6 years ago
$112 MILLION FOR THE GOLD COAST LIGHT RAIL
The Hon Scott Morrison MP
Today we lock in $112 million for the 6.4 kilometre extension of the Gold Coast Light Rail from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads.
We’re backing Queenslanders with economy building and congestion busting infrastructure.
Extending the light rail from Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads is a vital step to supporting a growing city like the Gold Coast, connecting communities to the services they need.
The project will bring many opportunities for urban revitalisation at the Burleigh Heads and Nobby Beach precincts and will support 2,400 jobs during construction and up to 39 per year during operation.
Our funding is locked in and ready to go from day one. Now it’s time for the Queensland Government to lock in their contribution.
The extension will also have an immediate impact on the South East Queensland region, providing better access to jobs and education opportunities.
Stage 3A will include eight new light rail stations, upgraded pedestrian and cycling facilities and an upgraded bus interchange facility at Burleigh Heads.
It will help support population growth and bust congestion on the Gold Coast – with the population expected to increase by 62 per cent to over 928,000 by 2041.
When complete, and operational in 2023, it will only take travellers around 16 minutes to travel between Broadbeach South Station and North Burleigh Heads.
Motorists on the M1 Motorway will also enjoy flow-on travel time savings and the local economy would benefit.
More than 5.2 million trips made since the opening of Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2 in December 2017, the addition of Stage 3A will provide further transportation options for local trips, further alleviating congestion for motorists using the Gold Coast Highway to travel toward Brisbane.
It builds on a $460 million Liberal and Nationals’ Government contribution to the first two stages of Gold Coast Light Rail. A future Stage 3B would complete the entire corridor, connecting Coolangatta Airport with the earlier stages of the Gold Coast Light Rail.
Our Government is backing Queenslanders and this is all part of our $20 billion investment in economy building and congestion busting infrastructure, right across Queensland.
ENDS