Work has begun on the $1.2 billion Stage 3 extension of the Gold Coast Light Rail (GCLR3), which will add 6.7 kilometres to the overall service by connecting Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads, including eight new stations.

Initial Stage 3 work involves relocating and upgrading major water main, sewer and gas infrastructure along the Gold Coast Highway.

“Gold Coast Light Rail is an essential part of our successful delivery of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, and will play an even more important role in the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” said Queensland’s Premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk.

GCLR3 is jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments and City of Gold Coast.

“This is a great example of cooperation between the three levels of government, and will help to support the extraordinary population growth being experienced by Australia’s sixth largest city,” said the Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt.

Patronage on the Gold Coast Light Rail — known simply as ‘the G’ — has risen significantly in recent times, and has become the only type of public transport in Queensland to have surpassed pre-COVID levels.

“Across all modes of public transport, we have continued to see steady growth as life returns to normal with patronage across SEQ last week sitting at 78.4% when compared to 2019,” said Queensland’s Transport and Main Roads Minister, Mark Bailey.

“But light rail continues to set the benchmark and has hit 100% of pre-COVID levels for a full week — the first time any mode has done this since the pandemic started.

“We’re putting this down to booming tourism, commuters returning to the office and students back in the classroom.”