Gold Coast Titans new stadium a possible bottleneck problem
A SPECIAL taskforce has been set up to solve major transport issues that are emerging at the new Robina rugby league stadium.
Serious concerns have been raised about the ability of the rail and bus network to cope with a capacity crowd of 25,000 at the stadium, home of the Gold Coast Titans from 2008.
The Bulletin understands the current rail network can transport 4000 people an hour to and from the rail station, which sits adjacent to the new Skilled Park.
Buses will also be able to bring and take away about 4000 people per hour. There are 600 car parks planned for the stadium, which is ahead of building schedule.
Civic and political leaders have told the Beattie Government it needs to upgrade rail facilities at Robina to cater for big crowds.
A transport management committee has been set up by the Government to tackle the parking and public transport issue, comprising Translink, Queensland Transport, Surfside buses, town planning experts and members of the stadium project team.
Premier Peter Beattie has been urged to become personally involved in fast-tracking the infrastructure. He inspected the ground in September when he announced the naming rights.
Robina state MP Ray Stevens said yesterday the greatest challenge to the success of the Titans was not on the paddock, but off the field.
"The latest research shows that rail will move 4000 people an hour, buses a little less than that and there are 600 car parks," he said.
"You don't have to be a Rhodes Scholar to work out that with a big crowd of say 20,000 or 25,000 it will be a (transport) nightmare.
"People won't go to the footy if it is going to take them two hours to get home. They wouldn't do it when the Seagulls were playing and they won't do it with the Titans.
"I've spoken to the Government and been told it's (a matter for) the Premier's Department. I don't want to see the Titans fail because of a lack of patronage, not because of their on-field deeds, but because people can't be bothered putting up with the hassle of getting home."
He said the city council owned 17ha of land next to the NRL stadium and this should be secured for the future of the Titans.
"The (Townsville) Cowboys have 5000 car parks and people get away well. It works well," he said.
"Suncorp Stadium is unique in that it has a north-south-east rail connector but the Gold Coast is lineal and the rail traffic will be coming from either the north or south.
"The construction of the rail duplication is not scheduled until 2011 but it might be too late by then."
A Queensland Transport spokesman said the department was party to a study being conducted by the Major Sports Facilities Authority, which is looking at all aspects of transport and traffic planning for the new stadium, including public transport (bus and rail), private coaches, taxis and cars.
"Queensland Transport, under TransLink, is separately reviewing the capacity of the bus interchange facilities at Robina Stadium," said the spokesman.
"A report will be made to the Minister on whether or not the facilities need to be upgraded. Queensland Rail is also working with TransLink to work out how best to meet the needs of rail commuters to the stadium, but it is expected this will include extra services before and after matches.
"However, in order to meet future demand on the Gold Coast, the Queensland Government is spending more than $63m building a second track between Helensvale and Robina to cope with the growing demand for rail services between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.
"Completion of this project is due in 2008.
"A further $75m is being spent on the line from Robina to Varsity Lakes.
"The Queensland Government is also boosting seating capacity by more than 50 per cent on the Gold Coast line, with new rail carriages to come online from early next year and then through to 2009.
"The first of these new carriages will be track tested early in the new year. They will create room for an extra 2500 passengers on the Gold Coast line."
Former sport minister Tom Barton has told the city council the best way to move patrons to and from events is to limit the use of cars.
"The number of car parks provided in the area should, therefore, be limited significantly and a public transport strategy developed and implemented that makes travel to the venue simple and direct," he wrote to the council.
Gold Coast Combined Chamber of Commerce president John Preston said the Government was keen to sell the public transport message to footy fans, but it would not work unless they were provided a good service.
"It's a major issue and has always been a concern of ours," said Mr Preston.
"Even the Mudgeeraba interchange is not due for completion until 2008-09."
Robina councillor Jan Grew said the rail and bus network was 'absolutely crucial' to the success of the NRL stadium.
"People want to know they can get in and out of that precinct with little hassle," she said.
"Obviously they are critical issues and I'm sure the Government is properly addressing them."
Titans chairman Paul Broughton said he couldn't comment on transport issues, which were the domain of the State Government.
Gold Coast Bulletin