Gold Coast Airport draft masterplan: Light and heavy rail stations, retail precinct planned

Gold Coast Airport is set for a dramatic transformation, with plans unveiled for a light rail link, expanded hotel, and giant retail zone. FIND OUT MORE

A light rail link to the terminal, an expanded hotel and a giant retail zone will be built at Gold Coast Airport under plans to dramatically redevelop the precinct.

The expansion, which will be unveiled on Monday, shows how the Bilinga site will be transformed by the 2032 Olympics, with the new masterplan revealing both the short and long-term plans for the airport, which welcomes 6.5 million passengers each year.

A heavy rail station integrated with the light rail is in the long-term plan, which it’s hoped will be delivered by the mid-2040s.

Artist impression of the Gold Coast Airport masterplan, which features an expanded hotel, a light rail connection and retail precinct. Picture: Supplied

Queensland Airports CEO Amelia Evans said the plans had been crafted with a future generations of travellers in mind.

“It’s about activating the land side, the air side and, more broadly, the entire area around the airport and the precinct itself will become far more than just an airport terminal, it will be a destination,” she said.

“We have parcels of land which are predominantly being taken up by parking right now but having a university, health hub, tech hub and retail village there would see people coming not just for us but for all these services.

“There is a lot in front of us but as a city this is really exciting.”

Queensland Airports CEO Amelia Evans

Under the masterplan, airport bosses want the 2032 precinct to include:

•A taxiway upgrade;

•An expansion of the existing terminal;

•A new terminal forecourt and arrivals experience;

•Planned Gold Coast Airport Light Rail Station;

•Relocated public bus stop facilities;

•A multi-deck car park and transport hub;

•Airport hotel expansion, with new office development and ‘Airport Village’ food and retail offerings;

•An expansion of Southern Cross University; and

•Travel Centre development, including electric vehicle charging station.

A light rail station will be at the heart of the precinct. Picture: Supplied

Community consultation launches on Monday and will run until June 14 when the results, along with the plans, to be submitted to the Federal Government for approval.

A decision is expected to be made by December.

Ms Evans said the plan, which had been in the works for several years, would help the airport become a key destination for the Olympics.

“We want to be more than an airport, we’re committed to creating a mixed-use precinct that would further benefit the local community, with the addition of a retail village, health and wellness hub and a conference and tech centre,” she said.

An image of the proposed revamp labelling each element. Picture: Supplied

“The upgrades proposed under this masterplan are about embracing innovation and new technologies that will revolutionise air travel and enhance the customer experience.

“We’ve placed a strong focus on accessibility, ensuring the airport precinct is seamlessly connected with the rest of the city with the delivery of a public front-of-terminal plaza servicing both light and heavy rail.”

The airport is required to develop a new masterplan every eight years.

Ms Evans said the expanded terminal would have new technology which improved the travel experience.

“Smart aviation technologies being considered as part of the plan include biometrics enabled check-in and a fully digital passenger experience that could anticipate customer behaviour and provide personalised travel suggestions based on travel history,” she said.

To comment, visit www.gcamasterplan.com.au.

The content summaries were created with the assistance of AI technology then edited and approved for publication by an editor.