Karen Andrews seeks to block funding for Gold Coast light rail that would run past her property

The home affairs minister, Karen Andrews, has sought to block federal funding for a Gold Coast light rail expansion that would run directly past an investment property she co-owns with her husband.

Title records obtained by Guardian Australia show Andrews and her husband, Chris, own a unit in a complex on the Gold Coast highway, along the proposed light rail route. Andrews made no mention of the property when announcing her opposition to the light rail extension.

However, in her declaration of interests lodged with the federal parliament, Andrews publicly lists her ownership of an investment unit at Palm Beach. Such declarations require an MP to list the suburb or area of a property they own, but not the address. There is no suggestion Andrews has breached any disclosure rules.

Guardian Australia asked the home affairs minister whether she had mentioned her property interest when she asked Fletcher to place a block on federal funding.

The Gold Coast light rail project, initially built for the 2018 Commonwealth Games, has been jointly funded by local, state and federal governments. The first two stages have been completed, linking Helensvale and Broadbeach.

Work on the third stage extending the line south to Burleigh is about to commence. The final extension, from Burleigh to Coolangatta, is in the planning stages.

Some residents of the southern Gold Coast are opposed to the extension, claiming it is unnecessary, would result in high-rise development, and would remove parking along the Gold Coast highway. More than 20,000 people have signed a petition opposing the project.

Long-term residents and residential property owners have expressed concern that reducing the Gold Coast highway to a single lane in some places would create ongoing traffic problems. Construction works are expected to take several years.

A flyover animation showing what the rail project could look like shows the highway cut back to one lane outside the unit complex where Andrews owns her investment property.

The Queensland transport minister, Mark Bailey, called on Andrews to state her preferred route prior to the election.