NEXT STOP THE WEST

How light rail becomes a citywide service

CITY leaders are determined to use light rail to get commuters to the western residential suburbs and breathe new life into the Gold Coast’s major football teams by delivering fans to the stadiums. The council is in talks to push ahead with two spur lines, one from Broadbeach to the Nerang railway station via Metricon Stadium, home of the Suns; the other from North Burleigh along Christine Avenue through Varsity Lakes to Robina Town Centre and Cbus Stadium, home of the Titans.

THE Gold Coast council has held talks with traffic engineers to create light rail spur lines to the city’s two biggest stadiums.

City leaders want trams to travel west to both Robina and Nerang, via Carrara, to service a projected population boom, national sports teams and the Gold Coast’s newest theme parks. They want it completed by 2030.

With funding secured to complete planning for track to the border, Mayor Tom Tate said the council was fasttracking two western routes to “fully integrate” the transport network.

The immediate priority is stage three from Broadbeach-Burleigh and to the airport at Coolangatta, with the western routes to follow.

The Robina route would likely run from the Gold Coast Highway along Christine Ave through Varsity Lakes with major stops at Robina Town Centre. It would terminate at the Robina railway station and Cbus Stadium, home of the Gold Coast Titans.

The Nerang route is expected to run along Nerang-Broadbeach Road and terminate at the Nerang railway station, with a major stop at Metricon Stadium.

Both are forecast to be completed within 13 years, with the Nerang line connecting from Broadbeach likely to be first. Funding for both is expected to come from all levels of government, in line with the first two stages. However, public-private partnerships could also be considered.

Cr Tate said completing the coastal spine was the city’s priority, but the western routes would be fast-tracked to support increasing growth east of the M1.

“This is now part of our long-term budget and the way we are looking ahead because it is a cost-effective way of getting around the city,” he said. “The timing of both will depend on private investment in that area and in Robina this would turn Cbus Stadium in a much more viable location allowing people to get there.

“At Nerang, we are seeing a lot of building along Nerang-Broadbeach Rd and we will also take the opportunity to speak with the developers of the proposed theme park at Nerang to see how much this would help them.”

Talks to progress the western route comes a month after the State Government pledged $5 million to planning stage 3A, from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads.

Major projects planned or under construction along the expected Broadbeach-Nerang route include Sunland’s The Lakes housing development and Chinese billionaire Huang Qiaoling’s Songcheng theme park, the $600 million Australian Legends World.

In Robina, developer Walker Corporation has filed plans to build the $1.2 million Breakwater estate, which will have more than 2000 homes.

Robina councillor and city economic development boss Hermann Vorster said the western light rail routes would be put to the public for consultation.

“There is a lot of excitement about bringing the trams west but we need to make sure the planning is done right and while a route along Cheltenham and Cottesloe Drive may seem straightforward, the zoning would not support it,” he said.

“This would give us the opportunity to link all three universities together to create a knowledge triangle unrivalled anywhere on the continent.”

Council hopes construction starts on 3A by 2020, with the airport link to follow.

THIS IS NOW PART OF OUR LONG-TERM BUDGET AND THE WAY WE ARE LOOKING AHEAD BECAUSE IT IS A COST-EFFECTIVE WAY OF GETTING AROUND THE CITY MAYOR TOM TATE