Golden Age: Where the Gold Coast’s light rail will go next with south, west and north links planned
THE Gold Coast light rail will extend south, west and north within 20 years under plans developed by city leaders. It comes as the first funding is committed to the controversial Stage 3A link to Burleigh. SEE THE MAP
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THE first round of funding for the $600 million third stage of the light rail will be quarantined in this month’s council budget.
The first of the council’s expected $60 million contribution to the Broadbeach to Burleigh link will be put in its strategic reserve ready for when federal and state funding is secured.
Light Rail grand plan revealed
Stage 1 — Griffith University to Broadbeach — completed in 2014
Stage 2 — Griffith to Helensvale — Completed in 2017
Stage 3A — Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads — potential completion date 2021
Straight down Gold Coast Highway to Burleigh Heads
Stage 3B — Burleigh Heads to Gold Coast Airport — Potential completion date — 2024
Most likely to be straight down Gold Coast highway through Tallebudgera, Palm Beach and to the Airport.
West route 1 — Spur line from Nobby Beach to Robina — complete by 2030
from the Gold Coast Highway along Christine Ave through Varsity Lakes with major stops at Robina Town Centre. It would terminate at the Robina railway station and Cbus Stadium
West Route 2 — Spur line from Broadbeach to Nerang Railway Station stopping at Metricon Stadium — complete by 2030
This would split off at Hooker boulevard and run along Nerang-Broadbeach Road.
North route 1 — Griffith University to Harbour town.
This splits off from Griffith and turns up Olsen Ave and runs to the shopping centre.
Other connections proposed in plans:
Line D — running from Main Beach to Palm Beach, with branch lines running from Main Beach to The Spit and between Palm Beach and Elanora.
Line C — Would include a small western branch line between Surfers Paradise and Bundall.
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But Mayor Tom Tate called on those tiers of governments to reconsider how they fund future stages to avoid the prolonged battle which delayed the start of construction for Stage 2.
“We want our funding ready without having to put any kind of special levy on ratepayers and, all things going well, we could see construction start in late 2019,” Cr Tate said.
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“The funding for this project should always be continuous in the budgets for the future. Forget the budget cycles, let’s get out of that loop.
“Work on Stage 3A should be able to get going once the business case is complete. It is viable the costings are being completed. Let’s not wait until the next election.
“The work should keep going as well and once Stage 3A has begun we must announce the investigations beginning for 3B and have the $10 million for that business case ready so we can push ahead.”
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The business case for 3A, jointly funded by the council and State Government last year, is expected to be completed by Christmas.
City leaders are hoping money for the project will be secured in both the 2019-20 state and federal budgets, allowing construction to begin late next year.
The 7km link is expected to run down the Gold Coast Highway from the Broadbeach South station to central Burleigh Heads.
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