Southern businesses want trams to aid in economy

The Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce is fully supportive of the Light Rail going to Coolangatta and if it can eventually go beyond that into NSW, then even better.

Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce president Hilary Jacobs said businesses were fully supportive of the trams going to Coolangatta. "The issue of development of Palm Beach is a horse that has already bolted. There were as many as 13 sky cranes on the Palm Beach horizon earlier this year" Ms Jacobs said.

"Palm Beach has already moved from being an area with an overabundance of derelict and land cleared sites, with a reputation for being a haven for the less fortunate in the Gold Coast and the hang out for the Palmy Army. Palm Beach is being gentrified and developed as we watch. This is years ahead of any light rail development, and won’t stop even if light rail doesn’t happen" she said.

The growth of Palm Beach is in anticipation of capturing the increasing tourist dollar and to increase the value of the homes being developed and extended. All of this development has been happening under the current City planning scheme and in the plain sight of each of our Politian’s at all levels. As a cautionary word we’ve already seen businesses which have arrived like Lester and Earl, and gone because there aren’t enough people and tourists to support their businesses. "For Palm Beach locals to enjoy the quality and depth of choice for their leisure that has been growing, they need the tourist to be able to get there and have fun too, to keep the local trade alive" she said.

"The sooner that the real economics of growing and maturing an area are understood and accepted by all, the better".