An upgrade of the Sunshine Coast’s congested and curvy hinterland railway line is finally starting to take shape, with new photos showing early works under way.
The Queensland Government says construction is on track on the $550.8 million Beerburrum to Nambour rail project (B2N) Stage 1.
Stage 1 focuses on the section of line between Beerburrum and Beerwah stations which will be duplicated from one track to two and straightened.
This stage also includes upgrading stations, building new park ‘n’ ride carparks and constructing overpasses at Barrs Road and Burgess Street (scroll down for more details).
The suite of improvements is designed to reduce congestion along the busy North Coast Line used by freight and passenger trains, and make trips quicker by around three minutes.
A new aerial photograph (above) shows progress on one aspect of early works to realign a 1km section of the main thoroughfare of Steve Irwin Way.
This chunk of road between Nursery Road and Moffatt Road will accommodate the new rail corridor and track infrastructure.
Another image (below) shows progress on a new park ‘n’ ride facility on the eastern side of the Landsborough line where the land is being prepared.
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B2N, jointly funded between the federal and state governments (70:30), involves duplicating the line between Beerburrum and Landsborough and improving the line between Landsborough and Nambour.
A new 20km shared pathway and recreation trail between Glass House Mountains and Landsborough is part of the project.
However, Sunshine Coast commuter advocate Jeff Addison said the project was well behind because it was meant to be up-and-running in 2022.
“It truly has to be one of the slowest rail projects in Queensland, and it stops around 4km short of Landsborough,” he said.
“It needs to go to Landsborough at the bare minimum. All the reports I have read over the past decade have said that.
“Even Queensland Rail acknowledge that it needs to get to Landsborough.”
The project was announced in 2018 and since then “not one sleeper has been laid for the heavy rail, not one,” he said.
Because of the delays, Mr Addison said freight was being forced into trucks and on to the roads.
“I welcome any moves to get this project moving – and completed, but it still falls well short of what is required,” he said.
“It has been static for heavy rail for over four years now.
“The bulk of works for this project to date are roadworks and intersections and parking places.”
Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said work was continuing, despite the impacts of extreme rainfall, COVID and flu.
“These early works are vital in laying the foundations for heavy construction and I want to thank the hard work of the teams on the ground,” Mr Hunt said.
“We’re battling unprecedented rainfall around the south-east, alongside COVID-19 and influenza peaks, but still work goes on.
“Just like our ongoing work on the Bruce Highway and its interchanges, we’re making it safer and more efficient for you to travel no matter the mode.
“Whether you’re on two wheels, four wheels or the rails, there is lots happening on the Sunshine Coast to make your commute better and safer.”
Mr Hunt said the broader Beerburrum to Nambour (B2N) project would support more than 330 jobs throughout the life of the project.
However Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said the State Government was “rehashing” old announcements to galvanise its image after “years of neglecting the Sunshine Coast”.
Mr Wallace pointed out that the previous Coalition Federal Government provided $390 million to fund half of the $780 million duplication from Beerburrum to Nambour.
“Instead of getting on-board, the Labor State Government argued for many months about the State and Federal contributions to the Beerburrum to Nambour rail duplication.
“Rather than stumping up with its 50 per cent share, Labor chose to drastically shrink the scope of the project, to a stretch from Beerburrum to Beerwah, coughing up just 30 per cent of the project cost.
“Has the Member for Caloundra spoken out for the people of Landsborough to return to the original project scope? No. Has the Member for Nicklin stood up for the people of Nambour, who have been crying out for this duplication for years? No,” he said.
“Instead of leadership, we are constantly spammed by rehashed announcements from a tired State Government. It’s just another example of Labor’s blatant disregard for the people and the needs of the Sunshine Coast,” he added.
Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton was pleased to see works already under way on Stage 1 of the upgrade.
“Stage 1 will see the duplication of the rail line between Beerburrum and Beerwah, and deliver better trackside infrastructure along the way,” he said.
“More parking spaces will be available in the Landsborough park ‘n’ ride, a new bus interchange will be built, and Nambour station will also benefit from increased commuter car parking.
“Work is also under way on the $6 million jointly funded business case into an extension of the rail line from Beerwah through to Maroochydore.
“This business case will confirm the scope and expected costing for the extension, which is an important step before we commit funding towards future stages.
“We’re on track to get Queenslanders home safer and sooner.”
Stage 1: Beerburrum to Beerwah:
- duplication of the track between Beerburrum and Glass House Mountains on an improved alignment
- duplication of the track between Glass House Mountains and Beerwah within the existing corridor
- realignment of a 1km section of Steve Irwin Way between Nursery Road and Moffatt Road to accommodate the new rail corridor and track infrastructure
- Beerburrum Road and Steve Irwin Way intersection upgrade including a new road overpass on Beerburrum Road
- expansion of the park ‘n’ ride facility on the northern side of Beerburrum station
- replacement of the Barrs Road level crossing in Glass House Mountains with a new road overpass connecting Barrs Road to Moffatt Road
- replacement of the Burgess Street road-over-rail bridge with a new road overpass
- construction of a new bus interchange at Landsborough
- a new park ‘n’ ride facility on the eastern side of Landsborough station
- expansion of the park ‘n’ ride facility on the eastern side of Nambour station.
For more information on the project, please visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au
