38 car parking spaces to be axed at Nobby Beach during light rail construction on the Gold Coast

With the axe looming over dozens of car park spaces at the crowded Nobby Beach precinct, anxious shop owners are begging for a delay - and a definitive timeline

With the axe looming over dozens of car park spaces at the crowded Nobby Beach precinct, anxious shop owners are praying for a reprieve - and a definitive timeline.

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

The works, which were originally scheduled to occur now, would see the service road between Lavarack Road and Chairlift Avenue closed and turned into a pedestrian-only piazza.

Chairlift Ave would 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, which is already operational.

Traders are struggling to keep trading with all the changes at Nobby's shops, and now there is more change on the way. Picture Glenn Hampson

However, local businesses have pushed for a delay to the works given the light rail itself was now six months behind its scheduled completion.

About a Girl clothing boutique owner Danielle Deighton said losing the parking spaces now, with passengers not due to roll through until mid-2026, would be the killer blow to businesses between Lavarack Rd and Chairlift Ave.

Goldlinq spokeswoman Lucy Ardern said the timeline for the removal of car parking was still under consideration and it was hoped the works could be delivered in early 2026, allowing car parking to remain in place as long as possible.

Meanwhile, local favourite Sparrow Coffee said it was relocating from its spot on the Gold Coast Highway service road to the space formerly occupied by restaurant Mr on the southern side of Chairlift Ave to avoid light rail construction disruptions and parking loss.

Owner Brooke Hudson said their current lease did not expire until September and the lack of a firm timeline regarding parking removal was making it difficult to re-let.

“It’s a bigger, sunnier space and gives us more security, it’s also easier to access. We wanted to make the move now because we’re not sure when they’ll get rid of the carparks and we were worried we would have nowhere to go,” said Ms Hudson, who also operates cafes in Byron Bay, Ballina, Bangalow and Port Douglas and is set to open a new outlet in Main Beach, on the corner of Main Beach Parade and Stafford Avenue.

Danielle Deighton, owner of About A Girl, is struggling to keep trading with all the changes at Nobby's shops, and now there is more change on the way. Danielle hopes they will keep their parking spots til next year now as council and goldlinq negotiate. Picture Glenn Hampson

“John Holland and Goldlinq have actually been great in proactively communicating with the businesses here and I know they are trying to delay the car park removal after hearing from all of us, but we’re still waiting on the final word.

“It is a little difficult for us because we are currently paying for two tenancies and it’s hard to find a tenant for our old space with this uncertainty. Fortunately, we have our other cafes to keep us going in the meantime.”

Ms Deighton said her shop had a shocking 12 months due to a number of factors including construction of the Oxley, light rail works and the cost of living crisis.

She said it was becoming too hard for customers to access About a Girl and removing the parking spaces too soon could be the final blow.

“We’ve been in Nobby’s for 10 years and we can’t have another year like we just had,” she said.

“Things have been better since construction at the Oxley ended, at least the tradies aren’t taking all the parks now, but the lack of stability has been hard.

“We would love some certainty that we can offer customers about access. Once the light rail is operating we hope that will help, that it will bring people here, but in the meantime we need those parks. And we just ask residents to please keep shopping locally.”

Work on the Light Rail at Nobbys Beach continues. Picture Glenn Hampson

Ms Ardern said delivery of the urban revitalisation works in Nobby Beach, which would include improved lighting and seating areas, was still being considered by Goldlinq and other stakeholders.

“It is hoped these works can be delivered on behalf of the City of Gold Coast in early 2026, allowing car parking in the southern end of the precinct to remain in place as long as possible,” she said.

Light rail construction is scheduled to be completed in the northern half of the Stage 3 alignment, to Miami, by October 2025, with testing and commissioning scheduled for the project by early 2026 and passenger services starting mid-2026.

Originally published as 38 car parking spaces to be axed at Nobby Beach during light rail construction on the Gold Coast