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LIGHT rail operator GoldLinQ will co-operate with the business community to minimise disruption during the Gold Coast Rapid Transit’s (GCRT) construction.
Letterbox drops, individual visits and information online will all help businesses find out how works might affect them, says GoldLinQ CEO Phil Mumford (pictured).
“We’re facing tough times. What’s important is we communicate with those businesses, understand what their issues are and monitor and change those impacts to get them through (this),” says Mumford.
Geotechnical surveys are underway but when construction begins at Parklands Drive, Southport next March, works will be limited to small sections on weekdays, from 6am to 6pm.
Local contractors will be used and construction carefully scheduled around the annual GC 600 V8 Supercar race, Schoolies and other major events.
“We have to stay out of the area during holiday and V8 events; we are not able to be on the network during the V8 and Schoolies events. (Our) zero harm (policy) covers passenger safety, community safety and environmental safety,” says Mumford.
When complete in October 2013, the GCRT will have 16 stations, 14 trams, five bridges and up to 200 employees. Trams will be bidirectional and carry up to 86 seated and 229 standing passengers.
A trip from Griffith University to Cavill Avenue in Surfers Paradise will take 25 minutes and 37 minutes to reach the end of the line at Broadbeach.
Translink will manage ticketing and fareevasion monitoring services. Mumford says the GCRT will not suffer the same fate as Brisbane’s Clem Jones Tunnel.
“People didn’t see value of it (paying the toll) – that’s why they didn’t travel on it. It was too dear and, in my opinion, the Airport Link project is going to suffer a similar fate,” he says.
Mumford is confident about meeting his key performance indicator (KPI) targets, despite the risk of losing income. “(I will be assessed on) cleanliness, having the right number of trains, sticking to the schedule, customer service standards and workplace safety standards. I’m happy to have a KPI regime and I’m a firm believer that anything measured is done,” he says.
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