Coomera Connector (Future stages) Loganholme to Coomera, planning
Planning is underway for the future stages of the Coomera Connector – the remaining 29km between Loganholme and Coomera.
Delivery of the 45km Coomera Connector between Loganholme and Nerang will realise significant transport network benefits for the M1 and surrounding road network in the northern Gold Coast and Logan regions.
Reducing congestion on the M1 is a key objective of the Coomera Connector. Transport modelling has identified that to meet this objective, the northern end of the new road needs to connect with the Logan and Pacific motorways.
The gazetted Coomera Connector corridor also includes provision for a local road connection from the Coomera Connector at Eagleby to the intersection of Beenleigh–Redland Bay Road and Mount Cotton Road, at Carbrook.
Considerable work has been completed to identify the corridor of the Coomera Connector between Loganholme and Coomera, and the business case is now complete.
Funding for delivery of Coomera Connector (Future stages) will be considered by the Australian and Queensland governments in due course.
Benefits
- Improves safety
- Increases capacity
- Improves network efficiency
- Increases traffic flow
- Reduces peak hour congestion
- Reduces interchange queuing
- Reduces travel time
- Contributes to economy
- Better active transport
Key features
- North-south alternative corridor to the M1, between the Logan and Pacific Motorways in Loganholme, and Coomera.
- Connection to Coomera Connector Stage 1.
- 29km high-speed motorway located east of the M1 and the Gold Coast Rail Line.
- 29km adjacent active transport path with connections to local roads and key community hubs.
- Additional bridge crossings of the Logan and Albert rivers.
- 8 new interchanges.
Funding
The Australian and Queensland governments committed a total of $22 million on a 50:50 (federal:state) basis to continue planning future stages of the Coomera Connector from Loganholme to Coomera.
Investment ID: 2012259 (QTRIP 2023-24 to 2026-27).
- Total investment
- $22 million
- Australian Government
- $11 million
- Queensland Government
- $11 million
Key milestones
- 2016-2019: Road corridor confirmed and gazetted (protected).
- 2019: Community consultation (on whole 45km corridor) completed.
- 2020-21: Assessment of alternative alignments at Eagleby, including community consultation.
- October-November 2023: Community consultation held.
- Late 2023: Business case completed and currently under review.
Coomera Connector (Future stages) Loganholme to Coomera project map
Flythrough video
Current status
The business case has been completed and is currently under review and an environmental referral with the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water is in development.
The decision to proceed with the next stage of the Coomera Connector, and the timing, will be at the discretion of the Australian and Queensland governments.
Community consultation
Initial community consultation on the Coomera Connector was undertaken in late 2019. While 4 out of 5 people surveyed at that time supported the Coomera Connector being built as soon as possible, some community members had questions about the alignment of the Coomera Connector near Eagleby and potential impacts on the wetlands at Eagleby.
In 2021, we assessed 6 alternative alignments put forward by the community for the Coomera Connector around Eagleby. The assessment determined the gazetted Coomera Connector alignment provides the best overall outcome compared to the alternative alignments. Community consultation was completed to seek feedback on the results of the assessment.
In 2023, community consultation on the concept design plans was conducted over a 5-week period. Overall, feedback was generally positive with 68% of residents and 72% of businesses being supportive of the Coomera Connector (Future stages) as a potential solution for helping to ease congestion on the M1 in the future. Read the community consultation summary.
The results from community consultation in 2019, 2021 and 2023 have informed the project's business case.
We value input from the community and continue to offer opportunities for consultation with stakeholders.
Latest news
Local road connections
We identified locations for 8 grade-separated interchanges in the future stages of the Coomera Connector, to better link residential, industrial, and commercial areas in Coomera, Pimpama, Ormeau, Stapylton, Eagleby and Loganholme.
View the interchange layouts:
- Connection to Pacific Motorway (M1) and Logan Motorway
- Eagleby Interchange
- Stapylton-Jacobs Well Road Interchange
- Burnside Road Interchange
- Eggersdorf Road Interchange
- Pimpama-Jacobs Well Road
- Yawalpah Road Interchange
- Foxwell Road
Amending the corridor to achieve better outcomes
As part of the development of the Coomera Connector (Future stages) business case, we identified there may be opportunities to improve environmental outcomes and reduce impacts through amendments to the gazetted corridor at the crossing of the Logan River, Eagleby and at Kerkin Road North, Pimpama.
We also identified that improved network outcomes could be achieved by moving the interchange from Oaky Creek Road to Foxwell Road in Coomera.
Read more about these amendments.
Environmental impacts
We are committed to delivering infrastructure projects that support the needs of a growing population while minimising and mitigating impacts to the environment.
To ensure the Coomera Connector is designed and delivered in an environmentally sensitive manner, we have been working with a range of subject matter experts and stakeholders.
Extensive terrestrial and aquatic surveys and investigations have been undertaken by qualified ecologists as part of the preparation of environmental approvals with the federal Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.
These biodiversity surveys include:
- flora and fauna surveys to identify habitat values, protected plants, wildlife species and habitats
- migratory bird surveys which include on-ground surveys, habitat assessments and migratory bird population counts (species and abundances)
- aquatic surveys to identify aquatic organisms and monitor water quality.
Extensive geotechnical surveys have also taken place along the corridor to assess ground conditions, acid sulphate soils, and groundwater.
These surveys and investigations have informed the mitigation measures that are included in the concept design.
Flooding
Hydraulic models have been developed for each of the floodplains within the project corridor.
These models have been analysed and interpreted by experts in flood modelling and hydrology issues associated with delivering major infrastructure projects.
We brought on board an independent panel of 3 qualified hydraulic experts who are reviewing and providing advice on our hydraulic studies and the mitigation measures included within the concept design.
The hydraulic analysis has informed the concept design, including the extent and location of waterway openings, bridging and culverts, to ensure strict performance measures are met, such as afflux (rise in water level) limits and time of inundation.
Our hydraulic modelling efforts have confirmed that the Coomera Connector can be constructed within the Logan and Albert river floodplains without adverse effects to neighbouring properties and waterways.
Active transport
The Future stages of the Coomera Connector will extend the dedicated shared path that is being built for Stage 1, from Coomera to Nerang. Once complete, active transport users will have access to a 45km path along the entire corridor between Loganholme and Nerang.
All forms of active transport will be able to use the new shared path including commuter and leisure bike riders, pedestrians, people with prams, mobility scooters and wheelchairs.
