Southern Gold Coast-northern Tweed transport connectivity
Travel demand in the southern Gold Coast and northern Tweed Shire area is expected to substantially increase. This will be driven by population and employment growth of an average 1.3% and 1.2% respectively each year to 2041, as well as growth in passenger numbers passing through the Gold Coast Airport.
Limited route choice and high car dependency means that this growth is expected to exacerbate existing congestion, with 84.4% of trips in 2016 made by private vehicle compared to only 4.9% for public transport. The existing public transport network in the area is also limited, with heavy rail and light rail being available in the northern part of the Gold Coast.
The Queensland Government has considered a wide range of solutions to the identified problems. These included enhancing existing bus services (with and without new infrastructure), road upgrades and new public transport services (light rail and bus rapid transit).
Options were assessed through multi-criteria analysis and cost-benefit analysis. The Queensland Government recommends further assessment of light rail transit and upgrades to bus services and infrastructure at the final business case stage.
Strategic Fit
There is strong alignment of the proposal to Queensland Government plans and strategies, with previous investment in public transport on the coastal transport corridor, namely the Gold Coast Light Rail (GCLR) program.
A light rail connection from Broadbeach to Coolangatta is a priority project in the SEQ Regional Plan 2017, the SEQ Regional Transport Plan 2021, and the Gold Coast City Transport Strategy 2013.
There is also strong alignment to themes of the Australian Government’s Infrastructure Policy Statement, including productivity, equity and connectivity.
Societal Impact
The shortlisted options are expected to deliver benefits to public transport users, as well as road users who may experience less congestion. Extending light rail to Coolangatta may also generate higher value land use and support delivery of housing.
While the short-listed options are expected to achieve positive sustainability outcomes, delivering a cost-effective solution will be challenged by the constraints of existing transport infrastructure, creek crossings, designing for flood resilience and impacts on high value property.
Deliverability
The Queensland Government has successfully delivered public transport projects within the Gold Coast transport corridor. While this is a complex environment for construction work, the Queensland Government has considered deliverability risks and mitigation measures.
Given the proximity of the state border, the proponent will continue to engage with the NSW government as part of the proposal’s design and delivery.
Refer to Infrastructure Glossary for terms and definitions.