The Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads light rail extension is a step closer to beginning construction, with an early works agreement seeing GoldlinQ and John Holland undertaking detailed planning, identifying and inspecting underground services and establishing a site presence along the 6.7km corridor.
This project is Stage 3 of the Gold Coast Light Rail initiative, delivering an extension south of the existing tram network, linking Helensvale to Burleigh Heads and providing eight additional stations.
Key features of the project:
- 6.7km extension from Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads
- Dual track in the centre of the Gold Coast Highway
- 8 new stations
- Retain 2 traffic lanes either side of light rail tracks
- 5 additional trams
- A journey time of around 16 to 17 minutes from Broadbeach South station to Burleigh Heads
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister, Mark Bailey, said John Holland’s team will be on the ground engaging directly with the community and businesses to ensure they are informed before and throughout Stage 3 construction.
“The most important way the community can support businesses between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads and ensure their long-term success is for regular customers and locals to continue shopping locally,” Mr Bailey said.
John Holland will also host a Local Industry Forum in September 2021, presenting to potential local suppliers on upcoming work packages and answering questions.
GoldlinQ Chairman, John Witheriff, said many local suppliers and workers had already registered their interest and are eager to be part of the important project.
“This project will be built by locals and will contribute significantly to the Gold Coast economy which is vitally important at this time,” Mr Witheriff said.
“We understand the importance of working with the community throughout delivery, and the Stage 3 project team is committed to ongoing communication and minimising impacts to residents, businesses and motorists as much as possible.
“We will also be working with businesses along the Stage 3 route prior to major construction starting to ensure they are aware of the construction process and project opportunities available.”
Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said building new infrastructure is vital to creating jobs on the Gold Coast.
“We’re working hard to bring forward construction on as many projects as possible to rebuild our economy and create jobs,” Premier Palaszczuk said.
“Initiatives like light rail feature prominently in our COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan.”
Ms Palaszczuk said Queensland will continue to invest in Gold Coast transport, to take more cars off the road and cater for growth in the future.
Mr Bailey said, “This is a $1 billion project that will create local jobs, with most of the wages and payments to workers and suppliers going straight back into the local and regional economy.
“We will ensure that this investment represents value for money for Queenslanders, including through more training to help build our future workforce, and better safety on our construction sites.
“Building the next stage of light rail presents opportunities over the next few years for local contractors, workers and suppliers on the Gold Coast.
“Previous stages of the light rail created significant employment opportunities, with 90 per cent of workers on Stage 1 and Stage 2 coming from the Gold Coast and surrounding regions.
Mr Bailey said the light rail is a transformational piece of infrastructure.
“Since 2014, it has provided more than 56 million passengers with an alternative way to move around the city and encouraged a significant rise in people using public transport.
“With 30,000 Australians choosing to call Queensland home in the past 12 months, it’s critical that we continue to invest in city-shaping transport projects like this,” Mr Bailey said.
Gold Coast Mayor, Tom Tate, said seamless public transport was crucial to the Gold Coast’s future.
“The light rail corridor – from Helensvale all the way to Coolangatta – is seen as our public transport spine. From that, we will link rapid public transport connections both east and west,’’ Mr Tate said.
“Studies are now underway into these east-west connectors which may involve hydro buses, electric buses and even automated transport modes including driverless systems.
“Our long-term planning for reliable public transport must include the state and federal governments so I’m delighted that early work on stage 3 underground works is about to start.’’
In August 2021, a new round of community consultation will start to canvas views on a future 13km Stage 4 extension of light rail between Burleigh and Coolangatta, via the Gold Coast Airport.
The next round of consultation will run from 12 July to 17 September 2021.
The consultation includes community drop-in sessions for members of the community to ask questions and provide face-to-face feedback.
These sessions will be held between July and September 2021 in locations including Palm Beach, Currumbin, Burleigh Heads, Tallebudgera, Elanora and Tugun.
An interactive consultation website for people to find out more about the project and provide feedback via an online survey will be available and a newsletter will be distributed to 43,000 homes in the project’s catchment area.
For more information, click here.
What are you talking about?
Can you please show the proposed route. Is this along the Gold Coast Highway or elsewhere?
Hi Colin, the article has been updated with some additional information. Let us know if you have any further questions.