Council Prepares for Pivotal Votes on Light Rail Extension and Coastal Approvals

Gold Coast City Council will vote next month on whether to allocate $48 million from its 2026-27 budget for the next stage of light rail planning between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads.

The decisions arrive as tourism operators report a 14 percent rise in visitor nights through June compared with the same period in 2025, while developers press for faster approvals on high-rise sites along the coastal strip to meet projected demand ahead of the 2032 Games.

Venues and transport links under review

Robina Stadium and the Coomera Indoor Sports Centre both sit on the official 2032 venue list, yet neither has confirmed rail connections that would handle expected daily crowds of 25,000. Council engineers have modelled an extension that would add four new stops along the Gold Coast Highway, cutting travel time from Surfers Paradise to Robina by nine minutes during peak events.

At the same time, the planning committee must rule on six separate coastal development applications lodged for sites between Main Beach and Miami, where short-term rental caps proposed under the new local law would limit whole-home listings to 60 days a year in residential zones.

Numbers that will shape the choices

Construction costs for the full light rail segment are now estimated at $1.2 billion, with the state government offering to cover 60 percent if the council locks in its contribution by 30 September. Tourism recovery data released last week by Gold Coast Tourism shows average daily room rates at $312, up from $271 in July 2024, while Airbnb listings in the affected coastal precincts total 4,800 properties.

Residents can review the draft light rail route maps and the short-term rental zoning changes at the council's Nerang administration centre or online until 25 July, with submissions feeding directly into the August ordinary meeting agenda.