Gold Coast Flashback: Gold Coast Monorail system extension battle in early 1989
ANDREW POTTS, Gold Coast Bulletin
January 13, 2019 12:00am
THE Gold Coast light rail’s extension south from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads is set to go ahead this year.
The Federal Government has committed $112 million towards the tram extension, which has already got the in-principle support of the State Government and Gold Coast City Council, both of which funded a business case.
Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A artist impression
The business case, completed last year, is expected to lead to a funding agreement from both levels of government in coming months.
The proposal is not without its critics, with some Burleigh residents and those in other southern suburbs fearing the potential impact the tramline will have on their area.
These concerns come 30 years after some Gold Coast businesses opposed the planned monorail system.
Artist impression of proposed Gold Coast Monorail April 1986
The monorail idea was first revealed in April 1986 by the Gold Coast Bulletin which showed off the proposed “H-Bahn” model monorail.
Transport Minister Don Lane revealed that Cabinet had approved a submission for a study into the feasibility of building an H-Bahn.
The initial proposal would have seen the rail travel from The Spit to Broadbeach.
By January 1989 the monorail system was still under consideration by the National Party Government.
Queenslanders got a taste of monorails at Expo 88.
Southport MP Mick Veivers said there was a possibility that a council-owned restaurant could be the only chance of blocking the monorail from heading west up the Southport Mall in Nerang Street.
At the time all proposals were for a defined route running from Sea World to Pacific Fair through the heavily congested Surfers Paradise corridor with extension options.
Southport Mall traders had already called for the restaurant at the Broadwater end of the Mall to be demolished after a Christmas trading period they described as “horrendous”.
MONORAIL’S YEARS OF FUN
Mick Veivers
Mr Veivers said that traders were stuck with a $3.5 million white elephant that would block any chance of the tramline being extended.
He told the Bulletin that he envisaged a people-moving monorail dropping passengers off at the Broadwater carpark before travelling west along Nerang Street but the restaurants location blocked off any chance.
COAST MONORAIL SYSTEM RIDES INTO THE SUNSET
A restaurant in the Southport mall was named as the reason why the monorail could not extend west.
Among those opposed to the monorail extension was Alderman Athol Paterson.
“The mall was designed to allow that possibility but personally I think the mall doesn’t need the sound of a people mover. There are better routes,” he said.
The monorail was approved by the Ahern Government in 1989 before it lost power to Wayne Goss’ Labor Party the same year.
The Broadbeach to Jupiters Casino Monorail was eventually built in lieu of a citywide system. Photo: David Clark
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The Gold Coast Monorail Company was selected as the preferred proponent but discovered several major problems and setbacks at the dawn of the 1990s.
Among them was the new Indy race which began in March 1991 and the technical issues, including the need to deal with 28 separate local authorities from the Gold Coast and Albert councils, Main Roads and Telecom, through to the fire brigade.
The project was ultimately shelved in the early 1990s, ending plans for a widespread monorail system in the city.
Light rail today. Picture Glenn Hampson
Ultimately the Gold Coast light rail was built and opened in 2014 and followed a similar route to the monorail’s plans.
However, while travelling through Southport down Nerang Street it turns and continues on Scarborough Street rather than through the former mall.
The restaurant which was named as halting the monorail extension was demolished in the early 1990s and the mall itself was gone by the end of 1998.
Gold Coast Flashback: Gold Coast Monorail system extension battle in early 1989
ANDREW POTTS, Gold Coast Bulletin
January 13, 2019 12:00am
Subscriber only
THE Gold Coast light rail’s extension south from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads is set to go ahead this year.
The Federal Government has committed $112 million towards the tram extension, which has already got the in-principle support of the State Government and Gold Coast City Council, both of which funded a business case.
Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A artist impression
The business case, completed last year, is expected to lead to a funding agreement from both levels of government in coming months.
The proposal is not without its critics, with some Burleigh residents and those in other southern suburbs fearing the potential impact the tramline will have on their area.
These concerns come 30 years after some Gold Coast businesses opposed the planned monorail system.
Artist impression of proposed Gold Coast Monorail April 1986
The monorail idea was first revealed in April 1986 by the Gold Coast Bulletin which showed off the proposed “H-Bahn” model monorail.
Transport Minister Don Lane revealed that Cabinet had approved a submission for a study into the feasibility of building an H-Bahn.
The initial proposal would have seen the rail travel from The Spit to Broadbeach.
By January 1989 the monorail system was still under consideration by the National Party Government.
Queenslanders got a taste of monorails at Expo 88.
Southport MP Mick Veivers said there was a possibility that a council-owned restaurant could be the only chance of blocking the monorail from heading west up the Southport Mall in Nerang Street.
At the time all proposals were for a defined route running from Sea World to Pacific Fair through the heavily congested Surfers Paradise corridor with extension options.
Southport Mall traders had already called for the restaurant at the Broadwater end of the Mall to be demolished after a Christmas trading period they described as “horrendous”.
MONORAIL’S YEARS OF FUN
Mick Veivers
Mr Veivers said that traders were stuck with a $3.5 million white elephant that would block any chance of the tramline being extended.
He told the Bulletin that he envisaged a people-moving monorail dropping passengers off at the Broadwater carpark before travelling west along Nerang Street but the restaurants location blocked off any chance.
COAST MONORAIL SYSTEM RIDES INTO THE SUNSET
A restaurant in the Southport mall was named as the reason why the monorail could not extend west.
Among those opposed to the monorail extension was Alderman Athol Paterson.
“The mall was designed to allow that possibility but personally I think the mall doesn’t need the sound of a people mover. There are better routes,” he said.
The monorail was approved by the Ahern Government in 1989 before it lost power to Wayne Goss’ Labor Party the same year.
The Broadbeach to Jupiters Casino Monorail was eventually built in lieu of a citywide system. Photo: David Clark
SUBSCRIBE TO THE GOLD COAST BULLETIN FOR JUST $5 A MONTH FOR THE FIRST THREE MONTHS
The Gold Coast Monorail Company was selected as the preferred proponent but discovered several major problems and setbacks at the dawn of the 1990s.
Among them was the new Indy race which began in March 1991 and the technical issues, including the need to deal with 28 separate local authorities from the Gold Coast and Albert councils, Main Roads and Telecom, through to the fire brigade.
The project was ultimately shelved in the early 1990s, ending plans for a widespread monorail system in the city.
Light rail today. Picture Glenn Hampson
Ultimately the Gold Coast light rail was built and opened in 2014 and followed a similar route to the monorail’s plans.
However, while travelling through Southport down Nerang Street it turns and continues on Scarborough Street rather than through the former mall.
The restaurant which was named as halting the monorail extension was demolished in the early 1990s and the mall itself was gone by the end of 1998.COMMENTS
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