A COUNCIL of Mayors South East Queensland lobbying mission to Canberra seems to have raised little Federal Government action on heavy rail extension.

Heavy rail is a CMSEQ Magnificent 7 Project which Gold Coast deputy mayor Daphne McDonald promoted on mayor Ron Clarke's behalf as a must have for the Gold Coast's Commonwealth Games 2018 bid.

"The response was, like everything, there's little or no funding available," Cr McDonald said.

"But we've got to keep peddling it to our federal members and show them how important this is for our residents.

"We've got to put this infrastructure in before the Commonwealth Games and that's why it's one of the CMSEQ's seven top projects."

McPherson MP Karen Andrews admitted rail was a state issue but "that doesn't keep me quiet".

"I push for three things: the M1 needs to be widened - it should have been done by now," Mrs Andrews said.

"And both light and heavy rail are a long way into the future, and we need to bring them forward a lot.

"Obviously the Commonwealth Games are a big reason for this, as otherwise all or most of our visitors will be flying into Brisbane and our mid and southern Gold Coast traders won't get the chance to show what we have to offer.

"We need these people to be flying into Coolangatta and we need to transport them; at the moment people are very dependant on private transport or the bus system."

Cr McDonald said Mrs Andrews showed a keen interest during the CMSEQ's hour-long presentation.

She also said CMSEQ chairman Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk had "back to back" meetings with senators and members during the two day lobbying mission.

"They're certainly aware of it, and even Treasurer Wayne Swan is aware of our Commonwealth Games bid.

"Foreign Affairs Minister Kevin Rudd's advisor asked if the Gold Coast wanted any information on how to boost its bid and said Mr Rudd could lobby on our behalf," Cr McDonald said.

Queensland Transport Minister Antastacia Palaszczuk's office failed to respond to questions from the Daily News.