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.

While considerable work has been completed to identify and preserve the gazetted alignment of the Coomera Connector between Loganholme and Coomera, this stage of the project is currently only funded for development of the business case and progressing environmental approvals.

Funding for delivery will be considered by the Australian and Queensland governments following the completion of the business case.

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

  • Relieve pressure on the M1 by providing an alternative route for local traffic and additional crossings of the Logan and Albert rivers.
  • Provide improved connections and accessibility to more transport options for the northern Gold Coast and Logan regions.
  • Improve travel time between Brisbane and the Gold Coast by reducing the number of local trips on the M1.
  • Improve safety on the M1 by reducing congestion and potential queuing at interchanges.
  • Provide more reliable travel times between Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Funding

The Australian and Queensland governments have committed a total of $22 million on a 50:50 (federal:state) basis to continue planning for future stages of the Coomera Connector from Loganholme to Coomera. Investment ID 2012259

Total investment
$22 million
Australian Government
$11 million
Queensland Government
$11 million

Key milestones

  • Mid-2021 to late 2023: Complete draft business case and progress environmental approvals
  • October 2023: Community consultation

Coomera Connector (Future stages) Loganholme to Coomera project map

Coomera Connector Future Stages Project Map - October 2023

Flythrough video

Transcript

The Queensland Government is progressing planning for the future stages of the Coomera Connector between Loganholme and Coomera.

Once complete, the Coomera Connector will be a 45-kilometre new motorway between Logan and the Gold Coast, which will relieve congestion on the M1 by providing an alternative route for local trips.

The corridor will be wide enough for up to 6 lanes of traffic and will include provision for public transport and a dedicated shared path for cyclists and pedestrians.

Eight grade separated interchanges along the 29-kilometre future stages corridor will improve connectivity and support the growth of residential, commercial and industrial areas of the northern Gold Coast.

Since 2022, we’ve been working with a range of experts to develop a business case and concept design for this project.

The business case is a detailed investigation into all aspects of the project including social impact, engineering, economic analysis and costing, concept design and environmental assessment.

Once the business case is complete the Australian and Queensland Governments will make decisions on the funding, staging and timing of the future stages of the Coomera Connector.

Minimising impacts to the environment, while delivering infrastructure projects that support the needs of a growing population, is a key objective for the Queensland Government.

A comprehensive program of bio-diversity surveys and field investigations have taken place over 18 months as part of the environmental assessment.

These investigations have helped inform the design of the road to limit environmental impacts as much as possible.

The mitigation measures in the concept design will be assessed by the Australian Government as part of the environmental approvals process.

We've also developed hydraulic models to ensure the Coomera Connector can be built in a way that does not worsen any flooding impacts in flood prone areas.

These models, which are being assessed by independent experts, have informed the design of the road which includes bridges, embankments, culverts and other measures.

Improving the active transport network is also a key objective of the Coomera Connector project.

A dedicated active transport path will extend along the full route with connections to key community hubs between Loganholme and Nerang.

We've also carried out extensive traffic modelling to determine how the Coomera Connector will work with the existing road network and to identify what future local road upgrades might be required.

The business case for the future stages of the Coomera Connector is on track to be finished by the end of 2023.

The environmental approvals process and decisions by the Australian and Queensland Governments on funding, staging and timing will follow.

To find out more about the Coomera Connector project, visit tmr.qld.gov.au/coomeraconnector.

Current status

Development of the business case and 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 is underway.

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 following completion of the business case. 

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, the department 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.

The department values the input from community and has continued to offer opportunities for consultation with stakeholders throughout the development of the business case and environmental approvals process.

The results from the 2019, 2021 and 2023 rounds of community consultation will inform the project’s business case, to be considered by the Australian and Queensland governments.  

Latest news

Local road connections

The department has 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:

Further work is underway to finalise these interchange layouts and configurations, taking into account factors such as projected traffic volumes, project footprint, and impacts to local roads. 

Amending the corridor to achieve better outcomes

As part of the development of the Coomera Connector (Future stages) business case, it was 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.

It was 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

The department is 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, the department has 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.

The department also 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.