Exploring new light rail links
LIGHT rail links to Robina and Nerang are to be investigated as part of a $7 million business case on the tram’s future.
The yellow and blue GLink trams will travel eastwest to Metricon Stadium and Cbus Super Stadium in the scheme, which will be considered as part of a study jointly funded by the State Government and Gold Coast City Council.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, Transport Minister Mark Bailey and Mayor Tom Tate on Thursday announced $5 million would be spent developing a business case for Stage 4, running between Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta via Gold Coast Airport, with the rest to fund the east-west study.
The State Government’s proposed route to the airport is down the Gold Coast Hwy through Palm Beach, but the results of community consultation will ultimately determine where the tram will travel.
Mr Bailey said Stage 4 would be the last to run along the city’s coastal spine, with focus moving towards improving east-west connections.
“We are at the point where we have a business case happening for the fourth stage, the last of the linear line and with rail being a proven success, we need to better feed into it,” he said. “Nerang is an obvious place, with a line going past Metricon Stadium as well as Robina. Getting to and from big games would be made much easier.”
The east-west transport corridor study will determine short and long-term options, including future light rail spur lines and rapid buses.
It will determine the potential for trams to travel to the stadiums as well as locations of bus stops and stations, and electric vehicle charging requirements and depot infrastructure along the corridors.
The Gold Coast City Council earlier this year began its own investigation into rapid buses.
But do not expect to see the east-west routes soon. Work on either a Robina or Nerang connection would be unlikely to begin until the late 2020s. Construction of stage 3, between Broadbeach and Burleigh, will run until 2023, when work is expected to begin on stage 4.
Cr Tate said the southern link was critical to the city’s future.
“It will result in a 40km public transport spine linking key employment, transport, health and education locations,” he said. “Ideally we will finish stage 3 and immediately break ground on stage 4.”
Pressure had grown on the State Government to commit to a business case and community consultation after Cr Tate proposed an alternative route bypassing Palm Beach entirely.
Ms Palaszczuk said future stages would create muchneeded jobs to stimulate the post-COVID economy.
“This business case will support the next critical steps needed to push major transport investment on the Gold Coast forward, which is vital for Queensland’s economic recovery,” she said.
“This is about building a pipeline of projects that can continue to support and create jobs, boost our economy and improve transport.”