Gold Coast City Council is planning for a third stage of the line. The council released a list of potential routes for stage three in November 2015 and invited public comment.[48] Ideas included a southern extension from Broadbeach to Burleigh Heads, two options from Nobby Beach to Robina station, from Varsity Lakes station to Burleigh Heads, from Varsity Lakes station to Gold Coast Airport and two options from Burleigh Heads to Gold Coast Airport.[49] 3606 people responded to the survey. Nearly 80 percent supported an extension to Burleigh Heads and 70 percent also supported a further extension to the airport.[50] Citing the ?overwhelming? support for an airport connection, in March 2016 Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate announced a $600,000 feasibility study into a southern extension from Broadbeach to the Gold Coast Airport as part of his successful campaign to retain the mayoralty at that month's local government election. The extension is estimated to cost $1.54 billion. The council would contribute around $160 million but the remainder of the cost would require funding from the higher tiers of government. Tate suggested the link would open by March 2020, although some other councillors felt this date was unrealistic.[50][51] In February 2017, the New South Wales Government announced it would investigate potential routes for a southern extension from the Queensland border to Tweed Heads. The Queensland Government expressed some support for a cross-border route.[52][53] Media reports in March suggested Stage 3 would be divided into two sections. Stage 3A would terminate at Burleigh Heads and Stage 3B would continue further south.[54] This was confirmed in June, when the council announced the Stage 3A route and commenced community consultation. The extension is around 7km long and will include about seven new stops. Four new trams are estimated to be required to service the extension. Construction could begin in 2020 or 2021, though the project still requires a funding commitment from the higher tiers of government.[55] The Queensland Government announced in July that it would contribute half the $10 million cost to develop a detailed business case for Stage 3A.[56] Stage 3A is expected to cost around $600 million.[54]
