NEWS
T
FIRST GLIMPSE AT GOLD COAST LIGHT RAIL DESIGNS BEYOND BURLEIGH
he Queensland Government has published a first look at a potential future light rail route beyond Burleigh as community consultation begins. Queensland Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, said major transport infrastructure projects like the light rail were an important part of the state’s COVID-19 Economic Recovery Plan. “We’re investing in public transport on the Gold Coast to create jobs, stimulate the local economy and take cars off the roads into the future,” Ms Palaszczuk said. “We want feedback from locals. We want to hear what they think of the designs – that’s what today’s all about.” Community consultation as part of the development of a preliminary business case for Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 is now underway, giving businesses and residents along the alignment and the wider Gold Coast the opportunity to have their say about the planning project. Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister, Mark Bailey, invited the community to comment on the 13km, Stage 4 extension of light rail proposed south of Burleigh Heads. “We are still very much in the early stages of considering what a future stage of light rail past Burleigh might look like,” Mr Bailey said. “The flythrough video has been created to give Gold Coast residents a more realistic conception of how a future extension of light rail to Tugun could operate. “For the next three months, the project team will be at seven locations across the southern Gold Coast to answer questions and provide face-to-face information to residents interested in learning more about the project.
8
September 2021 // Issue 20
“The community can also provide feedback online via the project website.” Member for Gaven, Meaghan Scanlon, said, “Our city is growing and moving at a rapid pace – that’s why we’re upgrading the M1, building the Coomera Connector, building light rail stage 3 and delivering three new stations on the coast." “Linking light rail to the airport – together with the M1 and heavy rail – means the Gold Coast will be better connected and less congested. “We’ve seen people vote with their feet on light rail with more than 50 million trips taken on the existing system since it opened, and this extension will provide greater connectivity and accessibility for all Gold Coasters.” The proposed Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 extension will service Burleigh Heads Village Centre, Palm Beach Village Centre, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast Airport and Coolangatta shopping and business precinct. The Queensland Government has committed $1.5 million to undertake the Gold Coast Light Rail (Tugun to Coolangatta) transport planning study, while $5 million has been jointly committed by the State Government and City of Gold Coast to complete a preliminary business case for Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4. To watch the animations on the design concepts, visit www. yoursay-projects.tmr.qld.gov.au/gold-coast-light-rail-stage-4.
www.infrastructuremagazine.com.au
