Beerburrum to Beerwah rail duplications frustrates Sunshine Coast residents
An announcement revealing completion times for $550m Sunshine Coast rail upgrades has raised questions as a major hinterland hub’s duplication fate appears sealed.
Sunshine Coast
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A date has been set for long-awaited rail upgrades to the Sunshine Coast but duplication of the North Coast Line appears to have been confirmed for a scale back in latest plans.
The Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade was due to include duplication of 20km of the line from Beerburrum to Landsborough – as listed in Infrastructure Australia’s evaluation of the state government’s proposal back in February, 2018.
The Sunshine Coast Daily reported in August, 2021 and March, 2022, that the 20km stretch was part of the project but a recent media release appeared to confirm Landsborough had been axed from rail duplication plans, after the change to initial plans was first flagged in early-2021.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads announced in a media release the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail upgrade was now moving onto the next phase, which is expected to be completed in 2027.
The update outlines the main works of the first stage of the project, including a duplicated rail line to be constructed between Beerburrum and Beerwah.
Initial plans outlined the rail line duplicate would extend from Beerburrum to Landsborough, a 20km distance rather than the 13km distance to Beerwah.
Sunshine Coast spokesman for Rail Back on Track Jeffrey Addison said the decision to complete rail duplication to Beerwah rather than Landsborough – a main commuter hub – meant the line would be inadequate for the region, especially for the upcoming 2032 Olympics.
“The mountain bike events will occur at Parklands, just north of Nambour. It will hold 10,000 spectators,” My Addison said.
“No way a single rail track to Nambour that is shared with freight and long-distance trains and city train services can cope.
“There is football preliminaries at Kawana and an athlete’s village at Maroochydore with no other access except by road.”
The advocate group raised concerns about the future of Landsborough as an emerging commuter hub if the line was not duplicated beyond Beerwah.
Mr Addison said the lengthy delays were going to have detrimental impacts on the Sunshine Coast community, where the population is growing at a rapid rate.
“Our socio-economic disadvantage will continue, just have to look at Nambour and its struggle to survive without adequate public transport,” Mr Addison said.
“We will become even more car entrenched as it is quicker to drive than catch a train due to the decades long inaction.”
Stage one of the project has been allocated $550.9m in funding, with the Australian Government committing to spending $390m and the Queensland Government to spend $160.8m.
Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton said the upgrade including the rail line duplication was due to be “shovel-ready by 2024”.
“With a growing population in the region, this key piece of infrastructure will help alleviate pressure on the Bruce Highway,” he said.
The Department of Transport and Main Roads did not provide a reason for the rail duplication now stopping at Beerwah when asked by the Sunshine Coast Daily.
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