Coomera Connector: Cost of Gold Coast arterial road blows out by $474m to $3.5bn

The state government has defended a half-billion dollar blowout in the cost of the Coomera Connector’s first stage, saying the blame belongs elsewhere. FIND OUT MORE

The state government has defended a half-billion dollar blowout in the cost of the Coomera Connector’s first stage, blaming the former Labor government for the spike.

An analysis of budget papers released last week show the total cost of the first stage of the arterial road has increased by $474m from $3.026bn to $3.5bn.

The Labor Opposition has taken aim at the government, saying it had not been transparent about the increase.

“This is the least transparent transport budget in living memory,” said Opposition transport spokesman Bart Mellish said.

Bart Mellish Photo: Steve Pohlner

“We’ve had funding cuts to projects, others kicked into the never never, and a massive budget blowout to the Coomera Connector that’s been kept quiet by this government.

“There is also no indication the federal government are making an increased contribution on this blowout which has been sneaked out in the budget papers.

“This budget will do nothing to alleviate congestion in southeast Queensland and right across the state.”

Artist impression of the Smith Street interchange of the Coomera Connector on the Gold Coast. Picture: Supplied

Budget papers show the government spent $650m on the project in the previous financial year, with a further $610m to be spent this fiscal year.

More than $1.4bn has already been spent to deliver the project, which will see its first lanes open before Christmas.

Housing Minister Sam O’Connor hit back at Labor, saying the cost blowout was not the responsibility of the government after only eight months in power.

“It’s all in the budget and it’s interesting that the Labor Party is standing up on a blowout that occurred because of their management of that project,” he said.

“We are pretty new as the government of Queensland, so the way that project has been managed is very much a matter for the Labor Party and that’s all I have to add on that.

Artist impression of the Coomera Connector (Second M1) on the Gold Coast.

“They’re able to raise this because it was in the budget and there’s no more transparent way that a government can operate than that.

“It is a very important piece of infrastructure and it’s long overdue for our city.”

The Coomera Connector is planned as a six-lane, 45km arterial road to run from Nerang to Logan.

The first stage of the project will run from Nerang-Broadbeach Road at Carrara to Shipper Drive, Coomera.

Acting Gold Coast Mayor Mark Hammel last week welcomed the Coomera Connector funding but said more needed to be done.

“There’s still no commitment to future stages of the second M1. It’s one thing to build Stage 1 – but to truly take pressure off the Pacific Motorway, the Coomera Connector must connect from Nerang to the Logan Motorway,” he said.

“How does the State Government expect our city to accommodate one million people in less than 20 years – population targets they set for the Gold Coast themselves – without serious investment in the existing M1 interchanges, the public transport network, and the desperately needed second highway?”