of infrastructure.
Stage 3A will include eight new light rail stations – with people able to travel from Broadbeach South Station to North Burleigh Heads in as little as 16 minutes.
The work will include an upgraded bus interchange at Burleigh Heads and improved infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.
This project will be critical to supporting future growth and revitalisation of the Burleigh Heads and Nobby Beach precincts.
A future Stage 3B of the Light Rail would connect the Light Rail to the Coolangatta Airport.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Labor was committed to backing public transport projects that would make a real difference to the daily lives of Australians.
“The Coalition has been more focused on its internal battles than on delivering the services that make life easier for people,’’ Mr Shorten said.
“We will invest in the rail and road projects that will help people get out of traffic jams and home sooner to their families.’’
Shadow Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said traffic congestion is not only eroding our quality of life, it is also damaging our economy.
“It’s acting as a hand brake on productivity and economic growth,” Mr Albanese said.
“To build a stronger economy we need to reduce traffic congestion right around the nation and supporting better public transport to get cars off the road is a critical part of that.’’
The inaction and neglect of the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government has allowed traffic congestion to worsen over the past five years.
If it is re-elected, the situation will worsen, with analysis by the independent Parliamentary Budget Office warning that Federal infrastructure grants to the states as a percentage of GDP will on current projections halve to 0.2 per cent over the next four years.
We would work with the Gold Coast City Council and the Palaszczuk Labor Government to deliver the 6.4 kilometre extension, with construction to create 2,400 jobs and underpin ongoing growth and job creation in Gold Coast tourism.
In 2009 the former Federal Labor Government provided $365 million to deliver the first stage of Gold Coast Light Rail, which was a critical component of the success of last year’s Commonwealth Games.
At the time, the Federal LNP opposed the project, although its MPs have since elbowed each other out of the way to claim credit for this important piece of infrastructure.
Stage 3A will include eight new light rail stations – with people able to travel from Broadbeach South Station to North Burleigh Heads in as little as 16 minutes.
The work will include an upgraded bus interchange at Burleigh Heads and improved infrastructure for pedestrians and cyclists.
This project will be critical to supporting future growth and revitalisation of the Burleigh Heads and Nobby Beach precincts.
A future Stage 3B of the Light Rail would connect the Light Rail to the Coolangatta Airport.
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Labor was committed to backing public transport projects that would make a real difference to the daily lives of Australians.
“The Coalition has been more focused on its internal battles than on delivering the services that make life easier for people,’’ Mr Shorten said.
“We will invest in the rail and road projects that will help people get out of traffic jams and home sooner to their families.’’
Shadow Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese said traffic congestion is not only eroding our quality of life, it is also damaging our economy.
“It’s acting as a hand brake on productivity and economic growth,” Mr Albanese said.
“To build a stronger economy we need to reduce traffic congestion right around the nation and supporting better public transport to get cars off the road is a critical part of that.’’
The inaction and neglect of the Abbott-Turnbull-Morrison Government has allowed traffic congestion to worsen over the past five years.
If it is re-elected, the situation will worsen, with analysis by the independent Parliamentary Budget Office warning that Federal infrastructure grants to the states as a percentage of GDP will on current projections halve to 0.2 per cent over the next four years.