Tweed MP Geoff Provest, biz chamber boss Warren Polglase renew calls for Gold Coast light rail to cross Qld-NSW border

A development set to cost almost a billion dollars is flagged to change the face of Tweed, prompting renewed calls for the Gold Coast light rail to cross the Queensland-NSW border.

An artist impression of the Tweed project. Photo: Elanor Investors Group.

Politicians say a massive $900 million development next to the Queensland-NSW border is one more reason the Gold Coast light rail should snake its way into Tweed.

It comes as a study into a tram connection between Tweed and its northern neighbour is due to be finished.

Tweed MP Geoff Provest and Tweed Shire councillor Warren Polglase, president of the Tweed Chamber of Commerce, believe the Tweed Mall overhaul and $723 million Tweed Valley Hospital at Cudgen are just the tip of the iceberg.

They expect a wave of development on the back of the Tweed Heads project pitched by Elanor Investors Group.

First glimpse at the $900 million staged redevelopment of Tweed Mall. Photo: Elanor Investors Group.

It’s due to include up to 13 buildings 49.5m tall separated by public spaces over 178,000 sqm – serviced by about 2500 carparking spaces.

The proposed 10-year redevelopment on the corner of Wharf and Bay streets – next to the border and Coolangatta – would include a mix of residential and commercial drawcards.

It’s touted to create thousands of jobs and about 1370 residential units over a decade.

First glimpse at the $900 million staged redevelopment of Tweed Mall. Photo: Elanor Investors Group.

Mr Provest said Tweed was the “gateway to Queensland” and the “next biggest thing” on the agenda should be improving public transport by running the expanding light rail from the Gold Coast into the shire.

Longstanding Tweed MP Geoff Provest. Picture: Luke Marsden.

The former Coalition NSW government commissioned a study into a connection between Tweed Heads and the Gold Coast in 2020 – an update is due imminently.

It’s exploring extending the multi-billion dollar light rail system from Coolangatta Airport to Tweed City Shopping Centre.

A concept map of the Tweed light rail.

The two options being investigated include a link from Coolangatta Airport to Tweed Heads, with a second option extending to Tweed City. The route would use the former Nerang-Tweed rail and continue through Coolangatta to Bay St, Wharf St and Minjungbal Dr.

However, it’s likely the state, federal government and Tweed council would all need to pitch in to bring any connection to fruition.

Richmond MP Justine Elliot said the project would be “a huge boost” to the local economy.

“I’m always fighting for more investment in our region and more jobs for our community,” she said.

“The major Tweed Mall redevelopment proposal has the potential to revitalise the Tweed.

“I’ve been a long-time supporter of the Gold Coast Light Rail extending to the Tweed, which would also be a great benefit for locals.”

Mr Provest said it made sense to boost cross-border public transport ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Summer Olympics.

“Currently about 30 per cent of our people work full-time in Queensland and it's about the same in reverse,” he said.

Tweed Mall bus stop.

“I think the public transport is going to be the key.”

Mr Provest said it would only take a few kilometres of track to connect Gold Coast Airport (at Bilinga) to the Tweed – though it would be costly.

He said he “thought it would be some time before that would happen” but the looming Olympics should be “stimulus” to forge forward.

Tweed Mall as it stands today.

Mr Polglase said the projects pitched or being built in the Tweed signalled to developers that Tweed was on the up, attracting more investment.

“The old poor cousins of the Gold Coast – the sleepy fishing village – those shackles have been thrown away and we now have been becoming a prosperous area for businesses to be coming to the Tweed,” he said.

Mr Polglase said Tweed Mall has been a “dead spot for a considerable amount of time”.

An artist impression of the Mall overhaul. Picture: Elanor Investors Group.

“When you this kind of money being dropped on the table in Tweed, well, you must think these people believe in a future for themselves and future for being invested in the Tweed,” he said.

Tweed Shire councillor and Business Chamber president Warren Polglase.

“We might see other projects come out of the ground which we thought never ever thought would have happened.”

While some welcome new projects in Tweed, others have raised concerns over the years the shire will increasingly become an extension of the Gold Coast.

Richmond MP Justine Elliot has also been contacted for comment.