Surfers Paradise is an urban tourism centre located alongside an internationally known and loved beach. The area offers a range of up market retail centres, professional services, hotel, leisure facilities and commercial activities for its residents, day-trippers, domestic holiday-makers and international tourists.

The new light rail system will transform the precinct, facilitating redevelopment along the Surfers Paradise corridor and providing improved accessibility to other parts of the city.

Light rail in the Surfers Paradise precinct

In the Surfers Paradise precinct, the light rail system will cross the Nerang River on a new specially built bridge and travel along the western side of Gold Coast Highway. The Main Beach Station will be constructed near the intersection with Hill Parade (which leads directly into Tender Avenue in Main Beach) and then will follow the line of the highway through the area known for hosting the annual motoring racing event.

The light rail will cross the Nerang River again at McIntosh Island South. A small bridge will be constructed to support the light rail traveling through the intersection of Ferny Avenue and the Gold Coast Highway. At this intersection the light rail crosses onto the western side of the Surfers Paradise Boulevard and continues to the Surfers Paradise North Station just prior to Ocean Avenue.

From here it will veer its way on the western side of the Surfers Paradise Boulevard to stations at Cypress Avenue and Cavill Avenue through the heart of this retail, commercial and tourist centre. After Surfers Paradise, the light rail continues to the Surfers Paradise Station, just south of Clifford Drive, and the Northcliffe Station, just north of Thornton Street.

At the intersection of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and the Gold Coast Highway the light rail will move to the centre of the road and travelling south to the Broadbeach precinct.

There are six light rail stations planned for the Surfers Paradise precinct: Main Beach Station, Surfers Paradise North Station, Cypress Avenue Station, Cavill Avenue Station, Surfers Paradise Station and Northcliffe Station.

Construction works

A Gold Coast light rail project site will be established at the corner of Surfers Paradise Boulevard and Cypress Avenue in January 2012.

Construction, involving underground public utility provider services relocation works (such as gas, water and telecommunications), the laying of the track and building of the stations will start in 2012.

More information on construction timing and activities will be provided as it comes available.

Parking

Traffic conditions will change in this precinct to accommodate the Surfers Paradise light rail construction work. On-street parking along the Surfers Paradise Boulevard from Ferny Avenue to Broadbeach will be progressively removed. Property, business and emergency service access will be maintained at all times during construction however points of access may change.

Construction schedule

Major road reconstruction work will be undertaken at intersections along the Surfers Paradise Boulevard resulting in areas being closed to traffic access for a period of time. More information on construction timing and activities will be provided as it comes available. GoldLinQ will consult affected residents and businesses on suitable arrangements and provide advanced warning of changes through door knocks, VMS boards and traffic updates.

Benefits of Surfers Paradise Boulevard

Providing light rail infrastructure along Surfers Paradise Boulevard will provide a number of benefits to the precinct including:

• increasing patronage
• providing reliable and integrated transport services
• maximising corridor development and land value opportunities
• opportunities for economic growth for the city
• operating light rail services in a safer environment.