Gimme five: wish list 2015 Coomera’s Exit 54 upgrade holds up $1B in development, thousands of drivers

ONE billion dollars in retail and residential development hinge on completion of the $90 million Exit 54 but the State Government is yet to fund it.

Aerials Gold Coast : Exit 54 Upper Coomera. Morning school traffic at roundabout (near Coomera Anglican College Days road and Foxwell road) . Picture Mike Batterham

ONE billion dollars in retail and residential development hinge on the completion of the $90 million Exit 54 — but the State Government is yet to fund it.

The Coomera Town centre project alone is expected to create 1200 construction jobs and another 1600 permanent positions, while there are significant economic impacts to be saved by relieving critical congestion problems at the now-notorious roundabout.

A $500-million residential development at Foxwell Rd also hinges on the upgrade.

By voter numbers, Coomera is the largest electorate in the state, growing by about 10,000 since MP Michael Crandon was elected in 2009.

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Artist impressions of the planned Coomera Town Centre shopping precinct.

Even then Exit 54 was inadequate — and the Gold Coast Bulletin has campaigned for a solution as far back as 2010.

Congestion through the M1 interchange forces parents to make 50-minute round trips for the 7km school run and sucks countless other hapless motorists into a jammed vortex of crawling vehicles.

The state has already spent $15 million on planning and land purchases, but another $75 million is needed to finish the job.

Federal Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss hinted that his Government was close to a funding deal with the state, thought to be worth about $10 million — leaving a $60 million shortfall.

Mr Crandon said he had been pushing for the funds to be announced before January 31. “It’s incredibly important,” he said.

Michele Goodlad and Frank Goodlad who have bought a block of land at Coomera's Genesis estate. Land sales and prices are rising within the region thanks to plans for the Coomera Town Centre but it won’t be started without an upgrade to Exit 54.

“It’s not just about the town centre itself but the jobs that come with it — construction and ongoing jobs.

“And they’re all local jobs for local people.

“We have to have it.”

The project has been in limbo following a prolonged funding dispute but Mr Truss confirmed there had been talks between the Newman and ­Abbott governments.

A spokesman for Mr Truss said the upgrade had the Government’s support. The State Government is expected to make a funding request soon.

Road services are not keeping pace with growth in the area. Picture: Regi Varghese

‘The Australian Government is keen to progress an upgrade of Exit 54 in conjunction with the Queensland Government,” Mr Truss said.

‘We anticipate a final proposal from the Queensland Government in the near ­future.”