Gold Coast light rail stage 3: Demolition begins on service station as tram extension moves forward

The first major property resumption to make way for the Burleigh tram link has begun as the State Government reveals how much the next light rail stage will bring into the economy.

THE first major property resumption to make way for the Burleigh tram link has begun as the State Government reveals how much the next light rail stage will bring to the economy.

Demolition of the old Caltex service station in Burleigh Heads has got underway to make way for the tram station which will mark the termination point for Stage 3.

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The tram extension will come online in 2023.

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Transport Minister Mark Bailey inspected the works this afternoon and said the tram had significantly reduced traffic on some of the city’s busiest roads.

“The Gold Coast has benefited tremendously from light rail, with more than 50 million trips already taken, cutting traffic on Scarborough Street at Southport by 47 per cent and increasing pedestrian movement to Pacific Fair Shopping Centre by 180 per cent,” he said.

Early works have begun on the tram system, with the major contracts to be awarded later this year.”

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Transport Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Dan Peled

The $709 million tram extension will run from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads down the Gold Coast Highway and will create more than 760 jobs.

Assistant Tourism Minister Meaghan Scanlon said the next stage of the light rail would inject $1.2 billion into the Coast’s economy.

“The milestone today will allow the Gold Coast Highway to be widened, making way for Burleigh Heads Station, the terminus of the third stage of Gold Coast’s light rail network,” she said.

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The former Caltex service station is being demolished to make way for the tram station.

From a tourism perspective, it’ll also unlock new ways for visitors to experience our region and provide an all-important shot in the arm for the $4.7 billion industry.”

Staff from the light rail project team are beginning a new phase of community engagement, launching a questionnaire for businesses along the Gold Coast Highway to find out their daily operations and requirements.

This information will be used to manage the impact of construction.

Early works are underway on the tram system.