Coomera Connector costs blow out by almost $1bn, with Qld govt set to chip in another $400m

Costs on the controversial Coomera Connector project have blown out by almost $1bn, with the state government set to chip in at least another $400m.

A major transport project has blown out by almost $1bn, with the state government set to chip in at least another $400m to keep the project on track.

The jointly-funded Coomera Connector has been plagued with skyrocketing costs and delays, and now Transport Minister Bart Mellish has revealed further headaches for the project.

Now expected to cost more than $3bn, Mr Mellish said he was hopeful the federal government would commit to a further $400m to cover the shortfall.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish at a work site on the Coomera Connector. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Asked what would happen if they didn’t, Mr Mellish said “I’d be really keen that they do”.

“We’ve got a range of funding considerations in with the federal government to feed their budget process at the moment – this is a really key one of those.

“We’ll cost that bridge when we come to it.”

The Coomera Connector stage one was initially expected to cost $1.5bn, before rising to $2.16bn.