Queenslanders push for improved transport between city hubs

Queenslanders have revealed their priority project as experts say there needs to be a change to the way our capital city operates. HAVE YOUR SAY

Queenslanders are overwhelmingly pushing for improved rail on the Sunshine Coast and a revamped M1 above all other projects, according to a survey by The Courier-Mail.

The survey asked more than 3000 Queenslanders what they believed the most important project was across the state, with a third of all respondents saying the duplication of the Gold Coast section of the M1, while another third said passenger rail to the Sunshine Coast CBD.

Meanwhile, one in 10 people looked to improve the Brisbane Metro extension to Capalaba while 9 per cent looked to improve public transport to Toowoomba.

As the population booms in south east Queensland, Dr Michael Kane, head of public policy at RACQ, said it wasn’t surprising that transport was at the top of the list as the region expands.

“We already have nodal density, we just don’t connect that with good public transport,” he said.

Heavy traffic on the M1 Pacific Motorway. Picture: Nigell Hallett

Denser city hubs rather than sprawl could create more efficient public transport, according to Dr Kane, who said nodal density would work to reduce congested motorways and would speed up rail lines thanks to less periodic stops.

One of the biggest projects in RACQ’s mind is fixing the airport line before 2032, he said.

“It (the airport line) is the nerve sitting directly on the transport spine for South East Queensland. The forecast growth in transport numbers impacts directly on the M1,” he said.

“We need an easily understood, high capacity and frequent form of transport. It has to be simple and legible for anyone walking through the airport.”

With the help of more people working from home to reduce congestion, Dr Kane said Brisbane could start to follow cities that have inner city clusters rather than central office areas, such as New York and Paris.

Steph Hartas with her children Noah, 6, Theo, 2, Azaliya, 4 and Aidan, 8, at Maroochydore beach. Picture: Lachie Millard

“The Olympic Games village is going to be the broader inner city, not just the CBD, so that’s where we’re heading,” he said.

“We need to organise public transport to support more than just a centralised office demand, but an inner city renaissance.”

Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien has long been campaigning to link Brisbane with the Maroochydore CBD by rail, saying there was no more important project in South East Queensland and now it was a necessity with the upcoming 2032 games.

“It’ll make the trip between Brisbane and the Sunny Coast faster and safer, it’ll take cars off the road and it’ll provide for new and dense population settlements around new railway stations,” he said.

Mr O’Brien said he was concerned that project delays could lead to blow out in costs.

“This project is for the community and the Courier Mail’s survey demonstrates they want it prioritised, so let’s get on with it,” he said.

Meanwhile, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said over the next 10 years, South East Queensland will see faster commuting times.

“Let me say very clearly – we are not going to have bullet trains like we see in Japan and China. We do not have the population to sustain that, and they cost tens of billions of dollars,” she said.

There is a proposal to extend the Metro system to Brisbane’s eastern bayside.

She said the government would be considering the Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study along with “all other projects”.

Sunshine Coast mum Steph Hartas said the Maroochydore to Brisbane rail expansion couldn’t come soon enough to take pressure off local roads.

“Bringing a direct route to the coast side of things is a must,” she said.

“If people on holiday come to the coast and don’t hire a car, they’re very limited in where they can go.”