Costing reveals $1bn saving if light rail airport link goes coastal

ENGINEERS and council say taxpayers will save up to $1bn if the final light rail link to the airport runs coastal through Palm Beach and Currumbin.

Preliminary track costings for Stage 4 reveal it will cost about $100 million per kilometre.

When broken down, the 11km route down Gold Coast Hwy would cost more than $1.1 billion; the estimated 20km West Burleigh link would be upward of $2bn; and Mayor Tom Tate’s new 14km Nineteenth Ave proposal about $1.4bn. Those prices do not include property resumptions or bridges.

Southport-based businessman and engineer John Howe said delivering the project would be more costly than either stages two or three because of its length and the need to build two bridges.

“The challenges are the crossings over Tallebudgera and Currumbin creeks, particularly because there will be environmental issues on the western side of the present highway,” he said.

“This will need very careful consideration, particularly with going through Palm Beach they will need to look at the impact of reducing the highway to two lanes in part and loss of on-street parking.”

Gold Coast Hwy will remain four lanes from Burleigh Heads to just south of Nineteenth Ave in Palm Beach. From Nineteenth Ave to just north of Palm Beach Avenue, the highway will become a two traffic lane boulevard.

The first stage of the tram system from Gold Coast University Hospital to Broadbeach cost $1.7bn. Stage 2 from Helensvale to Gold Coast University Hospital was about $500m.

The Broadbeach to Burleigh Stage 3 link, which began construction this year, will cost $709m before its 2023 completion.

The State Government is yet to commit funding to a business case for Stage 4, but it is expected to cost between $10-12m.

A State Government survey released in late 2018 found 91 per cent of respondents backed light rail running to the airport.

Stephen Harrison, chairman of the Gold Coast Light Rail Business Advisory Group, said a State Government commitment to a business case would continue the momentum from Stage 3.

“The connection to the airport will be an incredibly important part of the city’s network and the quicker we can get efficient and effective public transport there the better,” he said.

“Community consultation will be very important and must be done to address the concerns of stakeholders.”