‘Puts us back to square one’: Qld Mayors rage as major projects axed

It can be revealed Infrastructure Australia was requested to put stages of the Sunshine Coast Rail on its priority list two months ago, as Queensland Mayors rage over local project cuts.

The Sunshine Coast is rail has been cut from the priority list along with many other critical infrastructure projects. Picture: Supplied

The state government requested future stages of the Sunshine Coast Rail be placed on Infrastructure Australia’s priority list two months ago, it can be revealed, as Queensland Mayors rage over local project cuts.

It comes after Infrastructure Australia axed multiple developments from its federal funding priority list, including the Sunshine Coast Rail and a slate of council initiatives addressing the state’s booming population.

The Courier-Mail obtained Infrastructure Minister Jarrod Bleijie’s November 19 submission to Infrastructure Australia chief executive Adam Copp, detailing a list of projects for funding consideration.

It included future Sunshine Coast Rail stages, Bruce Highway funding, regional road investments, Barron River Bridge resilience works, the Mooloolah River Interchange, and Paradise Dam rebuilding.

Then-Premier Steven Miles opening an information and engagement centre for the Sunshine Coast Direct Rail. Picture: Patrick Woods.

However, none of these appeared in the draft priority list given to Bleijie last week.

“There are also concerns with the Federal Government’s decision last year to remove the ability for local governments to directly submit projects to Infrastructure Australia for consideration and Federal funding,” Mr Bleijie wrote.

“We will be consulting with the local government sector on their position in response to this policy change, but the preliminary view is that this change does not support the needs of regional communities in a growing and decentralised state like Queensland.”

A chorus of South East Mayors on Monday voiced alarm over project cuts as councils grapple with soaring population forecasts.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said her council was relying on the completion of the Sunshine Coast Rail to cater for the predicted 200,000 person population increase.

“With those projections, we need to have public transport because our roads will be choked,” she said.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding criticised the removal of her city’s river crossing project and road upgrades, despite its population doubling within 20 years.

“Our community has waited years, if not decades, for these projects,” she said.

“Just last September, the Federal Member for Blair, Shayne Neumann, made a commitment to fix the Cunningham Highway.

“This decision puts us back to square one.”

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said he would pursue funding elsewhere for the now excluded Toowong to West End Bridge project ahead of the 2032 Games.

Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate called it “puzzling” that projects deemed priorities last year were now missing, vowing to seek answers from federal ministers.

“The Gold Coast has long contributed to the economy and tourism, and we are rapidly approaching one million residents,” he said.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King assured that the IPL was a draft and did not mean projects would be left unfunded.

But Mr Bleijie dismissed claims that the list served as a guide, asserting the federal government relied on Infrastructure Australia’s advice.

He warned that finishing the Sunshine Coast Direct Rail to Maroochydore by the 2032 Games was at risk without federal Labor’s support.

The state is now consulting Federal Opposition Leader Peter Dutton about a Coalition funding commitment for future stages of the rail project.