Old servo fuels jobs, new station for Gold Coast light rail

Minister for Transport and Main Roads The Honourable Mark Bailey

Works on the next stage of Gold Coast’s popular light rail are powering ahead with the demolition of the old Burleigh Heads servo and launch of a program to support businesses during construction.

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3, which is creating more than 760 jobs in the city, marked an important milestone today as the final pieces of the old Caltex station were dismantled to make way for the new Burleigh Heads station.

Transport and Main Roads Minister joined Assistant Minister for Tourism and Member for Gaven Meaghan Scanlon to inspect the works and to also announce that project crews would begin engaging with local businesses to help them with any impacts as the light rail is built.

“It’s next stop Burleigh Heads for the Gold Coast’s iconic blue and gold trams,” Mr Bailey said.

“Because there’s been a strong response to the health impacts of COVID-19, early works haven’t halted on the $709 million project or the $23 billion in transport and road upgrades being rolled out across Queensland as part of the state’s economic recovery plan and jobs.

“The Gold Coast has benefitted tremendously from light rail, with more than 50 million trips already taken, cutting traffic on Scarborough Street at Southport by 47 per cent and increasing pedestrian movement to Pacific Fair Shopping Centre by 180 per cent.

“Once complete, we’ll see trams travel all the way from Helensvale to the sands of Burleigh beach for commuters, families and tourists, providing a long-term benefit for the city’s businesses, hotel and tourism operators, and of course the hundreds of ongoing light rail jobs.

“But, before those works are complete there will be plenty of construction happening, which is why we want get in now before they start laying down the tracks to engage meaningfully with businesses to see how we can support as the next stage of light rail is built.”

The Stage 3 project team will engage with businesses along the Gold Coast Highway and invite them to participate in a questionnaire of their daily operations and requirements, which will feed into managing the impacts of construction.

Ms Scanlon said the next stage of light rail would create more than $1.2 billion in economic benefit for the city alongside 760 jobs in constructions, with many already underway through early works like the old servo demolition.

“The milestone today will allow the Gold Coast Highway to be widened, making way for Burleigh Heads Station, the terminus of the third stage of Gold Coast’s light rail network,” Ms Scanlon said.

“From a tourism perspective, it’ll also unlock new ways for visitors to experience our region and provide an all-important shot in the arm the $4.7 billion industry.

“This is the type of project we need to keep our city moving along with $2.3 billion in M1 upgrades and crucial planning for the Coomera Connector – all works creating more than 2,000 jobs for Australia’s sixth largest city.”

The $709 million Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 is jointly-funded by the Palaszczuk and Federal governments together with council, with major construction set to take place early next year once a major contractor is awarded.

GoldlinQ Chairman John Witheriff said all levels of government had made a strong commitment to delivering Stage 3, with GoldlinQ finalising the open tender process.

“The review panel is now undertaking an extensive in-depth process to ensure value for money and the best engineering and construction solutions are delivered,” Mr Witheriff said.

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