The Gold Coast light rail network is set to expand, with a new 3.2-kilometre connection planned between Gold Coast University Hospital and Harbour Town.

The proposed route will travel along Olsen Avenue and Oxley Drive, with new stations around:

• Musgrave Avenue
• Central Street in Labrador
• Harbour Town in Biggera Waters

For residents of Labrador, Biggera Waters and Arundel, this is a significant announcement.

It could make it easier to reach the hospital, university, Southport and the wider tram network without relying entirely on a car. It may also provide better public transport access to key destinations, including Southport Sharks, Harbour Town and the Gold Coast Hockey Centre.

For a part of the city that has experienced considerable growth – and is expected to accommodate much more – better public transport is welcome.

But there are also plenty of questions.

What residents have been asking

Since the announcement, I’ve heard a genuine mix of excitement and concern.

Some residents are thrilled that the tram could be within walking distance of their homes. Others want to understand how it will affect their street, property or daily commute.

Questions raised include:

• Will any homes, businesses or land need to be resumed?
• What will happen to the bike lanes along Olsen Avenue?
• How much noise will the trams generate?
• Where will the tracks sit within the existing road corridor?
• How will construction affect local traffic?
• Will the proposed stops be accessible for older people and people with mobility challenges?
• What will happen to existing bus services?
• Could the tram lead to greater density and increased building heights along the route?
• Can the tram continue to Helesvale, or down Brisbane Road and Frank Street?

These are reasonable questions. At this stage, the route has been announced, but much of the detailed design is still to come.

What could it mean for Labrador, Arundel and Biggera Waters?

The Musgrave Avenue station and the Olsen Avenue corridor will place parts of Labrador and Arundel within walking or cycling distance of the light rail network. But proximity to a new transport corridor can also influence future planning decisions.

The recently considered Local Growth Management Strategy (LGMS) did not account for this tram extension because the route had not been confirmed at the time. As Council prepares its new City Plan, it is reasonable to expect the corridor will now form part of discussions about where additional housing and density should go.

For Labrador and Arundel, we may eventually see something of a “dip and rise”: taller buildings around the Broadwater, increased density around the tram corridor and lower heights in the residential areas between them.

That is not confirmed, but it is an important issue to watch.

Why not Brisbane Road or Frank Street?

A number of residents have asked why the tram is not proposed to travel along Brisbane Road and Frank Street, where it could serve the eastern side of Labrador.

From previous discussions I’ve had, those roads have been considered too constrained for light rail. I have not seen a Brisbane Road or Frank Street alignment formally proposed by the State Government.

That does not mean residents cannot question the chosen route. It simply means the Olsen Avenue and Oxley Drive corridor is the route currently being progressed.

Growth and transport need to be planned together

The Gold Coast needs better public transport, and our northern suburbs should benefit from investment in the network.

At the same time, major transport projects do more than help people travel. They can reshape surrounding neighbourhoods, influence development and affect where future population growth is directed.

That is why consultation must involve more than telling residents where the tram will go once every important decision has already been made.

People need clear information about the alignment, stations, accessibility, construction impacts, land requirements and potential planning changes. They also need a genuine opportunity to influence the design.

There is a lot to welcome about better public transport for Labrador, Biggera Waters and Arundel. There is also a lot we still need to understand.

As more details and consultation opportunities become available, I’ll continue sharing them so our community can stay informed and have our say.

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