Plans to move Beenleigh train station to town square despite $5m upgrade

Days after $5 million of beautification works have been completed at a town square known as ‘punch-up park’, plans have been revealed to dig it up for a train station.

A grassy town square, known as “punch-up park” outside a magistrates court, could be dug up for a train station despite millions of dollars spent beautifying the area and making it safe.

TransLink and the Transport Department are considering plans to move the Beenleigh train station 500m from Alamein St to under the Beenleigh Magistrates Court and town square.

The move would allow the Beenleigh line to accommodate faster trains as part of the Cross River Rail project, being built to cater for visitors to the 2032 Olympics.

It would bring the train station under the Beenleigh town centre, the target of complaints about high drug and crime rates.

A plan showing the Beenleigh train station relocated to the town square in front of the Beenleigh courthouse.

In the past year, Logan City Council spent $5 million in an effort to beautify the area and tidy up its reputation as a crime hotspot.

The money was spent on hanging 400 aluminium shade discs over the square, installing lights, street art, plants and seating in the area with works completed this month.

But all that would be in jeopardy if the train station were to be moved.

TransLink said the idea to move the station was a public suggestion being considered with a decision to be made this year after further public consultation.

“During this consultation, some suggestions were made for relocating Beenleigh station closer to the town centre to facilitate easier access to shops and businesses,” TransLink said.

“Community feedback also emphasised other important aspects of the station design including ease of access, integration of bus services, and improving carparking.

“The project team will be considering this feedback in refining the project design.”

Some of the colourful shade discs that Logan City Council has hung above a walkway in Beenleigh and above the town square as part of a $5 million facelift.

Other potential benefits of the fast train line between Beenleigh and the Gold Coast would include straightening the Beenleigh platform and building a pedestrian bridge.

A multistorey 400 space park ‘n’ ride, a kiss ‘n’ ride and improved safety and disability access were also under consideration as part of any upgrade.

The recent cash splash triggered anger from some shop owners and businesses who have endured a downturn in trade after a main road through the CBD was closed to form the town square.

Long-time Logan resident James Herbst slammed the “superficial” spending.

“Nobody wants to address the elephant in the room which is drugs and this is all about fixing the optics rather than the drug problem,” he said at the time.

“The sharps container at the court fills up very quickly as addicts shoot up before their hearing in case they’re found guilty and it’s their last hit before jail.

“Locals stay away from the town square and call it ‘Punch-up Park’, where I’ve seen drug deals done in broad daylight.”

Discussions are underway to move the busy Beenleigh train station to underneath the town square, which has just had a million-dollar facelift.

Beenleigh would be one of three stations to be moved if the plans were approved with advanced designs already for Trinder Park and Loganlea stations.

Loganlea Station will be shifted about 300m so it will line up with the front door of the Logan Hospital and the busy Trinder Park Station will be moved further north.

Transport advocate Rail Back on Track’s Robert Dow said moving the station under the town square was a cost-effective option, saving $250 million.

“Given Beenleigh station will likely require a full demolition so it can be rebuilt to a four-platform configuration anyway, this could allow a new station to be built while the old one was still in use,” Mr Dow said.

“The key benefit would be averting the cost and disruption of having to quadruplicate the Beenleigh tunnel as only Gold Coast trains would need to proceed into it, which could save $250 million.

“It could also avoid having to reconfigure the stabling yard.”

Although the new station would be further from Beenleigh Marketplace it would be closer to Beenleigh Mall, Aldi, the City Rd retail precinct, and government offices.

The town square location would also be closer for residents to the west, with Mr Down claiming it would strengthen the case to close the Holmview station.

Originally published as Plans to move Beenleigh train station to town square despite $5m upgrade