Last week it was announced that the Gold Coast will be getting the new 6.7-kilometre extension to the light rail, better known as the G:Link. The line, which currently extends from Helensvale to Broadbeach South, will soon extend all the way to Burleigh, with the help of an extra $157 million from the Federal Government. This injection of money ended a funding stand-off with the Queensland State Government which threatened to derail the project.
Industry briefings on the G:Link 3A extension will happen before Christmas 2019. Preliminary works and tenders are expected to begin in early 2020, with major construction beginning late that year. The first passengers are expected to use the new extension in 2023. At the time of writing, only two properties will be resumed to make way for the extension, which is a significant contributor to the shorter timeline for the project.
The Federal Government injection means it will contribute $269 million to the $709 million project, the same funding percentage it committed for Stage 1. The State Government will tip in $351 million and council $89 million.
The extension of the line will mean that residents will be able to access the Southern end of the Gold Coast more easily. This will be great for workers who live in the area, cutting their commutes to the CBD by an estimated 20 minutes. With a number of new apartment projects set to begin building along this corridor in the next couple of years, the light rail extension could not come at a better time.
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