Fears Brisbane 2032 Games will fail without key Sunshine Coast rail investment, says council

Major South East Queensland councils are warning there is a “great risk” to the success of the 2032 Games unless key transport projects are delivered.

There is “a great risk” to the success of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games unless key transport projects are delivered, with the Sunshine Coast Rail and Gold Coast light rail extending to the airport chief among them, major councils are warning.

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council is also in danger of having a shortfall of hotel accommodation needed for it to host Games events and the athletes villages.

The concerns are revealed in submissions to the Senate inquiry into Australia’s preparedness to host the Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

An artist’s impression of the proposed Gabba redevelopment for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The inquiry was set up by the Coalition and the Greens after Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s decision to dump an independent infrastructure agency to oversee projects for the Games in favour of keeping it in-house.

The Sunshine Coast Rail is one of the projects subject to the federal government’s 90-day infrastructure review, sparking fears it could fall victim to cuts or be shortened to stop before Maroochydore.

Sunshine Coast Council’s Olympics program lead Grantley Switzer said upgrading the rail line between Beerwah and Nambour, as well as extending the line to link Beerwah to Caloundra, Kawana and Maroochydore, had to be a priority.

“There is great risk to the success of the 2032 Games if these transport projects are not delivered,” he said.

Sunshine Coast Rail to Maroochydore is vital for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games success, according to the Sunshine Coast Region Council. Picture: Supplied

“This is our moment to see vast improvements in major transport connectivity for the Sunshine Coast, and we are looking forward to further details from the state and federal governments on how and when that investment will occur.”

Mr Switzer said while athletes and officials competing in events staged on Sunshine Coast’s athletes village in Maroochydore, more hotel space was being sought for other visitors.

“There are some concerns at this point in time that our region does have a shortfall in respect to the number of hotel and other short-term accommodation offerings required for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games,” Mr Switzer said.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate. Picture: NewsWire/Sarah Marshall

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate, in his submission, said the city’s airport would be key to supporting arrivals and departures for the Games and extending the light rail was vital.

“This extension of light rail from Broadbeach to Coolangatta is recognised as ‘critical transport infrastructure’ in enabling the Gold Coast to support Queensland hosting Brisbane

2032,” Mr Tate said.

Gold Coast Light Rail stage 3 is under construction, so is exempt from the federal government’s infrastructure audit, but funding is still required for stage 4 linking Burleigh to Coolangatta.

It is not expected to be completed until 2031, the year before the Games, but has been elevated to “priority project” status by Infrastructure Australia.