Green light second M1: the first stage will be from the Gold Coast end

The State Government has pushed the green light on the second M1, with plans to build the critical section between Nerang and Coomera to be announced by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk today.

THE State Government has pushed the green light on the Coomera Connector, with the critical section between Nerang and Coomera to be built first.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk will today announce details of the so-called second M1, with the first stage to take an estimated 60,000 vehicles off the congested Pacific Motorway.

What the Coomera Connector is expected to look.

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

But the LNP maintains the planned Coomera Connector from Nerang to Stapleton could be built for $500 million and have accused Labor of dragging its heels on the project.

The Premier is to announce the government will start consultation next month on its plans for stage one of the six-lane highway.

Northern section of the second M1.

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Ms Palaszczuk said traffic data and population projections presented a compelling case for staging the project, starting at the Gold Coast end of the major M1 alternative.

“Traffic counts done earlier this year showed 210,000 vehicles travel on the M1 between Coomera and Nerang every day,” Ms Palaszczuk told the Bulletin.

“Current TMR estimates tell us constructing stage one from the south would take up to 60,000 vehicles a day off the M1 at the Coomera River.”

The Premier said residents could expect to see a lot of work happening around the proposed stage one route in the coming months.

“TMR staff will start talking with residents next month, with flora and fauna studies and detailed plans being drawn up,” she said.

“We’re on track to start work on the business case in the coming months too.”

Map for the Coomera Connector showing the southern section.

LNP MPs along with area councillors in recent months all agreed on the southern section gaining priority, saying it was critical to get another transport link across the Coomera River.

Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon said she had been calling for an alternative to the M1 on the Coast on behalf of her community since being elected.

“I have backed the planning being done by our government since day one,” Ms Scanlon said.

“We would be closer to building the Coomera Connector had the LNP not blocked it when they were last in power. I can’t change that, but I can make sure it gets done now.

“Prioritising the Coomera to Nerang section for stage one is definitely the right call.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk with Mark Bailey, Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads, and Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon. Picture: Jerad Williams.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said prioritising the Gold Coast section meant the focus would come off the northern section of the Coomera Connector between Loganholme and Coomera.

“Staging the works will give the project team more time to investigate potential alternative routes for the northern section, to take into account local environmental concerns,” he said.

“TMR will work with the community, the Queensland Government’s Koala Advisory Council, other volunteer groups and government environmental agencies to develop a Coomera Connector environmental management plan.”