Gold Coast City is the second largest Local Government Area in Australia in terms of population. It is currently Australia’s sixth largest city with an estimated population of 438 473 residents as at 30 June 2002 (Gold Coast City Council, 2004). Its population is forecast to continue to grow rapidly in the next decade, though somewhat slower than in the past. The average annual growth rate over the five year period from 1997 to 2002 was 3.46%, higher than the average rate of Australia of 1.2%. Medium estimated population projection to 2021 is about 675 700. The city covers some 1400 square kilometres and in 2001, there were 187 103 private dwellings in Gold Coast City, of which 57% were separate houses.

Gold Coast City is a highly car dependent city and with the population growth, and associated growth in motor vehicle usage, there is increasing traffic congestion and emissions of motor vehicle pollutants. This is not commensurate with the City’s mission to sustainably manage growth in the area (Gold Coast City Council, 2003). It is noted that unless a sustainable transport solution is implemented, average trip times could increase by 67% by 2011, leading to reduced accessibility to facilities, jobs, and social and recreation destinations and significantly increasing vehicle emissions, noise, severance and social exclusion. The City’s Transport Plan contains several strategy options for developing a sustainable transport system with a focus on the need to increase public transport use through improvement in existing bus public transport systems and an improved line haul public transport system of light rail along the northsouth coast (Gold Coast City Council, 1998). Another major transport infrastructure proposed is the extension of the main Brisbane railway line from Robina to Tugun.