Golden Age: Southern Gold Coast light rail link will transform Palm Beach and Elanora and bring more people to the area

THE GOLD Coast’s next train station will be built between two of the city’s busiest suburbs, with the new link costing more than $100 million to build. Here’s how the rail extension will transform the area.

GOLD Coast suburbs along a proposed extension of the heavy rail line would get a new lease of life if the track was built.

The next station south of Varsity Lakes is expected to be constructed between Palm Beach and Elanora, according to long-term State Government plans, and would be the first in a decade.

While there are no current plans to build the link, data studied by traffic engineers indicates it would likely cost hundreds of millions of dollars to complete.

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There are long-term plans to take the heavy rail south of Varsity Lakes. Photographer: Liam Kidston.

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According to data seen by the Gold Coast Bulletin, the cost would likely be $5-10 million to build each kilometre of the near 8km route from Varsity Lakes to Palm Beach, along the M1.

Any bridges would be likely to add around $50 million each while the railway station alone would likely cost $20 million.

Greater Southern Gold Coast Chamber of Commerce President Hilary Jacobs believes the line would bring benefits to the area.

“What this link would do is make it easier to connect with the state’s capital and would relieve the traffic issues we have down here,” she said.

“But at the same time this opens up a lot of opportunities too because a lot of people will be able to travel further with less hassle while bringing more people to the area.

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Hilary Jacobs. Picture by Scott Fletcher

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“Further south there is the potential for further development of the airport area but the idea doesn’t lend itself too well to the Elanora and Palm Beach area.”

The line, which terminates at Varsity Lakes, has not seen any extension in nearly a decade.

The extension south is supported by the Gold Coast Airport and Gold Coast City Council

Earlier this month, Gaven MP Meaghan Scanlon told the Gold Coast Bulletin the timing of the extension of the heavy rail from Varsity Lakes to the Gold Coast Airport “is subject to funding and competing statewide priorities”.

The heavy rail corridor runs alongside the M1 through Palm Beach and Elanora. Supplied Ray White Special Projects

Southport businessman John Howe has witnessed the dramatic changes in his suburb since light rail began operating more than four years ago, including a significant increase in the student population and a raft of new businesses coming into the area.

He said the Coast’s southern suburbs would experience the same uplift.

Chairman of the Committee of Southport John Howe. Picture by Scott Fletcher

“My view would be that as you move towards the south we must be very sensitive of the environment, to the community in those areas,” he said.

“But one must always remember that we all need to look after the future of our children and choose jobs

“Whatever we do must be determined by how we can get those children jobs.”