Shock update: government on timeline for details on second Gold Coast M1

An MP has reacted furiously after learning of a lengthy delay to the business case for the Coomera Connector.

CONCERNED residents will not know until next year, after the State poll in October, the full details of the route and business case for the Coomera Connector.

Bonney MP Sam O’Connor in a Question on Notice in State Parliament asked Transport Minister Mark Bailey for the timeline for the business case given community consultation on the proposed second M1 concluded six months ago.

Artist's impression - Coomera Connector approaching Parkwood light rail station.

He asked for specifics on “when the business case will be completed and publicly released to give nearby residents in The Surrounds and Arundel Springs an understanding of what this project will look like”.

VIDEO: HOW NORTHERN SUBURBS WILL BE TRANSFORMED BY COOMERA CONNECTOR

The Bulletin in January last year revealed residents in $1 billion developments in the tight transport corridor between Parkwood and Helensvale east of the Pacific Motorway feared their properties could be acquired to enable the new six-lane highway to be built.

New mapping released during the recent community consultation showed the Coomera Connector will not force property resumptions at Arundel or Helensvale, but Mr O’Connor, after taking photographs of TMR’s fly through video, wanted more detail.

RESIDENT SURVEY: NORTHERN GOLD COAST LOCALS REVEAL THEIR THOUGHTS ON COOMERA CONNECTOR

Mr Bailey in his response told the MP: “The Coomera Connector business case is currently being developed during 2020 for this substantial project by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and will be finalised next year.

Artist impression - Coomera Connector heading into Helensvale.

“The gazettal of all three sections of the Coomera Connector, public consultation and the business case have all had to be done by the Palaszczuk Government after three wasted years of inaction by the Newman LNP Government.

“Earlier this month, the Queensland Government released a consultation report, summarising the outcomes of community consultation undertaken in late 2019. This is available for the community to view along with a fly through of what the project could look like when complete.”

Mr Bailey said TMR would undertake further community consultation on the Coomera Connector project later this year when more detailed information was available, as part of the usual business case process.

Mr O’Connor, who was shocked to learn of the response when contacted by The Bulletin, said the government did not need several years to develop a business case.

COOMERA CONNECTOR CAMPAIGN: “THIS ROAD IS WITHIN ONE KILOMETRE OF MY HOUSE THAT WILL SUCK.”

“It’s an insult to every Gold Coaster who has to sit through traffic on the M1. Labor has not committed a cent to build this new road and this ridiculous delay shows they’re not serious about infrastructure on the Gold Coast,” he said.

Artist's impression - Coomera Connector approaching Arundel.

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“Labor has been in power for six years, it shouldn’t take them that long to realise the M1 is a nightmare and we need a second route for local traffic. You shouldn’t have to jump on a national highway to drive from Carrara to Coomera.”

Mr O’Connor said the lack of a business case for the Coomera Connector meant it could not be considered on the Commonwealth’s Infrastructure Priority List.

Mr Bailey in his response to Mr O’Connor outlined the government’s current work on several upgrades of the M1 as part of a $2.4 billion commitment to the south coast district.

Sam O'Connor at the Helensvale Glink station where a six lane road was supposed to be built — he is stunned by the latest government response.

“The Palaszczuk Government’s strong record of investment in Gold Coast roads infrastructure can be contrasted with the $600 million cut from roads and transport by the LNP when they were in power, which included not one new dollar being spent on the M1. The LNP also cut the Coomera Connector from long term plans for the Gold Coast. Only the Palaszczuk Labor Government has a strong record of infrastructure funding commitment and can be trusted to deliver the Coomera Connector for the Gold Coast,” he wrote.