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Read the articles: Service delayed: question marks remain over direct rail line and ‘Clogged’ pipeline puts heat on Sunshine Coast Rail;
Neglected again
It is extremely disappointing to read that the future of the Sunshine Coast rail is in jeopardy because of cost overruns in other areas such as the Cross River Rail and the Suncorp Stadium upgrade.
To expect Sunshine Coast residents to bear the brunt of these overruns is unfair. We would like to be able to travel to Olympic events in Brisbane and elsewhere without resorting to already congested roads.
At present, Sunshine Coasters have to travel at least 30 minutess to get to hinterland train stations. What other towns in Queensland as large as Caloundra, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore do not have railway stations?
In addition, areas such as Aura at Caloundra are developing at a rapid rate, which means more efficient transport is needed to move people around.
My support for the Olympic Games, and I am sure many others, was based on much-needed infrastructure being provided for the often-neglected Sunshine Coast. To hear it is now under review is terribly disappointing.
Passenger rail needs to run from Beerwah to Caloundra, Kawana, Mooloolaba and Maroochydore as a matter of urgency. This would be a great legacy project for any government.
What the Sunshine Coast needs is a strong advocate like Tom Tate, who has made sure his Gold Coast region has an expanding train network as well as a popular light rail service.
If rail is not completed for the Olympics, then when?
Rhonda Christie, Caloundra
Stop procrastinating
OMG, so sick of hearing about this rail proposal planing etc, blah blah blah.
I have been living on the Coast now since 1986. Not long after that I remember ‘them’ planning the rail connection from Landsborough to Maroochydore. Come on guys, feed up with your procrastination. “Water off a duck’s back.”
Suellyne Faux-Lott, Bokarina
Action now
I am responding to the article regarding the railway project, which has been long outstanding since 2002 when we moved to the Coast from overseas.
The congestion on the Bruce Highway is a constant and ongoing concern, with almost continuous maintenance and improvements being made on the highway year after year, which never seems to stop. I have seen countless times congestion due to this, on top of accidents and breakdowns and holidaymakers traveling up and down this area.
Many people go to work in Brisbane from the Sunshine Coast and using a car to get there is rather unpredictable with what lies ahead. I have missed flights due to heavy congestion.
The CAMCOS railway project was promised over 20 years ago and the Olympics is coming. It’s time the State Government puts this into action now. Brisbane and the Gold Coast have had way more than their fair share of attention for infrastructure development and they need to start paying more attention to what’s up north above them.
John Plummer, Caloundra West
Services needed
I remember living here in the 1990s and they spoke of light rail back then. How many conversations do we need? The Gold Coast has it, and trains even going to the airport.
The Sunshine Coast is so much bigger now … bring on better train or light rail services. We need it.
Evie B, Maroochydore
Still waiting
Can we please stop the talk and get on with duplication of the rail service to Brisbane from the Sunshine Coast. Just how many market studies do we need? Just how many promises do we need?
As was stated by another reader, 20 years later from initial discussions nothing has happened. As for the cost, let’s be realistic and stop estimating such a low figure, typical of both the federal and state governments. Get a finalised plan and get on with the work.
Mayor Jamieson likens the Sunshine Coast to Silicon Valley in the US, get real and stop marketing speak. Spend your time getting the duplication of the rail.
Peter Dare, Pelican Waters
Look to future
How can anybody be against any public transport? We’ve got so much land and knowledge and yet we’re so much behind the rest of the world when it comes to public transport.
Years from now we’re going to run out of room to park our cars and bikes, and it is about time for someone to think about the future and make work.
Antonio Segreto, Pacific Paradise
Read the article: Developer returns with new master plan for site
Flood concerns
As a resident that has a home that backs on to this development, my main concern is the flooding of a natural wetland and where will the water go. If it’s a man-made lake with a pump I’ve got absolutely no confidence in that producing a natural outcome in future flooding events like we’ve seen in the past few years.
Tristam Wilson, Twin Waters
True cost
The report says the development will achieve “in the order of 450 housing lots and will assist in delivering much-needed additional housing stock for the Sunshine Coast”.
Yeah, that’s great, but what will the cost be to potential renters/buyers?
They are just clawing their way in to offload this useless parcel of land and inconveniencing others in the process.
Rudy Formigoni, Marcoola Beach
Multiple concerns
The saga continues.
Council has advised its policy is a big no to development on floodplain land. But here we are being asked to consider a DA for just such a project, and after it has been rejected at least twice previously. Why? This is a new DA lodged, not a variation of previous ones. But, in fairness, the developers of this land have had the rules changed on them – a risk of development generally.
To be fair, I have suggested to both parties some time ago that council and the developer swap the relevant land for an area of similar size that is available for development.
The entire history of Twin Waters West needs an in-depth inquiry – from examining the decision to sell land that was zoned as non-residential at the time of sale to the initial buyers, to the constant failure of the various statutory organisations and their personnel to fail to provide any reasonable sort of future planning for the after and ongoing effects in the event the DA is approved.
The land is surrounded by state roads but I am not aware of any proposals to upgrade them to allow for the increased traffic.
There is a state traffic survey about doubling the width of the Sunshine Motorway but no mention of the David Low Way section from Bli Bli to the motorway and beyond to Mudjimba Beach, Pacific Paradise and the boat launch ramp at Nojoor Road.
We, the residents, are being told that there is a need for more residential accommodation here. It would seem the same can be said for the rest of Australia. What we don’t need is more development without the supporting infrastructure.
When one looks at the construction of our roadways, at all levels, one could conclude there is a bias against providing reasonable, wide, free-flowing roadways, the preference being dumping the residents on the slow-moving, ill-directed, impractical public transport. The statutory bodies can’t control where we go, how we get there and in a time from that suits their controllers, rather than our needs or wishes. There is a perfect example to this approach in the recent ‘survey’ on mass transit where, despite the contrary claims, the majority voted against light rail.
I submit that the TWW DA be rejected until such time as a holistic investigation of the immediate and future needs of the residents are examined to ensure that all and any development is effected in a manner that serves the entire community, rather than some textbook, clerical rule book or political policy.
Additionally, what’s wrong with ensuring that roads are widened so as to be safer and wide enough to facilitate a relaxed lifestyle rather than creating an environment of anxious and frustrated residents?
The DA doesn’t explain why the water flow doesn’t come in and out of a weir as it does with Twin Waters. Instead we are offered pumps and piping, equipment requiring ongoing maintenance with little or no explanation of the cost of and the need for constant monitoring.
There is a proposed exit road from TWW into Twin Waters. This exit will offer three choices: turn right, left or go straight ahead. Surprise! Only a left turn will enable exiting Twin Waters: the other choices are dead ends. Wonderful for residential safety. And the cycling groups will love it – more residential safety. And still there’s no direct access to the motorway (or under it or over it).
I’m glad I’m not a kangaroo that suffers from claustrophobia – the path to the river looks a touch narrow.
In summary, there’s no need for this development in any shape or form. It’s all about money. The inconvenience and lifestyle of locals is being ignored with the feeble excuse of ‘we need more homes’. This DA must be rejected.
Brian Bolton, Twin Waters
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
