‘Come clean’: Demands for rail to Maroochydore to be confirmed

The Sunshine Coast Rail extension continues to be under a cloud, as pressure grows on the State Government to confirm it will go all the way to Maroochydore.

The Sunshine Coast Rail extension continues to be under a cloud, as pressure grows on the State Government to confirm it will go all the way to Maroochydore.

A recently released government report refers to the rail line extending to “the southern Gold Coast”, and includes a map for a transport corridor extending from Beerwah to Maroochydore.

It also backs a separate, coastal transport corridor linking Birtinya and Maroochydore.

LNP Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien said he feared it meant the government would cut the rail line short of Maroochydore, but state Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the Southern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Study “clearly” shows a corridor running from Beerwah to Maroochydore.

Fairfax MP Ted O'Brien. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

The map in the report for the central transport corridor refers to “Rapid service. High frequency with fully separated priority” but does not specify a mode.

The rail extension was highlighted as part of the plans for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, but has also been included in the Federal Government’s infrastructure audit.

Mr O’Brien said the report did not state the rail line would extend all the way to Maroochydore, just the southern Gold Coast, before immediately referencing a “high-frequency public transport “high-frequency public transport connection between Maroochydore and Birtinya”.

“If Labor wants to assure the people of the Sunshine Coast that it intends to deliver this rail line in full, it needs to come out and say it,” he said.

“Our community backed the bid for the 2032 Games because it came with a plan for a new rail line to the Maroochydore CBD, and the former Coalition Government committed $1.6 billion to make it happen.

“Enough of the smoke and mirrors routine, it’s time to come clean with the community.”

But Mr Bailey said the project could not be built without doing the necessary planning first and accused Mr O’Brien of “petty politics”.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey. Picture: Liam Kidston

“The Southern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Study clearly outlines a vision for a Centre Corridor running from Beerwah to Maroochydore and a Coastal Corridor running from Caloundra to Maroochydore,” Mr Bailey said.

“The first stage of the Coastal Corridor project would focus on Maroochydore to Birtinya, as recommended in the Sunshine Coast Council’s mass transport options analysis.

“The LNP both State and Federally ignored the Sunshine Coast when in power, made a desperate last-minute promise they refused to vote on and then have the hide to criticise the progress that already been made under Labor and Prime Minister Albanese.”