Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4

Planning has begun for the Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4, a world class public transport system for residents and visitors to the Gold Coast.

Stage 4 is a 13km extension south of the Light Rail Stage 3, linking Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta via the Gold Coast Airport.

The Gold Coast Light Rail system is being designed to be delivered in stages to respond to population growth.

A future southern extension of the light rail will service important cultural and urban attractions including the Burleigh Head National Park, Palm Beach Village Centre, Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary, Southern Cross University, Gold Coast Airport and Coolangatta shopping and business precinct.

Through this critical infrastructure we will support the Gold Coast and its continued growth for decades to come.

Planning for the future of the transport network is critical to achieving local, state and federal planning targets and policies as set out in:

City of Gold Coast's Gold Coast City Transport Strategy 2031
The Queensland Government’s Shaping SEQ Regional Plan and Regional Transport Plan
The Australian Government's Smart Cities Plan

Benefits

Improves safety
Improves network efficiency
Contributes to economy
Contributes to regional growth
Better active transport
Reduces peak hour congestion
Reduces travel time
Reduces maintenance
Accessibility

Key features

13km extension from Burleigh Heads to Coolangatta via the Gold Coast Airport
Dual track along the existing corridor alignment
Improved Palm Beach Avenue precinct
There is the potential to provide alternatives for through traffic so the intersection of Palm Beach Avenue, Gold Coast Highway and Cypress Terrace can be transformed into a pedestrian friendly precinct, with the opportunity for street front dining, shopping and urban renewal.
Improved connectivity to the M1
The improved connectivity for northern Palm Beach to the M1 and its new service roads, through a widened M1 overpass at 19th Avenue as part of the Pacific Motorway M1 Varsity Lakes Exit 85 to Tugun Exit 95 upgrade, will significantly improve access to and from Palm Beach.
Active transport
There is the opportunity to provide new dedicated bridge crossings for bikes and pedestrians across Tallebudgera and Currumbin Creeks.
Oceanway
There is the opportunity to develop a beachfront oceanway path along the full length of Palm Beach to provide high standard bike riding and walking tracks.
Toolona Street
Associated projects could improve the safety and efficiency of the Gold Coast Highway and Toolona Street intersection, by providing alternative access points and reducing the number of traffic movements.
Burleigh Head National Park
The existing Burleigh Heads National Park would be preserved, and access improved to the southern entrance via active travel, light rail, bus and car options.
Connectivity to Burleigh Ridge Park
In order to help protect wildlife between Burleigh Head National Park and Burleigh Ridge Park, a land fauna bridge could be provided, protecting biodiversity by reconnecting ecological corridors.

Funding

The Queensland Government has committed $1.5 million to undertake the transport planning study (Tugun to Coolangatta) and $5 million (joint state and council funding) has been committed to undertake a preliminary business case for light rail planning. Any funding decision to implement the findings of this preliminary business case would be the subject of a detailed business case. Investment ID 1748741 and 1121814.

Total investment: ^$6.5 million

Queensland Government: ^$4 million

Local Government: ^$2.5 million

Current status

The preliminary business case for Light Rail Stage 4 is underway and expected to be complete by mid-2022. The Gold Coast Highway (Tugun to Coolangatta) Multi-modal Corridor Study is underway and expected to be complete by mid-2022.

Burleigh Heads to Tugun

We have approved corridor planning for the upgrade of the Gold Coast Highway through Palm Beach. Since 2003, we have been protecting the corridor against encroachment of development by conditioning building setbacks to allow for a future upgrade. Much of the corridor is protected under this scheme. The Gold Coast Highway (Burleigh Heads to Tugun) Multi-modal Corridor Study investigated whether existing planning will be adequate to accommodate the objectives of Shaping SEQ and the Gold Coast City Transport Strategy 2031, while balancing other considerations including current and future transport demands and the benefits and capacity gained from the M1 (Varsity Lakes to Tugun) upgrade.

Download and read the Gold Coast Highway (Burleigh Heads to Tugun) Multi-modal Corridor Study Executive Summary. Download and read the full Gold Coast Highway (Burleigh Heads to Tugun) Multi-modal Corridor Study

Read the project newsletter for more information about the study.

Community consultation on the findings from the study was undertaken in March/April 2020. Read the Multi-modal Corridor Study community consultation report for more information.

Tugun to Coolangatta

We will continue to undertake multi-modal corridor planning between Tugun and Coolangatta, by reviewing all previous planning and develop an updated transport strategy for this corridor.

The study will build on the work completed for the Burleigh Heads to Tugun section and will consider all transport modes to determine the preferred function for the next 20 years.

Consultation

Community engagement will take place across a 12-month period to coincide with the progress of the planning studies. Community consultation on the Burleigh Heads to Tugun section was carried out from 12 July to 17 September 2021.

Read the Burleigh Heads to Tugun community consultation summary report.

Consultation on the Tugun to Coolangatta section will take place in 2022.

Read the project newsletter.

Read the Why light rail factsheet.

Read the Traffic and transport factsheet.

Read the Environment and Cultural heritage factsheet.

Read the Light rail route selection factsheet.

Read the Active transport and community factsheet.

View the Concept Design Plans

View the flythrough video – Burleigh Heads to Tugun

View the flythrough video – Burleigh Heads to Nineteenth Avenue

View the flythrough video – Nineteenth Avenue to Tomewin Street