Revealed: The City maps which show motorists will need a traffic permit once trams reach Burleigh

Council is planning major restrictions on parking during weekdays on the tram corridor from Mermaid Beach to Burleigh. Here’s everything you need to know.

Parking will be limited to three hours during weekdays on the tram corridor from Mermaid Beach to Burleigh to prevent the suburbs becoming giant parking lots, a councillor has warned.

New mapping released by council shows a “traffic area” based on a 400-metre walking catchment from the GCLR3 corridor along the Gold Coast Highway.

Area councillor Nick Marshall is calling on residents to respond to council’s consultation, as part of a “GC have your say” series, to be rolled out in the next two weeks.

But Mr Marshall remains supportive of the move given motorists from the west will want to park outside properties before hopping on trams.

“I’m keen to hear what people think. If we don’t do something, the local streets will become a commuter car park where people catch light rail,” he said.

Mr Marshall said council had to take some sort of action otherwise there would be a “far worse outcome”.

Light Rail Stage 3 proposed parking zones which will limit parking for three hours from Broadbeach to Burleigh.

Council said the traffic area will have a time limit from 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, unless otherwise signed. The restrictions exclude public holidays.

The time limits are implemented to allow more people to access those parking spaces, council said.

The City said it will provide for “fair and equitable access to parking spaces for the community” and improve the customer turnover for nearby businesses.

To reduce the amount of parking signage within the traffic area, parking signs will be placed at the boundaries or access routes of the traffic area.

Mr Marshall said the big concern for council, once Stage 3 was finished, would be if workers arrive at 5.30am to park their cars and leave their vehicles outside homes and unit blocks until 6pm where there was limited street parking.

“It’s (the hours for the new traffic area) nine to five. It’s not on weekends. It doesn’t affect kids’ sports, or people going to their friend’s house,” he said.

Councillor Nick Marshall.

Mr Marshall said the City would continue to work on providing more park and ride systems to accommodate traffic.

Residents will be able to contact council about obtaining a free parking permit. Visitors can also obtain passes but the cost is $109.

Central Gold Coast residents are currently facing traffic delays as major works continue at key intersections along the Gold Coast Highway in Mermaid Beach and Miami.

GoldlinQ expects the work will continue until late February.

The trams are expected be tested from Broadbeach to Miami North by September.

Once the testing is completed, GoldlinQ bosses are confident the trams will be travelling all the way to Burleigh by early 2026.

The consultation on traffic permits for Stage 3 occurs against a backdrop of council finalising surveying of residents on Stage 4 through the border.

Early speculation is it shows at least 50-50 support, even in Palm Beach where protesting residents are based.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate remains a strong supporter of the trams despite speculation the new State Government, in a review of all options, will support improving the bus network from Burleigh to Coolangatta.

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Originally published as Revealed: The City maps which show motorists will need a traffic permit once trams reach Burleigh