about

Save Our Southern Gold Coast mission statement, objectives, and vision.

Five main objectives & ten reasons to oppose Light Rail.

SOSBA is a non- for-profit volunteer organisation branding itself as voice of reason with information based on researched evidence and data from a highly qualified academic committee made up of Environmental scientists, Economic doctorates, Indigenous Leaders, Engineers, Town Planners and IT & social media influencers, business advisers and community leaders.

SOSGC Mission Statement is Building resilience in a rapidly changing environment.

Presenting the State Government, Council, and the public with better modern methods of public transport based on factual evidence and data for appropriate development and a sustainable future.

Our three main objectives are:

1. Stopping the Light Rail on the Southern Gold Coast highway in preference to modern technology such as solar electric and hydrogen buses that will service and connect both community and business.

2. Preserve and protect Environment, Cultural Heritage and natural attributes that are uniquely Southern Gold Coast which attract tourism and maintain the Community spirit.

3. Convince both Federal and State Government to invest in the continuation of the heavy rail on the M1 from Varsity to the Airport.

4. By advocating to the State Government and Council to adopt modern public bus transport on the Southern Gold Coast Highway rather than light rail and push for the continuation of the Heavy Rail from Varsity to the Airport on the M1 stating there is no need for a Light Rail corridor from Burleigh to Coolangatta.

5. Save the cost, save the environment, save the social impact by adopting these clear-cut objectives to pave the way for a better Southern Gold Coast future by reinvesting in a better plan of beautification, more bikeways, pathways, eco and foot bridges for healthier impact on carbon footprint.  

Reasons we object to the Light Rail on Southern Gold Coast Highway:

1. Environmental devastation of Burleigh Headland and impact of wildlife due to 12 metre cut from Burleigh Headland to Tallebudgera and the visual impact.

2. Cultural and Heritage impact on Jellurgal and the sacred sites of Tallebudgera Creek and 5,000-year-old fish traps.

3. Construction of extra bridge on Tallebudgera Creek for Light Rail East of existing Tallebudgera Bridge causing environmental damage, destroying marine habitat and resumption of property.

4. Narrowing of Gold Coast Highway at Palm Beach into one lane further adding congestion to Gold Coast highway and creating further traffic on Palm Beach back streets to avoid congestion.

5. Adverse obstruction to existing business on Gold Coast Highway and other Palm Beach business during construction and post light rail without adequate car parks already stretched to the limit.

6. Bankrupt small business not adequately compensated from lack of business during construction. Examples of Southport, Surfers Paradise, and Broadbeach in Stage 1 & 2 of Light Rail construction.

7. Noise pollution for business and residence examples from Southport and Surfers Paradise.

8. Environmental and marine habitat damage to Currumbin Creek and impact on social amenity on both sides of Currumbin Bridge. Evacuation cuts through Currumbin hill and Currumbin/Tugun Hill changing the character and the charm of the natural attraction.

9. Overdevelopment and overcrowding prompted by Light Rail that promotes unsustainable High Rise Density development. 800 metres on either side of light rail allows for no height restrictions on the Town Plan for High Rise development.

10. Sacred sites at Tugun and challenge of Native title.

Rather than commit to the carnage and disruption to the Southern Gold Coast way of life, why not embrace its biodiversity and cultural significance with investment in a beautification program of enhancing more open spaces, encourage modern modes of public transport and cherish what we have and build on that, “not destroy what we came to enjoy.”

This is a better way of doing this at a fraction of the cost.

Stage 1 & 2 of Light Rail lost money and was way under budget. 

Stage 3 is estimated to be $1.2 billion dollars which is slightly less than combined cost of stage 1 &2, but it does not account for blow out costs despite Fed, State & Council funding, and it is still way under budget.

Stage 4 is far more complicated and far more costly that will run into billions of dollars.

There is a better way to connect tourists and locals alike without the added costs and carnage that stage 3 & stage 4 will result in.

Financially the light rail network does not stack up and is not based on participatory numbers, more on KPI’s of its contractors.

The Jacobs report is a glossy marketing brochure lacking detail on important issues and concerns relating to environment, cultural heritage, business disruption, traffic congestion, social amenity and does not justify why there is such a need to build to the route to Coolangatta when there are better transport options for a fraction of the cost. Put bluntly this is not a well thought out plan especially considering the 2032 Olympics where sporting stadiums at Metricon and Carrara likely GC Olympic venues are not connected. Surely considering the 2032 Olympics this would be more of a priority and extending the Heavy Rail on the M1 to link up both Brisbane and Gold Coast Airports. 

Here is the Government and Councils chance to stand up for the Southern Gold Coast which is The Jewel in the Crown of the Coast and learn from the mistakes of the Northern Gold Coast. 

It is not late to reconsider and build a better public transport for all. Retain the Southern Gold Coast in all its charm and natural attraction without uprooting the community and its existing amenity, saving money, and investing in a more sustainable future with its natural appeal.  

SOSGC Team
07/07/2021