Coomera Connector - Great news for property owners!

A New M1 Infrastructure Project in Queensland and Desire Lines

If you’re looking to invest in property, one very important factor to consider is the impact of major infrastructure projects on property prices in the surrounding areas. In many cases, a new infrastructure project can have a significant positive impact on property prices, as it creates new opportunities, improves connectivity and infrastructure, and attracts new residents and businesses to the area.  Recently the Queensland government announced a new major infrastructure project that is expected to have a significant impact on property prices in surrounding areas. By constructing additional crossings of the Coomera and Nerang rivers, Stage 1 of the Coomera Connector will reduce pressure on the M1 by providing an alternative route for the growing communities and commercial hubs of Helensvale and Coomera. 

It’s worth noting that the impact of the new infrastructure project on property prices is not limited to the immediate vicinity of the project. In many cases, the positive effects of a project can be felt throughout the region, as the improved connectivity and economic activity generated by the project spills over into neighbouring areas. While we aren’t there yet, in time congestion on the M1 will decrease while capacity is increased.

For investors, this means that there are opportunities to invest in properties that are located in the wider region surrounding the highway, as these areas are likely to see a rise in property prices. In fact, many savvy investors will look for properties that are located in areas that are likely to benefit from future infrastructure projects, as this can be a smart way capitalise on rising property prices.

The Coomera Connector is Queensland’s biggest single road project costing $2.16 billion. It will be a six-lane, 45 km arterial road running parallel to the M1. Currently the M1 is used by nearly 160, 000 vehicles per day. The new highway should reduce this by taking up to 60, 000 vehicles off the M1 each day. Stage 1 is expected to be from Commera to Nerang. This will be open for traffic in 2024.

Preparatory works started in 2021 and the first stage will be delivered though four separate construction packages:

• Stage 1 North: Coomera to Helensvale

• Stage 1 Central: Helensvale to Molendinar (expected late 2023)

• Stage 1 South: Molendinar to Nerang

• Stage 1 North: improvements, like the location of shared path’s rest area and upgrades to surrounding local roads.

This project involves the construction of a new tunnel and a bypass road. It is expected to significantly reduce traffic congestion, create thousands of jobs and boost economic activity in the region. The Second M1 will open from 20225 resulting in a change in how Gold Coast residents move around.

The benefits of the infrastructure can be understood via the notion of desire lines. These are the preferred routes a person will take in order to travel from A to B. Desire lines also favour the path of least resistance. They are the straightest route and the quickest way to get somewhere; in this case, journeys between the growing Coomera and Nerang communities will become desire lines. This will result in more reliable travel times between the Gold Coast and Brisbane, which has typically suffered significant congestion. The new construction will mean more reliable travel times between Brisbane and the Gold Coast by alleviating congestion on the M1. Anastacia Palaszczuk explains that “this vital road project will get Queenslanders home safer and sooner than before”.  

For property investors, this infrastructure project offers a unique opportunity to capitalise on the rise of property prices in the area. By investing in properties that are located close to a highway, investors can benefit from the increased demand for housing and resulting rise in property prices. The infrastructure project is also expected to improve transport links and connectivity in the area, making it easier for residents to access other parts of the city. Consequently, improved accessibility is likely to increase demand for housing in the Gold Coast to Brisbane areas and drive up property prices in the South East as the population continues to grow.

The Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey also states that desire lines can abut the new M1 highway. As an avid cyclist, he is “excited (that) this project includes a shared path running the entire 16-kilometer length, with local road connections – this is a game changer for pedestrians, people with prams, bike riders and those using mobility scooters and wheelchairs, as it gives them opportunities to leave the car at home.” In this desire line, leisure takes precedent although it can be integrated into your everyday commute. New on and off ramps will create new journeys and new desire lines. Similarly, an old journey will require a new desire line. This is necessary because highways and desire lines reflect the ways in which people interact with and shape their built environment, albeit in very different ways.

In conclusion, this new major infrastructure project will have a significant positive impact on property prices in the surrounding areas. The increased economic activity, employment opportunities, and improved connectivity are all likely; to drive up demand for housing, leading to a rise in property prices in the surrounding areas. For property investors, this presents a unique opportunity to capitalise on the rising property prices in the area, and to benefit from the long-term economic growth and development that the project is expected to generate.

For more information about the Coomera Connector see: https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/97450