Heavy rail discussions back on the agenda as Sunshine Coast Business Council looks for solutions

Sunshine Coast Business Council is pushing for heavy rail to be made a priority project ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.

As Southeast Queensland is gearing up to host the 2032 Olympics, businesses are pushing to see heavy rail built to better connect the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane.

Sunshine Coast Business Council chair Sandy Zubrinich said the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games provided the region with an economic and social boost but planning needed to start now.

Ms Zubrinich said creating better connectivity within the region needed to be a priority, including the development of heavy rail projects.

Sunshine Coast Business Council is pushing for heavy rail to be prioritised ahead of 2032 Olympics.

“One of our greatest challenges for the Games will be efficiently getting people into and around our region,” she said.

“Improving all methods of transportation to move people between Brisbane and Sunshine Coast venues will be a priority, and a reliable and efficient heavy rail spine should be the starting point.”

Ms Zubrinich said heavy rail should brought through to Maroochydore, which Walker Corporation is currently developing to become a thriving city centre.

“If Maroochydore is to truly be considered the city centre beyond Sunshine Coast Council’s aspirations, then heavy rail really is non-negotiable — it is the only sensible destination for heavy rail services into the Coast from Brisbane,” she said.

“The road map needs to focus on improving our rail connections with Brisbane to ease congestion on the Bruce Highway, and improving connectivity to and within the region through projects such as rail connecting through to Maroochydore — thereby enhancing its role as the city centre.”

There is currently no plan to make heavy rail a priority, after an Infrastructure Australia report in March found the $5.3bn North Coast Connect fast rail proposal was not cost effective.

Sunshine Coast Business Council chair Sandy Zubrinich is calling for heavy rail to be prioritised ahead of 2032 Olympics.

The proposal aimed to reduce rail journey times between Brisbane and the Coast from 75 to 50 minutes.

It included a new dedicated rail track along the existing North Coast Line between Brisbane and Beerwah and a new rail corridor to connect coastal centres including Maroochydore, Kawana and Caloundra.

Ms Zubrinich said businesses were looking to all three levels of government working together to ensure the Coast doesn’t get left behind.

“To deliver an efficient and effective rail system the three tiers of government need to be in lock-step to provide the connecting rail infrastructure that will underpin the economy, help enable future growth and allow the region to maximise the benefits from the 2032 Games,” she said.

“Our focus on achieving this needs to be immediate and practical, and comes with the realisation that we don’t have the luxury of taking our foot off the pedal, as has happened in the past.”