The state Opposition has announced its commitment to delivering a rail line to the heart of the Sunshine Coast, if elected later this year.
The deputy Opposition leader and Member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie issued a media statement late Tuesday pledging that the proposed 37.8km Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line from Beerwah to Maroochydore would be “built in its entirety” under the LNP.
But he did not say when the line could be completed by and he did not elaborate on how it would be paid for.
The announcement comes after the state government committed to building 19km of the line from Beerwah to Caloundra, the planning of the line to Birtinya and the protection of the alignment to Maroochydore by 2032.
Mr Bleijie has previously said the LNP was dedicated to delivering the full line but on Tuesday ramped that commitment up a notch, with a more formal announcement on the back of the LNP’s Right Priorities for Queensland’s Future Campaign.
“We are determined to make sure that it goes all the way to Maroochydore,” he said.
“Only the LNP will link Beerwah to Caloundra to Kawana to Maroochydore and deliver the infrastructure needed for Queensland’s future.
“If elected in October, the LNP will build the project in its entirety, because this region has been neglected for far too long.
“Queenslanders were promised generational infrastructure for the 2032 Olympics and Paralympic Games but the Palaszczuk-Miles Government is only interested in trying to save the seat of Caloundra.”
He said the state government’s plan to build the line to Caloundra was impractical.
“Under Labor’s plans, Caloundra will be the end of the line and become the car park of the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“We will not stand by and watch Caloundra become a car park while the rest of the Sunshine Coast gets short-changed.”
The Direct Rail Sunshine Coast is a planned dual-track line that is expected to cater for the rapidly growing population of the region.
It’s set to feature multiple stations and trains that reach speeds of 160kmh and it was initially hoped it could be built to Maroochydore by the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. Events will be held at locations around the Sunshine Coast, including at Kawana, while an athletes’ village will be within the Maroochydore city centre.
But a business case study of the proposal showed that it would cost $12 billion to build it in its entirety and there were construction complexities.
So, the state government outlined a plan to first build Stage 1 of the project, from Beerwah to Caloundra, with a view to build the remainder in years to come.
The money is on the table for Stage 1, guaranteed by federal and state governments.
Deputy Premier and Treasurer Cameron Dick last month said the track “will transform South-East Queensland”.
“The Sunshine Coast has a growing economy and approximately 11 million annual visitors who currently rely on private vehicles, so this project will make it easier and faster to work, holiday, or travel to see friends and family,” he said.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Bart Mellish said the track “will revolutionise public transport”, while the Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said the region stood to benefit from it.
“This rail line will connect people on the Sunshine Coast to Moreton Bay and Brisbane for work, medical appointments, sporting and cultural events,” he said.
Mr Hunt criticised the LNP announcement for its lack of detail.
“Like the rest of Queensland, I’m very tired of the LNP announcing unfunded thought bubbles,” he said
“Having done absolutely nothing to advance rail for the best part of 40 years nobody believes the LNP are suddenly interested in it now.”
Mr Hunt has previously hailed the DSCRL proposal as “tremendous” and said the line would be welcomed in his area.
“We absolutely need a station in Caloundra South (Aura) as it’s a high-growth area,” he said.
In parliament last week, he said the state and federal funding commitment to Stage 1 of the line “represents the biggest transport infrastructure project the Sunshine Coast has ever seen.”
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