$632m Coomera Connector blowout should prompt rethink of planning priorities: economist

The $632 million budget blowout of the Coomera Connector should give the state government moment to pause and reassess its planning priorities, according to a Gold Coast economist. Key points: The 45km Coomera Connector will link Nerang and Logan, taking 60,000 cars off the M1 per day The state government says a "hot market" means costs have increased The opposition says combined with light rail cost rises, it represents a $1bn budget hit The government has confirmed its business case for stage one of the project has seen the cost jump about 40 per cent to $2.1 billion. Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the rising cost had been caused by "an infrastructure boom". Queensland's Audit Office has begun making "preliminary enquiries" into the Department of Main Roads' $60 million acquisition of land in Helensvale for the project following a request from Mr Minnikin.