Gold Coast light rail: Contracts awarded for $709m Broadbeach to Burleigh tram extension as council seeks land use planner

With the ink drying on contracts for the final leg of the light rail, council is on the hunt for its principal land use planner - but is the salary enough to take on the task?

GOLD Coast City Council is offering a more than $109,000 salary to head up planning for the next stage of the light rail.

Council is seeking a principal land use planner for light rail stage four, with a $109k-122k salary up for grabs for the “high priority, high profile” project.

Contracts have now been awarded for the $709 million Broadbeach to Burleigh stretch of the tram route – stage 3’s major construction is now imminent.

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3A artist impressions and stations between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads.

The job opening warns the project will attract “media, community and political scrutiny”.

“This requires a planned focus on ensuring that outcomes maximise the opportunity to enhance the corridor and benefit from the construction of the light rail,” the offer reads.

Responsibilities listed for the position include:

• Developing a land use planning strategy to be incorporated into the business case for the project
• Liaising with stakeholders including city officers, state government representatives and community groups to develop land use outcomes
• Developing existing and future land use and economic planning outcomes
• Providing advice on existing land use planning outcomes and integration of future City Plan amendments consistent with the overall project outcomes

Applicants require a bachelor degree of land use planning or equivalent knowledge, as well as “interpersonal, written and verbal communication skills”.

The official salary for the fixed-term position – set to end June 2021 – is $109,060.48 to $122,903.84.

A City spokeswoman said early planning for stage four was currently underway.

“As part of this, the City will be investigating the viability of options for stage four of the project,” she said.

“Decisions are yet to be made regarding further resourcing requirements.”

EARLIER:

MAJOR construction of the $709 million Broadbeach to Burleigh tramline is imminent after the project’s contractor was revealed.

John Holland has been put forward to build the 6.6km light rail stage 3, including eight stations, while Keolis Downer will manage the system as part of GoldinQ’s consortium.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the contract included 760 jobs.

SIX NEW TOWERS PLANNED FOR PALM BEACH LIGHT RAIL ROUTE

It’s go for light rail: Mayor Tom Tate, Angie Bell MP, Transport Minister Mark Bailey, Sam O'Connor MP, Meaghan Scanlon MP and Depty Prime Minister of Australia, Michael McCormack. Picture: Jerad Williams

COST OF TRAM EXTENSION REVEALED

“This next stage of the hugely successful Gold Coast Light Rail project means further achievements for both of those important goals - creating more employment and also connecting the southern Gold Coast to the rest of the line and getting more people onto public transport into the future,” she said.

“Light rail on the Gold Coast is already a key local employer, supporting about 800 operational jobs, and the extension to Burleigh is expected to support more than 760 construction jobs.”

WHEN COMMUNITY CONSULTATION WILL LAUNCH ON LIGHT RAIL

QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. Picture: Tertius Pickard

CRITICS BLAST MAYOR OVER ALTERNATE TRAM ROUTE PROPOSAL

The announcement puts the project on-track for completion by 2023, leaving the coastal spine of the system to run 27km from Helensvale to Burleigh Heads with 27 stations serviced by 23 trams.

Early works have been underway for several months, with the first resumptions performed in August to demolish the old Caltex service station at Burleigh.

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 artist impression

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said locking in the contract was a critical step towards boosting employment in the construction sector.

“We have seen more than 50 million trips taken on light rail since it first opened, which shows just how hungry Gold Coasters and visitors to the city are for better public transport,” he said.

“For businesses and people on the Gold Coast that means building that all-important light rail connection between the city’s north and centre towards the south.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, Transport Minister Mark Bailey and QLD Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk are excited about the project’s next step. Picture: Tertius Pickard

“We have seen economies not just in Queensland but across the world impacted by the global pandemic, but by locking in the contract to build the next stage of light rail it means crews that are either working on or have worked on other infrastructure projects can move onto this next project.”

Planning is already underway for stage 4 of the tram system, which will run from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta via Gold Coast Airport.

Community consultation is expected to begin next year ahead of an expected start in 2023-24.

Mayor Tom Tate welcomed Friday’s announcement and said the fast-tracking of infrastructure would boost the economy at a critical time.

Mayor Tom Tate says it’s all aboard. Picture: Jerad Williams

But he urged locals to support businesses in the construction zone during the three-year process.

“I often dream of the day the light rail connects our city all the way to Coolangatta and this announcement reminds me that it will be a reality sooner than many thought,” he said.

“As we now fast track transport and infrastructure projects along this corridor to help with traffic and pedestrian movement I urge the community to support the businesses between Broadbeach and Burleigh during construction.

“Another great day for the Gold Coast and a shining example of how we achieve most when we all work together.

“All aboard.”