Robina identified as hotspot on Gold Coast with more than a quarter of infrastructure spending in suburb

Robina’s claim to be the economic powerhouse of the Gold Coast has been bolstered by new research showing a massive infrastructure spend in the central suburb.

ROBINA’S claim to be the economic powerhouse of the Gold Coast has been bolstered by new research showing a massive infrastructure spend in the central suburb.

An Urbis report shows Robina has 13 major projects either planned, recently completed or underway, and accounts for 26 per cent of the forecast $9.98 billion infrastructure spend across the city.

The projects include the $1.03 billion upgrade to the M1 motorway from Varsity Lakes to Tugun, due for completion in late 2023, and the $1.2 billion heavy rail extension from Varsity Lakes to Coolangatta.

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There is also the $8.27 million allocated in the Gold Coast City Council’s latest budget towards the next stage of the Robina City Parklands, $50 million Acuity Business Park under construction and $100 million expansion to Bond University.

An artist impression of the $1 billion Gold Coast M1 upgrade between Varsity Lakes and Tugun. Picture: Supplied

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Urbis senior consultant Lynda Campbell said the bulk of the new infrastructure funding was geared towards improving transport links.

“Robina has the advantage of being governed by the Robina Central Planning Agreement, with pre-approvals on development-ready sites, enabling faster progress on major projects,” she said.

“The significant $2 billion-plus investment in infrastructure supports the region as an established central node for the retail, business and education sectors.”

Robina Group CEO Hylton Slater said the Robina City Parklands development had helped to drive sales at its Vue Terrace Homes project.

Robina Group transferred control of a 5.5ha site off Cheltenham Drive to the council for the park.

Artist impression of Vue Terrace Homes, Robina.

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“The fact this is a signature park for the city adds to the appeal, particularly when you couple it with the significant amenity already available and the billions of dollars in additional infrastructure still to come,” he said.

“Robina has emerged as one of the most connected and walkable areas of Gold Coast city and that position is certainly set to be strengthened by the multibillion-dollar infrastructure spend planned for this area in coming years.”

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However, Robina’s reputation as a “living paradise” is about to tested because infrastructure spending is failing to keep pace with population growth, city councillor Hermann Vorster says.
“The reality is that Robina was marketed as the living paradise … and I’m firmly of the view that we are the living paradise,” he said.

Artist impression of Robina City Parklands

“But I do not believe the infrastructure is there to ensure that reputation is protected.

“I get very nervous when developers and landholders start celebrating an infrastructure spend without having regard to the work council has done to identify very real infrastructure shortfalls.”

Cr Vorster said those shortfalls included connections between the M1 and Robina Town Centre and the road network around the shopping centre.

“There are major deficits in the infrastructure to do with the M1 and how it interfaces with Robina Town Centre and there has been absolute underinvestment in the road network around that town centre.”