Gold Coast Airport: Masterplan approved with light rail station and terminal upgrades

The Gold Coast Airport’s multi-decade masterplan has been given a significant boost, with plans to take the light rail to the terminal backed by its boss. FIND OUT MORE

The Gold Coast Airport’s multi-decade masterplan has been given the green light for takeoff.

Tourism bosses are celebrating after the federal government approved the 20-year rollout, which will transform the precinct into a major transport hub.

Queensland Airports boss Amelia Evans, speaking at Friday’s Future Gold Coast event, said the project would begin to take shape ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.

“Our master plan is a 20-year vision and we have now received federal government approval,” she said.

“That’s a really important endorsement of what the airport is going to deliver in the next 20 years.

“While that seems like a document only to some people, it has taken a long time for the team to develop the plans to put a vision forward.”

Updated Gold Coast Airport Masterplan image. Picture: Supplied

Among the key features planned for the expanded airport are:

• A public plaza integrating future public transport connectivity;

• Additional airport hotel accommodation;

• Commercial office space and health and wellness facilities;

• A conference and technology hub;

• Airport retail village and travel centre;

• A taxiway upgrade

• An expansion of the existing terminal;

• A multi-deck car park and transport hub;

• An expanded Southern Cross University campus

There are also plans for both light and heavy rail stations, two projects airport bosses strongly back.

Ms Evans said the transport hub would be a key element of the precinct.

“There’s heavy and light rail potentially in the transport hub and we need more car parks because there’s lots of expansion that still needs to happen as we grow into that 13 million passenger level.”

The heavy rail station would be integrated with the light rail, but would not be likely to be built until the mid-2040s.

Amelia Evans CEO of Qld Airports Picture Glenn Hampson

Ms Evans urged the state government to back the extension of the light rail’s Stage 4 from Burleigh Heads to the border to improve connectivity.

“The southern Gold Coast needs better public transport, there is no doubt about it and it’s not just north to south, it’s east to west and from an airport perspective, we absolutely need connectivity to be seamless. affordable, sustainable, and accessible,” she said.

“We have got to ask ourselves as a city, and therefore as an airport, what is our plan to get the right long term future-ready transport infrastructure to, and from, the airport leading up to the 2032 Olympic weekend that is absolutely critical?

“I’m not a transport expert but I haven’t seen a viable alternative (to light rail) and I’ve been talking about that publicly.”

Ms Evans said while people could talk about other “viable options”, the capacity of the tram system was the best outcome.

“It’s the highest capacity transport we can get, so if we are going to grow to a population of 1 million people, we are going to see, as an airport, our numbers go from 6.2 million passengers a year to 10 million and 13 million,” she said.

“If that’s the trajectory of this city, we can’t rely on a bus.”

The masterplan was first unveiled in March 2024 and underwent a three-month community consultation.

It comes as the airport this week opened its new second entrance to its precinct.

The project, which cost more than $12m, was jointly funded with the NSW and Queensland governments to take pressure off the existing Gold Coast Highway-Terminal Drive intersection.

Artist impression of the new Gold Coast Airport entrance.

It was first announced in mid-2020 amid the early months of the Covid-19 pandemic while the airport was in the middle of its $500m terminal expansion.

The road, which runs off the NSW side of Gold Coast Highway, south of Southern Cross University’s campus, has been named May Bradford Drive, for the pioneering aviator who was the first one to hold to-level pilot’s licenses.

Ms Evans said the road “put infrastructure first and put capacity ahead of demand”.

“May Bradford was actually an Australian aviator and the first female pioneer aviator to hold first class ABC licenses, so it’s a great touch for us,” she said.

“That road is actually setting the future up for success and it is jointly funded and supported by New South Wales and Queensland governments.

“I’ll end with talking about the power of collaboration and this is a great example of having future-ready infrastructure.

“It is what will set us up for success in the future.”