A DRAFT master plan for the expansion of the Gold Coast Airport could see passengers carry their bags more than 200m from a future rail station, through a carpark to the main terminal.

While Gold Coast City Council is eager to expand the airport to boost the economy, deliver jobs and support tourism, the Sustainable City Future Committee has concerns over the location of a proposed heavy rail station and public transport hub and the need to realign Coolangatta Creek and clear bushland.

The airport is required to prepare a new master plan every five years to be endorsed by the federal government.

Although the council can comment on the plan they are not able to amend or refuse the plan.

Committee chair, Councillor Peter Young said he would be pushing for changes that would consider local residents and deliver better results for travellers.

The current plan features a heavy rail alignment that runs west of the airport then swings in a broad arc around the southern end of the runway and rises in an elevated line to a proposed transport hub, cutting the Southern Cross University campus in half and ending in an elevated position, while the airport terminal remains single storey.

Cr Young believes a better alternative would be an underground heavy rail station as part of the terminal itself, with light rail and buses connecting at street level.

"These aren't good urban design outcomes," Cr Young said.

"The location of the transit hub more than 200 meters from the terminal building would see passengers having to carry suitcases quite some distance through a large carpark.

"Gold Coast Airport is already the fifth busiest international airport gateway in Australia and is a key piece of infrastructure for our city.

"Council's submission will highlight our key concerns about the location of the proposed rail station, the planned road layout and realignment of Coolangatta Creek."

To view the plan visit www.goldcoastairport.com.au