Australia’s Queensland Government has invited expressions of interest for construction of Phase II of the Gold Coast light rail transport (LRT) network.
GoldLinQ, the constructor and operator of stage one of the light rail system, has approached the Queensland government with a funding and construction proposal to complete stage two in time for the 2018 Commonwealth Games.
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The proposed project will extend the line 7.3km from its current northern terminus at Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) to Helensvale heavy rail station and bus interchange.
The state government has now approached the Australian Government for funding that would allow for the line extension.
Queensland deputy premier and minister for transport Jackie Trad said the government is moving quickly to finalise a revised business case and detailed financial submission to allow the commonwealth government to commit vital project funding.
She further noted that the Australian Prime Minister has recently opened the door to consider providing additional funds towards the Commonwealth Games following a discussion with the Premier at the recent Council of Australian Governments meeting.
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By GlobalDataThe Queensland government noted that this route has been selected because it offers a journey time of 11min between GCUH and Helensvale, which is seven minutes faster than the alternative route via Olsen Avenue.
Trad said: "The Palaszczuk government has been supporting this project since the election and lobbying the Abbott government for funding at every opportunity.
"Pending federal government funding support, the Department of Transport and Main Roads has identified savings within its existing budget to allow for a state government contribution to this project."
"We’ve said all along that it’s a major public transport infrastructure project and will require cooperation and funding from all three levels of government, this is how Stage I was delivered and everybody on the Gold Coast knows how successful that project is."
The closing date for expressions of interest is 28 August.
Image: Underground station to service the Gold Coast University Hospital. Photo: courtesy of TravellerQLD via Wikipedia.
