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Daily Telegraph
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Telegraph
‘We won't wait': Brutal reality of life without light rail for Palm Beach
Don't miss out on the headlines from Gold Coast. Followed categories will be added to My News. Mayor Tom Tate warns council will dig up the southern stretch of the Gold Coast Highway to the border for critical infrastructure work, regardless of whether the light rail proceeds. Worn-out underground infrastructure, including pipes, must be replaced in the next few years in Palm Beach, Currumbin and Tugun, he says, something that had been planned to occur during construction of the multi-billion dollar tram extension to the Gold Coast Airport. Artist impression of Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 between Tugun and Coolangatta, including Gold Coast Airport and the NSW border. Picture: Department of Transport and Main Roads. But with the project's future in doubt and under State Government review, city leaders have used Friday's council budget to underline the critical need for the tram to be built promptly, saying even a delay until after the 2032 Olympics would force the roads to be dug up twice – once for the pipes and again years later for the light rail Mr Tate followed his budget speech by urging the state government to back in the trams, saying he didn't want to have to perform a 'double-bypass' on the heart of Palm Beach. 'While the state government does their review and consultation, we need to continue planning for underground infrastructure upgrades along the southern end of the Gold Coast no matter what and there is $10m already allocated for (upgrades to) kilometres and kilometres of water pipes, sewer pipes, storm water pipes under the highway,' he said. 'If the (state) report comes back that we have to move and the state wants to delay light rail Stage 4, we won't wait (because) we will have to go and rectify (the) sewer and water now. Mayor Tom Tate and Deputy Mayor Mark Hammel discussing the budget. Picture: Andrew Potts 'It means you've got to dig it up twice, double expenditure and the pain of opening the roads up in Palm Beach and that's what (critics) don't understand.' Council committed $13.8m to progressing light rail Stage 4 in its 2024-25 budget last year but did not list specific new funding for it in this year's budget. However, budget documents do list progressing the business case on the project as a key action for improving connectivity in the city the next financial year, subject to state government approval. The long-planned light rail stage 4 from Burleigh Heads to the border via the airport has paused as the new state government kept its pre-election promise to review the route and perform community consultation, which closed in early May. It is not known when the results of this will be released. Business leaders across the city have backed the extension as essential as the Gold Coast population soars. Artist impression of Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 between Tugun and Coolangatta, including Gold Coast Airport and the NSW border. Picture: Department of Transport and Main Roads. Deputy Mayor and city planning boss Mark Hammel said delays and uncertainty around the future of stage 4 were having a serious knock-on effect on the council's own planning for transport infrastructure for the future. 'It's the state government that sets the regional plans projections of the city's future population and it also sets projection of where they expect most that population to be and the coastal strip from Paradise Point to Coolangatta is where the largest proportion of this city's future population will go, light rail or no light rail,' he said. 'We're looking to make investments in infrastructure to support that population growth and the investment the state government needs to make is in public transport to allow that sustainable growth to occur down there, so it is a concern. 'They need to come through with investment in public transport and while Stage 4 is the next (element), that's not the end of it – it's just the next (piece) in a series of projects to deliver the city's long-term public transport network with the heavy rail and the light rail as the two spines connected by east-west links. 'The frustration is the longer we delay this next stage, we waste precious time and energy and increasing costs to see it delivered with every year goes by. 'That's also having an effect on those east-west connections which open up other opportunities for not just population growth but connecting the entire city to high frequency public transport.' It comes weeks after an 'Enterprising City' report, by KPMG, underlined the critical role of light rail in the city's future as it looked forward to 2030 and the city's economy as it evolves from a tourism town to a modern metropolis. 'Longer term, stage 4 of the light rail from Burleigh to the Airport and investments related to the 2032 Olympic Games will further enhance the Gold Coast's attractiveness,' it reads. 'The Gold Coast has always had an unbeatable lifestyle, but the continued creation of highly-skilled jobs and investment in world-class infrastructure truly makes it a global city.' Originally published as Gold Coast light rail Stage 4: Brutal reality of life without tram extension to Coolangatta via Gold Coast Airport
Perth Now
21-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Schapelle Corby spotted hugging mystery man at airport
Schapelle Corby has been spotted dropping off a mystery man at an Australian airport, hugging him goodbye. The convicted drug smuggler turned clockmaker was photographed at the Gold Coast Airport wishing an unknown man safe travels as he prepared for a flight. The 47-year-old dressed casually in a loose, faded black hooded shirt and a pair of leggings. She added an olive-toned bucket hat and a pair of sneakers and appeared to go make-up free. Corby hugged her male friend before he set off with a large black duffel bag. It comes after Corby left social media followers pondering over engagement rumours while celebrating her birthday in Paris in 2024. In a photo posted to Instagram, Corby posed in a beret in front of the Eiffel Tower, with a sparkling ring on what seemed to be her ring finger. Schapelle Corby and a mystery man embrace. Credit: NARI / BACKGRID Her fans soon spotted the piece of jewellery and questioned if she was getting married. However, it was made apparent that the image Corby shared had been flipped in an editing app and the ring was actually on her right hand. Proof that the photo had been flipped pointed to the Olympic rings in the background as the order they are in was around the wrong way. Corby has been single for sometime after she split from her Indonesian boyfriend Ben Panangian in 2020 after 16 years together. The couple met in a Bali prison in 2006 when they were both serving time for drug-related offences but had not seen each other in person since 2019. Corby was imprisoned for nine years after she was caught attempting to smuggle 4.2kg cannabis into Indonesia in October 2004. Following her release, she has made a new life for herself making a living as a clockmaker and also appeared on a season of SAS Australia.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Man is accused of gross act on flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast
A man has faced court after allegedly touching a woman on her leg and putting his hands in her food while on a flight. The 41-year-old allegedly placed his hand on the inner thigh of a female passenger several times on a flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast on February 4. The Australian Federal Police (AFP) also alleged he stuck his hands in her food. Officers arrested the man at Gold Coast Airport upon arrival. They charged him with a single count of an act of indecency. If found guilty, the man faces a maximum penalty of seven years' imprisonment. He appeared before Southport Magistrates' Court on Monday. AFP Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said all travellers had the right to feel safe during their journey and should not be subjected to criminal behaviour. 'When travelling through an airport and on a plane, people are bound by Australian law,' Det Supt Moller said. 'Where there is evidence someone has committed a criminal offence, the AFP will take action. 'This incident should serve as a reminder to the community that authorities will not tolerate indecent behaviour at our airports or on aircraft.'
New York Post
19-05-2025
- New York Post
Man charged after allegedly touching passenger, their food on plane
A man accused of touching a female passenger and sticking his hands in her food on a Gold Coast-bound flight will face court on Monday. It will be alleged the 41-year-old targeted the woman while on an evening flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast on February 4. Advertisement The man allegedly put his hand on the woman's inner thigh several times during the flight, then stuck his hands in her food, the Australian Federal Police (AFP) say. Police arrested the man when the flight touched down at Gold Coast Airport. The man allegedly put his hand on the woman's inner thigh several times during the flight. lightpoet – He was charged with one count of an act of indecency, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years' jail. Advertisement The Gold Coast man is due to appear in Southport Magistrates Court on Monday. AFP Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said all travelers had the right to feel safe during their journey. The man also allegedly stuck his hands in her food. Chalabala – Advertisement 'When travelling through an airport and on a plane, people are bound by Australian law and, where there is evidence someone has committed an (alleged) criminal offense, the AFP will take action,' Superintendent Moller said. 'This (alleged) incident should serve as a reminder to the community that authorities will not tolerate indecent behavior at our airports or on aircraft.' Anyone needing a police presence at an airport or wanting to report an incident should call the AFP's Airport Watch on 131 237.
7NEWS
19-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Man charged with indecent assault on domestic flight from Sydney to Gold Coast
A man has been charged after indecently assaulting a woman and engaging in bizarre behaviour on a flight earlier this year. The alleged incident took place on a flight from Sydney to the Gold Coast on February 4, according to the Australian Federal Police. A 41-year-old man allegedly placed his hand on the inner thigh of a female passenger a number of times and stuck his hands in her food. He was arrested at Gold Coast Airport and charged with an indecent act. The man faces up to seven years in prison. Australian Federal Police Detective Superintendent Scott Moller said everyone had the right to feel safe during their travels. 'When travelling through an airport and on a plane, people are bound by Australian law and, where there is evidence someone has committed a criminal offence, the AFP will take action,' he said. 'This incident should serve as a reminder to the community that authorities will not tolerate indecent behaviour at our airports or on aircraft.' The man is due to appear before Southport Magistrates Court on Monday.
