Coomera Connector (Stage 1)

The Stage 1 section of the Coomera Connector between Coomera and Nerang has been identified as the priority section to be built first.

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 Coomera and Nerang rivers.
• Provide improved connections and accessibility to more transport options on the northern Gold Coast.
• Improve and provide more reliable travel times between Brisbane and the Gold Coast by reducing the number of local trips on the M1.
• Increase safety on the M1 by reducing congestion and potential queuing at interchanges.

Funding

The Australian Government and the Queensland Government have committed a total of $2.16 billion (on a 50:50 basis) to plan and construct Coomera Connector (Stage 1) (Second M1) between Coomera and Nerang. Investment ID 1776678

• Coomera

  Concept video showing what the planned Coomera Connector road may look like when constructed in the vicinity of the Coomera River, including an overpass at Hope Island Road.

• Helensvale

  Concept video showing what the planned Coomera Connector road may look like when constructed in the vicinity of the Helensvale including how the new road is positioned in relation to the Helensvale transit hub.

• Parkwood

  Concept video showing what the planned Coomera Connector road may look like when constructed in the vicinity of the Parkwood, including an overpass at the Smith Street Motorway near the Parkwood light rail station.

• Nerang

  Concept video showing what the planned Coomera Connector road may look like when constructed at Nerang, including a new bridge over the Nerang River.

Latest news

26 March 2023: Design released for Coomera Connector Stage 1 North 

The design for the first section of the Coomera Connector has been released, showing detailed layouts for the Stage 1 North package from Coomera to Helensvale.

We have been working through the many aspects of the design process over the last 15 months with changes and improvements made to the design.

Site investigation works have been underway for some time. Main construction works such as vegetation clearing, earthworks and structures have now commenced.

Download the Stage 1 North newsletter (PDF, 4.2MB)

22 March 2023: Major construction starts on Stage 1 North

With federal environmental approvals now granted construction has begun on South East Queensland's largest road infrastructure project.

Construction activities are now underway for Coomera Connector Stage 1 North, between Coomera and Helensvale.

Work will take place throughout the entire Stage 1 North corridor from Shipper Drive, Coomera, to Helensvale Road, Helensvale and across the Coomera River.

With major construction commencing, locals can expect to see construction workers, vehicles and plant operating in these areas.

7 December 2022: Public Environment report consultation complete

Consultation on the draft Public Environment Report has now closed. 

The Public Environment Report was available for public consultation as part of the Australian Government's assessment and decision-making process for the approval of the Coomera Connector Stage 1 project under the Environmental Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

The statutory process requires the Department of Transport and Main Roads to review and consider all comments and establish whether a change to the Public Environment Report is required. 

We received 84 comments, which were carefully considered to see if any changes were necessary. Only very minor changes were made to the draft report. 

The Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water will now review our responses and decide whether to grant approval or request changes. Once approval is received construction on the Coomera Connector Stage 1 North package can commence.

Read the updated Public Environment Report and the Public Comments Response Report (Appendix 17).  

10 October 2022: Contract awarded for Stage 1 South

A contract has been awarded to BG&E Pty Ltd and HDR Pty Ltd Joint Venture (BHJV) to undertake detailed design for Stage 1 South of the Coomera Connector—the southern-most section, from Smith Street Motorway, Molendinar to Nerang-Broadbeach Road, Nerang.

The Stage 1 South package will be delivered as a Transport Infrastructure Contract – Construct Only. This means 2 separate contracts are awarded—one for design and one for construction. 

The Stage 1 South package connects from the Stage 1 Central interface near Smith Street Motorway to a new interchange at Southport-Nerang Road, before crossing the Nerang River and finishing at a new intersection with Nerang-Broadbeach Road, near Chisholm Drive.

Construction of Stage 1 South is expected to begin in 2024 and be completed by late 2026.

29 August 2022: Business case summary for Stage 1

The business case for Coomera Connector (Stage 1) has now been approved by the Queensland Government and Infrastructure Australia with additional funding secured to cover increased costs resulting from a competitive building and construction market due to COVID-19, and higher material and labour costs being experienced throughout Australia.

The complete Stage 1 business case is more than 1000 pages and details the extensive investigations and data completed by numerous content-experts specific to their relevant fields. On that basis, the majority of the report is commercial-in-confidence.

Read the Stage 1 business case summary.

Download the Stage 1 business case summary (PDF, 9.62MB).

View the Infrastructure Australia summary evaluation of the business case. 

Community consultation

We performed initial community consultation on the 45-km Coomera Connector corridor in late 2019. Outcomes from this indicated that 80% of participants supported the Coomera Connector being built as soon as possible. It also showed that noise, landscape, and the environment were key issues raised by those who live close to the Coomera Connector.

We held a second round of community consultation focusing on Stage 1 in September 2020. This consultation gave the community an added opportunity to have their say on key priorities for the project.

In addition to this, a Coomera Connector (Stage 1) Community Reference Group was established for the business case phase of the project. The purpose of the Community Reference Group was to gain community input from key resident, business and environmental stakeholders into negotiable aspects of the project.

As the business case is now finalised, the purpose, scope and objectives of the Community Reference Group is complete. Its input has been valuable in understanding community priorities and has been instrumental in guiding key urban design and environmental elements of the project.

The urban design elements explored by the Community Reference Group and identified as community priorities were:

• design of noise barriers
• design of retaining walls
• landscaping and planting in and around the project corridor
• design of a shared path for walking and bike riding.

A series of artist's impressions were developed, based on the ultimate 6-lane design, to show how these elements could look for Coomera Connector (Stage 1).

We requested feedback from the wider community on the artist's impressions in March 2021, and this feedback will be considered as the design progresses.

Download the Questions, Issues and Opportunities report from the Community Reference Group (PDF, 1.62MB).

Access other historical publications for the Coomera Connector.

Environmentally sensitive design

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.

Over the past 3 years, extensive surveys have been conducted along the Stage 1 corridor, including:

• wildlife surveys to determine habitat values for native fauna, including koalas
• flora surveys to determine the presence of protected plants
• aquatic ecological surveys and water quality monitoring, including a 12-month survey within and adjacent to Coombabah Lake.

Environmental approvals are being progressed, with the Australian Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water currently assessing Stage 1 of the project under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water also confirmed the Coomera Connector (Stage 1) to be a controlled action that will be assessed by a Public Environment Report.

Koala management plan

Recognising the significance of koala populations in the northern Gold Coast, we have developed a Koala Management Plan as part of our responsibilities to deliver Stage 1 of the Coomera Connector.

The Koala Management Plan will guide the design and implementation of a suite of measures to understand the current extent and health of the koala population in the vicinity of the Coomera Connector project area and ensures that koalas are appropriately protected during construction and operation. This approach ensures that we comply with relevant state and federal legal requirements and meet community expectations for the welfare and conservation of koalas in and around the corridor.

Conservation strategies forming the basis of the Koala Management Plan include:

• undertaking monitoring and research to provide baseline data on koala populations
• best practice fauna movement infrastructure to facilitate the movement of koalas in wildlife corridors
• working with all levels of government to establish potential future koala habitat areas (local offsets) and maintain important wildlife corridors.

In August 2021, we engaged Endeavour Veterinary Ecology to undertake a koala tagging and monitoring program, and a Koala Stakeholder Reference Group and established a koala management program to share information on the progress of the program.

To ensure that impacts to habitat are addressed, the plan also includes the acquisition and rehabilitation of additional land to support local wildlife populations and to offset areas of habitat lost for the Coomera Connector.

The Koala Management Plan is included in the Public Environment Report.

Hope Island train station

The Cross River Rail Delivery Authority is continuing with planning of three new stations on the Gold Coast Line, including a station at Hope Island. The new Hope Island station is located adjacent to the Coomera Connector (Stage 1 North) corridor. 

The Delivery Authority has engaged Acciona Georgiou Joint Venture (AGJV), who is delivering Coomera Connector (Stage 1 North), to deliver Hope Island station. Integration and delivery of both projects under one contractor has been determined as the preferred delivery solution to reduce project interface risks including safety, construction and delivery timeframes.

Both the rail and road project teams are working closely together to minimise impacts to neighbouring residents and businesses.

Find out more about the new Hope Island station.