The case for extension
The southern Gold Coast risks economic stagnation and costly congestion without intervention, according to a state government report evaluating extending light rail from Burleigh to Gold Coast Airport.
The state government will progress to a detailed business case for the 13km tram extension from Burleigh to Gold Coast Airport, which is expected to be completed in late 2025.
State Transport Minister Bart Bellish said the extended network was expected to be completed and operational in time for the 2032 Olympic Games.
The government’s preliminary evaluation report into the gigantic Stage 4, which will run between Burleigh Heads and the border, reveals the reasons behind state backing of the project, which is expected to cost $4.4bn, with an upper estimate of $7.6bn.
The report stated without the extension:
• Congestion will cost the city an extra $117m annually in lost productivity by 2041;
• Public transport use, already low in the south, would stagnate and shrink.
“Improved public transport access to the Gold Coast Airport would also support the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games by providing connectivity to accommodation and competition venues (and) more broadly than the Games, the Gold Coast is an event city with an events calendar that expands every year as the city’s reputation for world-class events grows,” the report reads.
“Major events include the Pacific Air Show, Gold Coast, Magic Millions (yearling sale and horse racing carnival), Gold Coast 500 (Supercars), the Coolangatta Gold and Cooly Rocks On, and Blues on Broadbeach.
“High quality transit is essential to service and facilitate existing events and continue to promote the growth in visitation to the Gold Coast.
“Without intervention, the southern Gold Coast may become a dormitory area for jobs in other parts of the Gold Coast, the South East Queensland region, and northern New South Wales, and the area could fail to realise economic potential.”
The report noted the southern Gold Coast, between Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta, was also tipped to experience strong population growth, increasing 39 per cent from 34,220 residents to reach 47,500 people by 2041.
“This growth will bring significant transport challenges, and without improvements to the public transport network in the southern Gold Coast, public transport usage would stagnate, and account for only 5.6 per cent of trips by 2041.
“The associated congestion in the study area in 2041 is forecast to represent an annual cost of $117 million.
“The southern Gold Coast is highly car dependent and lacks a competitive public transport option. It is forecast that by 2041 the Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta area will experience increasing congestion and declining travel reliability on all major traffic routes in peak times, including on the M1. its
“Without intervention, these problems will lead to declining amenity and liveability, restrict residential and employment growth, and fail to realise the opportunity for sustainable urban consolidation and future economic development.”
Capital funding is yet to be committed for Stage 4, and will be considered in future budgets after completion of the detailed business case. Commitments are needed from all three levels of government.
After Mr Bellish released cost estimates on Tuesday, council CEO Tim Baker said it was “higher than what the city expected”, while Mayor Tom Tate urged haste to get it built.
“The earlier we start the cheaper it will be,” Mr Tate said.
Mr Mellish said the cost is “really getting up there in terms of the dollar figure, with the upper estimate of $7.6bn being higher than the state’s biggest infrastructure project Cross River Rail.
Without intervention, the southern Gold Coast may become a dormitory area for jobs in other parts of the Gold Coast, the South East Queensland region, and northern New South Wales, and the area could fail to realise its economic potential
State government report