State Government takes major step towards Coomera Connector’s potential route

There’s been another step forward for a potential Coomera Connector route.

THE State Government has taken a major step towards connecting the dots of a potential future route for the Coomera Connector.

Property records show it has snapped up a large 11.78ha block of land for $9.636 million at 146-148 Quinns Hill Rd East, in Stapylton.

The sellers of the land were Jeffrey Hassall, Rodney Kaplan and Max Shaw.

A TMR spokesman said it does not comment on individual property acquisitions, however several sources told the Bulletin it is likely to have been bought for the northern section of the Coomera Connector, also known as the second M1.

Videos have shown how the Coomera Connector is expected to look.

The Quinns Hill Rd East property aligns with the touted but yet-to-be officially determined route of the major road.

Last month the State Government unveiled details of the first stage of the Connector, which will be built between Nerang and Coomera.

It is estimated this will take 60,000 vehicles off the congested Pacific Motorway.

The State Government has committed $10 million for the current planning work for the project, which it had costed at $2.4 billion.

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The northern section of the Connector is to run between Loganholme and Coomera.

The Government will start consultation today on its plans for stage one of the six-lane highway.

Division three councillor Cameron Caldwell, whose electorate takes in Coomera, welcomed news of the land purchase.

The route would link with the M1.

“The Coomera Connector is the most vital piece of road infrastructure to be delivered in the next decade,” he said.

“We welcome all effort by the State Government to secure the corridor for the future development of this infrastructure.”

He said the purchase did bring the cost of the road into sharp relief.

“This acquisition indicates the very real cost of the development of this piece of critical infrastructure.”

The Coomera Connector extends for 45km between the Logan Motorway and Pacific Motorway interchange at Loganholme and Nerang – Broadbeach Rd in Nerang.

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The project is designed to relieve pressure on the M1, improve connections to more transport options on the northern Gold Coast, and reduce travel time between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

The State Government has said a business case for the road will be finalised following community consultation. Funding commitments are required before construction can start.

The consultation, to run from this month until December 8, involves an online survey and a series of drop-in community sessions. The first will be held at Carrara Markets this Saturday between 7am and 3pm.

The location of the proposed Coomera Connector road at the end of River Hills Road.AAP Image/Richard Walker)

The Gold Coast’s northern suburbs population is growing fast. Coomera’s population is projected to grow by 18 per cent annually from 13,807 in 2016 to 47,906 in 2031 and 75,606 in 2041.

The Coast’s overall population has tipped 600,000 and by 2041 it is expected to reach 943,686 with the Gold Coast City Council and State Government required to plan for annual growth of 14,670 people.