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:

Benefits

  • Improves network efficiency
  • Contributes to economy
  • Contributes to regional growth
  • Better active transport
  • Reduces peak hour congestion
  • Reduces travel time
  • 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 $3.7 million to undertake a preliminary business case for Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 along with Gold Coast City Council's financial contribution of $670,000. Investment ID 1748742

An additional $1.83 million has been committed by Gold Coast City Council's, bringing Gold Coast City Council's total commitment to planning for Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 to $2.5 million.

Any funding decision to implement the findings of this preliminary business case would be the subject of a detailed business case.

The Queensland Government committed $3 million to the Gold Coast Highway (Tugun to Coolangatta) Multi-modal Corridor Study. Previous Investment ID 1121814

Total investment
$4.37 million
Queensland Government
$3.7 million
Local Government
$0.67 million

Current status

The preliminary business case for Light Rail Stage 4 is underway and expected to be complete by mid-2023. 

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.

For more information, download and read the:

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

The Gold Coast Highway (Tugun to Coolangatta) Multi-modal Corridor Study was completed in June 2022. The study builds on the work completed for the Burleigh Heads to Tugun section and considered all transport modes to determine the preferred function for the next 20 years.

The study investigated alternative routes, finding the preferred route for a light rail extension to the Gold Coast Airport is along the eastern side of the Gold Coast Highway. The preferred route into Coolangatta is via Coolangatta Road and the Lanham Street Park to a station on Chalk Street. This is the most direct and efficient route.

View the Gold Coast Highway (Tugun to Coolangatta) Multi-modal Corridor Study publication set.

Consultation

Community engagement on Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4 took place in alignment with the progress of the corridor studies.

Burleigh Heads to Tugun section

Community consultation on the Burleigh Heads to Tugun section was carried out from 12 July to 17 September 2021. 

Download the Burleigh Heads to Tugun community consultation summary report (PDF, 3.3 MB) to find out more. 

For more information regarding the Burleigh Heads to Tugun section of the project, please download the: 

Or you can watch our flythrough video – Burleigh Heads to Tugun

Tugun to Coolangatta section

Community consultation on the Tugun to Coolangatta (via the airport) section was carried out from 31 October to 25 November 2022.

The Tugun to Coolangatta community consultation report is now being prepared. The report will inform the project’s Preliminary Business Case for mid-2023.

For more information regarding the Tugun to Coolangatta section of the project, please download the:

Or you can watch our flythrough video – Tugun to Coolangatta

Image gallery of the project's artist impressions

To view a larger version, please click on the image.

Artist impression of Terminal Drive
Terminal Drive, Bilinga
Artist impression of tram alongside bicycle and walkway paths.
Lanham Street Park, Coolangatta
Cars traveling on the highway, light rail station on the right.
George Street, Bilinga
Aerial view of the Miles Street intersection and the Miles Street light rail station.
Miles Street, Coolangatta
Artist impression of the Jellurgal station
Jellurgal station, Burleigh Heads
Overpass for the tram line over large body of water at Currumbin Creek
Overpass for the tram line, Currumbin Creek
Artist impression of the Gold Coast Highway Musgrave Street intersection, Bilinga
Gold Coast Highway Musgrave Street intersection, Bilinga
Artist impression of the intersection at Chalk street, Coolangatta
Chalk Street, Coolangatta
Light rail station at George Street, Bilinga.
George Street, Bilinga
Aerial view of the Boyd Street intersection, Tugun.
Boyd Street, Coolangatta
Overview of train line
Aerial view of tram line
Artist impression of the Tomewin base
Tomewin base, Tugun
Artist impression of Musgrave Street, Coolangatta
Musgrave Street, Coolangatta 
Artist impression of Chalk Street, Coolangatta
Chalk Street, Coolangatta
Light rail station at Miles Street, Coolangatta.
Miles Street, Coolangatta
Tram at the Boyd Street light rail station.
Boyd Street, Coolangatta
Thrower section of the tram line
Thrower section of the tram line
Artist impression of the Tugan base
Tugun base, Tugun