Road west from Pimapama to Flagstone that could help solve Gold Coast housing crisis

A road and rail route touted as a possible solution to the Gold Coast’s crippling land shortage is back on the agenda, with the state being urged to accelerate planning for the ‘visionary’ project.

The state government is being urged to accelerate long-standing plans for a road linking the Gold Coast with communities west of the Darlington Range.

Theodore MP Mark Boothman said the “visionary” project, known as the Southern Infrastructure Corridor (SIC), could help alleviate the Gold Coast’s housing crisis by connecting the city with Yarrabilba and Greater Flagstone where there is abundant land for residential development.

A graphic in a report prepared for Transport and Main Roads showing an indicative route for the the Southern Infrastructure Corridor (marked 10).

In response to a question from Mr Boothman in parliament, Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) was “actively protecting” land for the corridor.

“The Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) has identified the Southern Infrastructure Corridor (SIC) for future planning in the South East Queensland Regional Transport Plans 2021,” Mr Bailey said.

“TMR recognises that Greater Flagstone and Yarrabilba are two priority development areas for residential growth and will be undertaking planning to identify and preserve road corridors which connect these areas to the regional road network, to provide a transport network with community connectivity, and support the economic competitiveness of the region.

“TMR is actively protecting the land dedicated to the SIC ... TMR is also engaging with stakeholders such as the Yarrabilba developer, Lendlease, in respect to land dedication for the SIC.”

Theodore MP Mark Boothman. Picture: David Clark.

Reports previously prepared for the government have shown the corridor linking with the M1 and Coomera Connector in Pimpama.

The reports have also highlighted the challenges that crossing the Darlington Range would present, with consultants in 2009 writing that the possibility of a tunnel connection should be investigated.

However, a TMR spokesperson said the plans were “indicative only” and subject to future studies and analysis for which funding had not yet been allocated.

“Land has only been preserved within the Yarrabilba Priority Development Area. Alignment details for the rest of the corridor are indicative only and remain subject to future planning and corridor studies, and route options analysis,” the spokesperson said.

“We recognise these are priority areas for ongoing residential growth. We will undertake more planning in the future to identify and preserve corridors that better connect them to the regional road network, supporting economic competitiveness of the region.

“The 2022-23 to 2025-26 Queensland Transport Roads Investment Program does not include funding to undertake further planning.

“Further planning will be considered in a future review of the SEQ Regional Transport Plans.

No studies have been undertaken yet to determine specific infrastructure requirements (such as bridges and tunnels) or possible associated costs.”

Mr Boothman said those studies needed to take place sooner, given the serious housing and transport challenges facing the Gold Coast and these studies also should include a heavy rail connection.

His plea comes after the Bulletin reported that land for residential housing was almost completely exhausted, contributing to soaring property costs.

“We’ve got almost unlimited land west of the northern Darlington range,” Mr Boothman said.

“If this road was built it would open up all that area to allow people to live out there and have a reasonable route to the Gold Coast to work.

“It would also allow a lot of Gold Coast tradies to have a quick route to these areas to work on new housing estates.

“... The Coomera Connector has taken so long to get to where it is now and it still hasn’t started. We need to start looking at this other road now so we can actually progress it in a timely manner.”

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