Planning is progressing on Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 project

Planning for the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 project in Queensland is progressing and consultation will soon commence on the Tugun to Coolangatta alignment of the project. 

This upcoming consultation phase builds on the previous consultation that was held for the options for the Burleigh Heads to Tugun alignment, and residents as well as businesses in the region are encouraged to have their say. 

“Gold Coast Light Rail is a proven success, as the G: clocks up 65 million trips since its opening. 

“Stage 4 of the transformational project is planned to link 13-kilpmetres of southern Gold Coast between Burleigh Heads and Coolangatta, via the Gold Coast Airport. 

“The first round of consultation was carried out last year, which focused on the Burleigh Heads to Tugun section,” Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said. 

Artist impression - Musgrave Street, Coolangatta (source: Department of Transport and Main Roads)

Last year, the first round of consultations was carried out and it focused on the Burleigh Heads to Tugun section of the light rail project. This time around, locals are being called to have their say on the Tugun to Coolangatta section, with the feedback from this consultation to be used to inform the alignment and design of the corridor. 

The preliminary business case for Stage 4 is due to be completed by mid-2023. 

“I promised the gold standard of community consultation and that’s what was delivered – a truly unprecedented level of engagement. 

“More than 4,100 people attended community drop-in sessions from July to September 2021, and more than 500 online submissions were received on the concept designs. 

“Independent market research also told us that 63 per cent of surveyed residents along the existing and proposed corridor support the project,” Minister Bailey said. 

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate has welcomed the news of the project’s progression to the next step and has praised the Queensland Government for engaging the community for the “city-changing public transport project”. 

“Throughout the consultation of light rail since 2010, we have consistently made it a key priority to partner with all stakeholders, including the community, to listen to people’s views and take on board the feedback. 

“I strongly encourage people with an interest in the Tugun-Coolangatta section to get involved,” Mayor Tate said. 

Artist impression - overpass at Currumbin Creek (source: Department of Transport and Main Roads)

Face-to-face as well as online consultation will take place from 7 November to 25 November. 

Transport and Main Roads staff will be available at Tugun, Kirra and Coolangatta throughout November to answer questions, engage with the community and take feedback on the proposed design for the project. 

“Now is the time to get involved. 

“We want to know what you want and need as part of this extension while we’re in the planning phase. 

“I’m committed to creating pedestrian-friendly precincts, building in active transport and ensuring station accessibility. 

“I’d also like to reassure the local community that any potential impacts to the Coolangatta Police Station and Court House precinct will be worked through as part of this planning and there will be no reduction in services to the community,” Minister Bailey said. 

Transport and Main Roads will be working closely with Police and the Justice Department to find a suitable relocation area for the staff and services when it is needed. 

The upcoming consultation is going to be based on the outcomes of the Gold Coast Highway (Tugun to Coolangatta) Multi-modal Corridor Study – the identified preferred route for this section. 

A number of corridor options were compared during the study and found the Gold Coast Highway route as the most beneficial to the community as it will have less impacts on both wildlife and neighbouring properties. This route option also shows that it can encourage the potential uptake of public transport. 

The project consultation team will be at Joe Doniger Park, Bilinga, Queen Elizabeth Park and The Strand Shopping Centre, Coolangatta and Tugun Village Community Centre all throughout November. Dates and times can be found here. 

The Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 preliminary business case is jointly funded by the Queensland Government and the Gold Coast City Council, each contributing $3.7 million and $2.5 million respectively. 

Artist impression - Tugun base (source: Department of Transport and Main Roads)

The Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 project will deliver: 

• A 13 kilometre extension from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta via the Gold Coast Airport 
• Dual track along the existing corridor alignment 
• Improved Palm Beach Avenue precinct – there is the potential to provide alternatives for through traffic so the intersection of Palm Beach, Gold Coast Highway and Cypress Terrace can be transformed into a pedestrian friendly precinct, with the opportunity for street front dining, shopping and urban renewal 
• Improved connectivity to the M1 – the improved connectivity for northern Palm Beach to the M1 and its new service roads, through an widened M1 overpass at 19th Avenue as part of the Pacific Motorway M1 Varsity Lakes Exit 85 to Tugun Exit 95 upgrade, will significantly improve access to and from Palm Beach 
• Active Trasnport – there is the opportunity to develop a beachfront oceanway path along the full length of Palm Beach to provide high standard bike riding and walking tracks 
• Toolona Street – associated projects could improve the safety and efficiency of the Gold Coast Highway and Toolona Street intersection, by providing alternative access points and reducing the number of traffic movements 
• Burleigh Heads National Park – the existing Burleigh Heads National Park would be preserved, and access improved to the southern entrance via active travel, light rail, bus and car options 
• Connectivity to Burleigh Ridge Park – in order to help protect wildlife between Burleigh Head National Park and Burleigh Ridge Park, a land fauna bridge could be provided, protecting biodiversity by reconnecting ecological corridors 

Source: Queensland Government – Media Statements; Queensland Government – Department of Transport and Main Roads