Politicians fight to keep blown-out rail project viable
Jarrod Bleijie is under pressure from his fellow Sunshine Coast representatives over a direct rail line in time for the Olympics.
QLD Politics
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A direct rail linking Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast needs to press ahead despite exploding costs because it underpinned the entire purpose behind the 2032 Olympics, politicians say.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the 37.8km Sunshine Coast Direct Rail underpinned the viability of other large proposed infrastructure projects in order to shift large populations during the games.
She said the Olympics was the motivator behind significant infrastructure projects like a 7000 seat arena and athletes village proposed by major developer Walker Corporation.
While an independent body considered merits of significant Olympic projects, the direct rail could be at jeopardy, with documents showing costs could blow out to $20bn for the heavy rail corridor, while the project was also removed from Infrastructure Australia’s priority list.
Experts also doubted the rail would not be fully completed before the games.
Yet Ms Natoli said Sunshine Coast residents were “crying out” for years over improved public transport regardless of the games.
“And to be totally honest, that kind of legacy infrastructure of transport is the whole reason the South East Queensland Mayors and Sunshine Coast Council were bidding for the Olympics in the first place was to be the catalyst for that infrastructure,” she said.
“We need this for us.
“This is not just about what’s going to happen in 2032, our people need and deserve this infrastructure, and that is what we mustn’t forget in any of this.”
Ms Natoli said she had spoken to construction experts who believed the rail could be completed in time for the Olympics, but bureaucrats needed to “get onto it pronto” as soon as the Games Independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority completed its 100 day review on March 8.
Federal LNP members say they are still pushing for the line to Maroochydore to be completed in time for the 2032 Brisbane Games.
Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said he received direct advice from Transport and Main Roads prior to the Queensland state election confirming the entire rail line could be built in time for the 2032 Games.
“I do not accept the argument that it could only be built to Caloundra by 2032,” he said.
“TMR told me that Maroochydore would take eight years, we spoke at length.
“I knew that an incoming LNP government elected in October would be inside the eight-year time frame. … but the works would have to be accelerated.”
He said construction of the entire 37.8km heavy rail and its six stations between Beerwah and Maroochydore, was possible if works were staged “to the extent humanly possible” instead of progressively.
“We have to keep the pressure on to leverage the Olympics and Paralympics otherwise I’m concerned it’ll become a Redcliffe rail line,” he said.
“If the political will is there, anything can be done.”
Mr Bleijie initially vowed to have the rail line to Maroochydore finished by 2032.
But his language changed following an extraordinary submission to the state’s Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure review claiming the project could cost up to $20bn.
“As we have previously said the government will listen to the advice of the Games independent Infrastructure and Co-ordination Authority,” he said.
The federal and state governments have jointly funded $5.5bn towards stage one of the rail between Beerwah and Caloundra however, construction is not slated to start until at least 2026.
Mr Bleijie, asked if he would consider fast tracking works along the entire railway if it received full funding, said the delivery options for the project would be “guided by the experts”.
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