Light rail stage three extension through Nobby and the carparks rethink

Dozens of car parks in booming Gold Coast suburb Nobby Beach are back in the spotlight after light rail bosses intervened.

A stay of execution has been granted for dozens of carparks set to be removed from the thriving Nobby Beach precinct.

GoldlinQ CEO Phil Mumford said the 38 parks would now not be removed until late this year or early 2026 after feedback from business operators.

Mr Mumford said revitalisation works between Lavarack Road and Chairlift Avenue were rescheduled from early 2025 in order to retain parking in the precinct for as long as possible.

He said the first stage of revitalisation works would now occur from October to mid-December, before pausing and restarting in February 2026, with the majority of car parking impacts not occurring until next year.

Mr Mumford said these works would include the creation of a piazza, improved lighting and seating areas, wider footpaths and a covered bike parking facility.

However, he said parking in Great Hall Drive and Chairlift Avenue would be temporarily removed due to Stage 3 works required in June.

These include Wave Street pavement works, to be scheduled at the same time as Great Hall Drive pavement, kerb and pram ramp works, and Chairlift Avenue pavement, kerb and pram ramp works.

Danielle Deighton, owner of About A Girl. Picture Glenn Hampson

“This construction activity will see parking in Great Hall Drive and Chairlift Avenue temporarily removed during the works,” he said.

Bine Bar and Dining owner Scott Imlach, who has been operating in Nobby since 2013, said he was grateful for the reprieve but he was still disappointed that the parking spaces could not be permanently saved.

He said he had asked every level of government for an explanation and all blamed each other.

“I would love to know who is actually at fault for making the decision to lose those parking spaces,” said Mr Imlach.

“Local blames state, state blames federal, they blame state, state blames Main Roads … it makes no sense and just causes more havoc.”

Mr Mumford said the revitalisation plans were finalised following initial community engagement by City of Gold Coast and subsequent engagement by the Gold Coast Light Rail project.

Traders are struggling to keep trading with all the changes at Nobby's shops but will be thankful of a stay of execution for 38 carpark bays. Picture Glenn Hampson

Under the light rail stage 3 extension’s full urban revitalisation works, the 38 on-street parking spaces at Nobby Beach will be permanently removed where the Gold Coast Highway is too narrow to accommodate the light rail tracks, stations, vehicle traffic lanes and bike lanes.

The works will see the service road between Lavarack Road and Chairlift Avenue closed and turned into a pedestrian-only piazza.

Chairlift Ave will become a cul-de-sac with five parking spaces, a sheltered bike parking area and shared use area to promote active transport and opportunity for events, while the primary intersection for the Nobby’s precinct will be at Wave Street.

Mr Imlach said despite the upheaval, he was still in favour of the light rail and believed it would ultimately benefit the businesses in the area.

“The hardest part will be those months between losing the parking spaces and the start of the light rail actually running,” he said.

Gold Coast small bar venue boss Scott Imlach: “I actually used the light rail on the weekend for the Fisher concert and it was great, it will be a good thing coming through this area once it arrives.” Picture Glenn Hampson

“But I actually used the light rail on the weekend for the Fisher concert and it was great, it will be a good thing coming through this area once it arrives.

“The only thing that worries me is if they don’t continue it from Burleigh to the airport, that would be the biggest waste of all.”

Tramway construction is currently underway in the precinct at Albicore Street and the Gold Coast Highway intersection.

Originally published as Light rail stage three extension through Nobby and the carparks rethink