Parkwood-Arundel residents complain as four year wait on Coomera Connector plans

Questions have been raised over how a critical section of the Coomera Connector will squeeze down a narrow corridor, with claims planning has been repeatedly put back. Full details.

Planning for arguably the most challenging engineering section of the Coomera Connector to be built has been delayed, state parliament has been told.

Residents living east of the Helensvale Town Centre, some having bought million-dollar plus properties, first complained to Bonney MP Sam O’Connor in mid-2019 at a public forum.

Mr O’Connor has called on Transport Minister Mark Bailey to commit to details on the Stage One Central Package – from Smith Street to the Gold Coast Highway – to be public by December.

The Transport Department is focused on building Stage One North, from Shipper Drive at Coomera to Helensvale Road while it plans the neighbouring southern section.

“The people in Arundel Springs, everyone on the western fringe of Parkwood and the residents of the Surrounds part of Helensvale want to know what this road will look like in their area,” Mr O’Connor told parliament.

“They especially want to know whether the sound barriers will be adequate and whether everything possible is being done to mitigate the impacts of this project.

“For the residents of the Surrounds in particular, they want to know what local access they will have to the light and heavy rail stations and to the Westfield shops.”

More than four year ago – and residents still seeking answers about the design of the Coomera Connector. Instagram/Facebook: Sam O'Connor.

Department of Transport and Main Road confirmed the section’s design and construction program is yet to be finalised, but will be released in “early 2024”.

TMR on its website advised construction would start in “early 2024” but no date is given.

The construction covers “the soft soil areas near the Gold Coast Highway, and the interfaces with the Gold Coast Light Rail system and Gold Coast heavy rail line”.

Mr O’Connor said the design had still not been completed and a brand new bridge at Sage Street in The Surrounds would have to be ripped up and lengthened to actually fit the highway.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey – furious with Sam O’Connor. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Tertius Pickard.

Mr Bailey accused Mr O’Connor of “alleging something that is not factual”.

Outside the parliament, he said: “Sam O’Connor is taking northern Gold Coast residents for fools with his predictable and petty whinging and whining.

“Mr O’Connor’s latest version of his ‘Are we there yet? Are we there yet?’ every five minutes from the back seat shows how out of touch he is what is involved with building a massive piece infrastructure that will benefit generations.

“His LNP blocked securing a corridor for the 2nd M1-Coomera Connector when in last in power as was well reported in the Gold Coast Bulletin in 2014.”

Location of The Surrounds in Helensvale. Picture: Bing Maps.

Mr Bailey said Labor would build the full 16km long stage one of the second M1-Coomera Connector and open it progressively from 2025.

“As a Gold Coast born boy myself, getting such a massive Gold Coast project built and open when I inherited not one square metre of land from the former Newman LNP Government will be one of my proudest achievement as Main Roads Minister,” he said.

Mr O’Connor called on Mr Bailey to keep his commitment, and release details by year’s end.

“We must know what this road will look like and we need pop-up consultations with residents to have local feedback,” he said.

Outside the House, Mr Connor said the Department would “struggle” to meet deadlines.

“It keeps being put back and back. Construction was to be well under way. This is one of the most narrow corridors and it will be six lanes,” he said.

“It’s going to be tight and we have no details at all.”

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