The Queensland Government has announced it will commit an additional $432 million to ethe delivery of the the Coomera Connector Stage 1.
The Coomera Connector will provide an alternative to the M1 for local journeys and will alleviate M1 congestion by accommodating an estimated 60,000 daily trips.
Stage 1 includes 16-kilometres, from Coomera to Nerang, and features additional bridge crossings at the Coomera and Nerang Rivers.
A shared user path is included in the design and will provide significant active transport opportunities that have previously been unavailable.
Stage 1 North of the project is currently underway, with community consultation ongoing for Stage 1 Central and tenders being assessed for the Stage 1 South package.
Stage 1 North will open progressively from late 2025.
The Queensland Government has cited the rising cost of labour and materials, as well as the industry supply and demand challenges for specialist construction equipment, leading to a further $864 million being required to complete Stage 1.
While confirming its commitment to the project, the Queensland Government has sought a $432 million matching contribution from the Australian Government which will be considered in the upcoming Federal Budget in May.
Some of the cost pressures for Stage 1 are due to double-digit market escalation and inflation since the business case was approved in 2021 and the location of contamination including PFAS and asbestos on site.
Other factors have also been mentioned as contributing to the increase, including changes to design standards, evolving scope of works through the design process, such as six-laning the Central package, increased scope of environmental investigations and management plans, and adverse ground conditions discovered through the design process.
Queensland Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish said the project remains important for communities in South East Queensland.
“The Coomera Connector will provide significant benefits, helping to ease traffic congestion between the Gold Coast and Logan and enable locals to avoid the M1, and to make shorter and easier trips,” Minister Mellish said.
“Cost increases are not unexpected in the current economic climate, and the Coomera Connector project is not immune to these pressures.
“We have committed our share of this additional cost because we recognise how critical the Coomera Connector is not only for South East Queensland, but also our state’s economic prosperity.”
