The war of words between the State Government and Opposition regarding the future of Burleigh continues.
Labor leader Steven Miles has lashed out at the LNP, claiming their decision to axe Stage Four of the Light Rail in favour of buses will turn the popular beachside suburb into a bus depot.
It also comes amid anger from some businesses in the area, who say they feel like they’ve endured years of construction for nothing and that the suburb could become a transport mess.
Opposition leader Steven Miles says it’s not what the area deserves.
“Their plan effectively turns Burleigh into a giant bus depot… Ballina has the big prawn, Bowen has the big mango, and Burleigh will have the big bus depot,” Mr Miles said.
“Burleigh will become the place that you park to get anywhere else on the Coast via light rail, and rapid buses requires depots and interchanges and dedicated lanes.
He also hit out at Member for Burleigh, Hermann Vorster, claiming he needs to start answering people’s questions.
“He’s got to answer where the depot will be, where the interchange will be, where the buses will stop.
“And the fact is, for it to be in any way practical, the buses need to be near where the tram line terminates.
Vorster has hit back at the Opposition’s claims, declaring they couldn’t be any further from the truth.
“We’re going to deliver the enhanced services that protect our lifestyle and the things that our community have asked for.
“Our transport strategy for the whole of the Gold Coast will now look at things like east-west connections, spur lines and other connections to the Airport… These are things that weren’t on Labor’s radar”.
The local member claims their plan will actually benefit the suburb.
“Our review into public transport locked in protections for the things that make Burleigh beautiful, including our bowls club, national park, memorial park, and talle creek.
“All of these things would have been at risk under Labor’s plans, which is why the community rejected it when they were given the information and asked their opinion”.
