Today I welcome the announcement of funding for the new 13 kilometre Gold Coast Light Rail from Griffith University to Broadbeach.
The $894 million project will:
- link key activity centres on the Gold Coast such as education and medical facilities, major retail centres, and tourism and business precincts;
- provide public transport to 20 per cent of the Gold Coast's population;
- reduce traffic congestion by removing 40,000 cars from the road network; and
- foster urban renewal and boost the local tourism industry.
It is projected that the Gold Coast Light Rail will cater for 80,000 trips a year, increasing public transport from 4 per cent of journeys to 10 per cent by 2026.
The planning and construction of the project is expected to support up to 2,500 jobs.
The Federal Government's $365 million investment will be supplemented by investments from the Gold Coast City Council, the Queensland Government and the private sector.
The Gold Coast is one of Australia's fastest growing cities, attracting more than 15,000 new residents every year and total population in the city is predicted to approach 800,000 by 2026.
Construction will begin in 2011 following final planning, pre-construction work and land acquisition. The project is scheduled for completion in 2013.
Future stages of the project are planned, connecting the light rail with Helensvale in the north and Coolangatta in the south.
This investment is part of the Federal Government's $22 billion infrastructure investment in the 2009-10 Budget, which includes transport, energy, broadband, universities, and health care.
The Australian Government's nation-building initiatives include $8.6 billion in road and rail infrastructure in Queensland.