A major tram extension project began on the Gold Coast in 2014 and was originally intended to run from Helensvale to Gold Coast Airport, but unbelievably, the project was terminated partway through, with the extension going only as far as Burleigh Heads Station. There are several reasons for this cancellation, including the possibility that costs could significantly exceed the originally planned budget. There was also very strong opposition from residents south of Burleigh Heads, the proposed southern terminus, particularly around Palm Beach. Plus, a review of the project's compatibility with urban planning, even though construction had already started, determined that the current plan was inappropriate. There are just so many reasons to think, "I wish they’d thought about that before they started!"
Local residents’ opinions for and against the termination of the tram extension work were deeply divided. By the way, I personally think it's good that it was canceled, or rather, I think it might not have been necessary in the first place. The area where I live, Miami, is before the southern terminus at Burleigh Heads, so the tram would have passed through this area. For Miami residents, having the tram running through it would be convenient, but since I'm renting, I might move eventually. But the main reason I don't mind if the tramline isn't there is that it would make the roadway narrower and make traffic jams even worse. Since tram construction began, traffic jams on the Gold Coast Highway, which runs through the Gold Coast, have been frightful, and the Gold Coast's many canals mean there aren’t many other roads to take, which is making traffic jams far more noticeable than before. What’s more, unlike Sydney, Melbourne, or Brisbane, there’s no comprehensive network of trains and buses on the Gold Coast, so the basic form of transport is the car. The point being that adding just one tram line down the middle might only benefit a limited number of people. With few hotels near tram stops, I can’t help thinking it probably wouldn't be particularly convenient for tourists either.
Interestingly, trams actually ran on the Gold Coast quite a while ago, around 1925. But as more people started using cars and buses, the tramline started facing losses. It gradually went out of use in the 1960s, and the tracks were removed to make way for roads. Given this history, I can only wonder why they're building a large-scale tramline again.
On a slightly different topic, Gold Coast Airport recently added a new international terminal, but they have withdrawn flights to Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, and other Asian destinations, which means only the New Zealand route is operating at the moment. They might have built it anticipating future increases in international flights, but it's not being used yet as planned. Well, I seem to have given you a lot of negative opinions, but all these developments are probably part of a long-term strategic investment, preparing now for the city's future growth. The Gold Coast's population is currently estimated to be around 750,000 and is projected to pass 1 million by 2040. With that sort of rapid population growth, unless there are urgent improvements to the transportation infrastructure, it looks like we will end up with major problems. It seems to me that doing things like increasing bus routes and the frequency of services, as well as better road maintenance, might be the more realistic and important challenges.
If everyday life on the Gold Coast has its convenient aspects, it also has its inconveniences. Having lived here myself, I have a lot of thoughts about the Gold Coast, and I’d like to tell you more about some upcoming changes to transportation.


Photo 1: Tram track laying work