Coast-to-Coast: $3.9b road and rail bonanza to connect southeast for the Olympics, upgrade regional roads

Major road and rail projects will get a whopping $3.9 billion to cut commute times, send trains into the heart of the Sunshine Coast and create tens of thousands of jobs leading up to the Olympics. SEE WHERE THE CASH GOES

It will be full-steam ahead on major rail projects for the Sunshine and Gold Coasts to get commuters home faster and prepare the southeast for the 2032 Olympic Games, after a whopping $3.9 billion roads and rail budget bonanza.

In a big-spending, pre-election budget, the Beerwah to Maroochydore rail extension has been the green light with a $1.6 billion commitment from the Federal Government, linking Brisbane to the heart of Sunshine Coast.

There is another $1.12 billion for the long awaited Kuraby to Beenleigh rail upgrade to ease pressure on the Brisbane-Gold Coast commute.

Both rail projects will require the State Government to match the funding and will play an important role in supporting the 2032 Olympics, helping the fast mass transit of athletes, media, spectators and officials.

The Brisbane Metro will receive $150 million for a Woolloongabba station. Picture: Supplied

There will also be $150 million thrown at a Brisbane Metro station for Woolloongabba, while another $20 million is set aside for Olympic Games related business cases to improve the M1, Sunshine Coast roads and public transport as well as the Ipswich Motorway.

But the regions will not miss out either, with road upgrades from Mt Isa through Rockhampton, upgrades to Townsville to Roma and Tennant Creek corridors as well as the state’s central and western regions.

The road spending is expected to create more than 11,000 jobs.

About $289 million of the projects funded are in or are linked to Kennedy, held by independent MP Bob Katter whose vote could be crucial in a hung parliament.

Funding is spread across a range of vital seats including Capricornia, Flynn, Forde and Leichhardt.

The safe LNP seat of Maranoa, safe Labor seat of Blair and marginal Labor seat of Griffith are all in line for some projects.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said building the projects would not only get people home sooner, but grow the economy and create new opportunities for small businesses.

“Australia’s future success relies on a strong economy. Our strong economic recovery is being driven by our record funding for major road projects right across the country,” he said.

The Maroochydore to Beerwah rail trip is expected to take just 20 minutes.

It will be 37km, include new proposed stations such as Kawana and Caloundra, create 9550 direct and indirect jobs, and works will be completed prior to 2032.

The Kuraby to Beenleigh Rail upgrade will double the lines capacity. Photo: Brett Wortman / Sunshine Coast Daily

The Kuraby to Beenleigh rail upgrade – previously touted by Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk – will double capacity from two to four tracks, improve travel times and signalling systems, with construction to start in 2024 and finish by 2028.

There will also be upgrades to seven stations, a park and ride facility as well as upgrades to five level crossings.

Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher said it has the potential to double express and all-stop services by 2041 and is expected to create up to 6700 direct and indirect jobs.

“With the 2032 Olympic Games just a decade away, it is critical that we plan and invest in the required infrastructure now so that Queensland is not only well equipped to host a successful Games, but can support sustainable growth over the coming decades,” he said.

Fairfax MP and Special Envoy for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Ted O’Brien said connectivity across southeast Queensland would be defined by rail and improving the northern and southern links to Brisbane was the starting point to make it happen.

Infrastructure Minister Paul Fletcher says it is critical to plan and invest for the 2032 Olympic Games now. Picture: Fiona Killman

“It will also alleviate population growth pressures in our region by shifting housing density around new stations, it will get people out of cars and onto trains, and it will help activate Australia’s newest greenfield CBD,” he said.

Fisher MP Andrew Wallace MP said the $1.6 billion project proved bringing heavy rail to the Sunshine Coast was the number one priority.

The Bruce Highway will get $27 million for three business cases for upgrades on the Bruce Highway between Anzac Avenue and Caboolture Bribie Island Road, which takes in the marginal LNP seat of Longman as well as part of Petrie.

There is $190.3 million in new funds set aside for the Mt Isa to Rockhampton road corridor upgrade, including widening and upgrades at McKinlay River and Rutchillo Creek.

The Tennant Creek to Townsville corridor will get $114.4 million in new money for the Flinders Highway from Hughenden through to Julia Creek as well as at Richmond-Winton Road and Dotswood Road.

There is $28.3 million for upgrades to the Cairns to Northern Territory Border corridor, including at Mareeba, Tablelands and Gulf Developmental Road.

Outback Way is also set to get an additional $112 million on top of funds previously committed.