Gold Coast light rail stage 3A funding to be announced
THERE will be good news for Gold Coast commuters when Prime Minister Scott Morrison begins his Queensland tour on the Glitter Strip.
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GOLD Coast commuters are set to win from a Federal Government plan to extend the light rail with eight new stations and faster travel times.
In a bid to meet the needs of a surging population as well as demand from tourists, the Government will pledge $112 million to fund stage 3A of the Gold Coast light rail network.
The plan, which still needs state and local government contributions, will add 6.4km of track to extend the light rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads.
Stage 2 last year extended the northern end of the line from Gold Coast University Hospital to Helensvale train station, linking the network with heavy rail from Brisbane.
A future stage 3B is planned to connect Gold Coast Airport at Coolangatta.
Stage 3A aims to get more passengers on to light rail to ease traffic on roads including the Pacific Motorway.
Travel times will be cut to 16 minutes between Broadbeach South and North Burleigh Heads when the extension is completed in 2023.
Forecasts suggest the Gold Coast’s population will balloon by 62 per cent to reach 928,000 by 2041, putting pressure on transport links.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison will announce the funding plan when he begins a four-day blitz of Queensland on the Gold Coast today.
“Extending the light rail from Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads is vital to supporting a growing city like the Gold Coast,” he said.
“Our funding is locked in and ready to go from day one.
“Now it’s time for the Queensland Government to make their contribution — let’s get on with it.”
Pledging to “back Queenslanders”, Mr Morrison will tour a swath of marginal seats across the state where the LNP vote has slumped, as he tries to drum up support six months before the election is due.
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