FAQs

No, but the Light Rail construction within the corridor has the potential to offer significant neighbourhood benefits to accompany growth. It carefully considers the interface between these projects, to aim for the best possible outcomes for the corridor.

To ensure the Light Rail Station Neighbourhoods continue to thrive into the future, a guiding Framework is required to support city growth benchmarks, help realise the benefits of the growing area, and continue to make the area a place to live, work and visit.

Once finalised, the Neighbourhood Framework will influence the direction of future planning, including potential future amendments to the City Plan.

The Neighbourhood Framework will uphold the unique character of the Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads corridor and capture the community’s values and priorities to guide planning for the delivery of housing, employment, transport, open spaces and public amenity.

A draft Neighbourhood Framework has been compiled by the City, informed by research to date. It is important that the Framework be developed with the community to understand their views, values and vision for the Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads corridor. Therefore, the Framework will be in draft format until community feedback is incorporated. A community survey is being conducted to seek feedback on the draft Framework. Survey feedback will shape the direction of the Framework.

A Station Neighbourhood is the area around a light rail station, with the boundaries usually around 10 minutes walking distance from that station. This may be impacted by other things such as canals, roads and intended land use. 

The corridor’s Station Neighbourhoods combine to form the entire Neighbourhood Framework area, or ‘corridor’. Some areas are part of two or more Station Neighbourhoods as stations are closer to each other than 10 minutes’ walk.

There are multiple opportunities for you to have your say throughout the process. 

You can have your say on the draft Framework by taking part in the community survey (June 1-21). Survey feedback will inform the direction of the Framework and help guide the sequence of neighbourhoods that will undergo detailed planning.

Later in 2021, Community Reference Groups (CRGs) will be established for individual neighbourhoods. You can express your interest in being a part of CRGs within the survey. The City and CRGs will develop detailed Neighbourhood Concept Plans based on the Neighbourhood Framework, to accommodate growth and deliver on community priorities.

In 2022, the community will have another opportunity to have your say through a formal submission on proposed changes to the City Plan, as part of the statutory amendment process.

We are a growing city and can responsibly accommodate this growth, while preserving the valued lifestyle, amenity, heritage and landscape character found in our local neighbourhoods, and protecting our natural areas.

In the State Government’s Regional Plan for South East Queensland (ShapingSEQ), the Gold Coast’s population is anticipated to continue to grow at around 15,000 additional people per year until 2041. 

The Gold Coast cannot accommodate new housing by further expanding our urban footprint. ShapingSEQ requires 80 per cent of the new growth to take place within existing built areas.

As our city grows, it creates opportunities for us to address challenges such as affordable housing, economic opportunities for new jobs and businesses, and environmental protection. 

The Neighbourhood Framework and land use planning will consider future city shape, such as what height, density and building types are appropriate and reflect the vision of each Station Neighbourhood.

The draft Neighbourhood Framework is the result of previous investigations by Council into the planning, environmental, social and economic factors of the area surrounding the extension to the light rail. A large amount of work has been undertaken as part of the project business case and subsequent studies and investigations. Council had previously endorsed a ‘vision’ and a set of ‘principles’ for the planning of the corridor based on some of this previous work which were used in the production of the draft document.

Opportunity exists for early community engagement to guide future planning activities for Station Neighbourhoods which has led to the approach being adopted starting with the initial community survey. 

An activity centre is a vibrant place where people shop, work, recreate and meet, such as traditional shopping centres and strips, employment areas and public transport hubs.

The goal for future planning is to accommodate our growing community while building upon four characteristics that make the Gold Coast the great place it is: 

1. Environment: ensure we protect our exceptional natural environment of beaches, waterways and green space, and encourage high-quality built environment outcomes. 
2. Opportunity: ensure we create places that are liveable and cherished by people right throughout the Gold Coast. 
3. Diverse identity: ensure we protect the identity of our differing neighbourhoods and places. 
4. Economic opportunity: ensure we grow the economy to provide employment and social uplift and affordable housing that is well serviced by public transport. 

For information about the current project reference design visit gclr3.com.au or contact the TMR Project Team on gclr3@tmr.qld.gov.au or 1800 312 600.