Sunshine Coast mass transit plan: Council identifies federal funding as key for project

Federal funding would be key for a Sunshine Coast mass transit system. Here is how much the government has splashed on major South East Queensland transport upgrades.

A Sunshine Coast politician is prepared to “go to war” with his own party if governments go ahead with a proposed light rail system from Maroochydore to Kawana.

Andrew Wallace’s comments come as the Sunshine Coast Council progresses its mass transit plan which would need state and federal funding to go ahead.

Recent community consultation revealed light rail was the region’s least favoured option out of five on the table including wireless light rail, trackless trams, bus rapid transit or a quality bus corridor.

Projects range from $880m to $2.64b in estimated costs and a council spokesman said state and federal funding was critical for its progression.

The federal government chipped in hundreds of millions of dollars for Brisbane’s recent metro upgrade and the Gold Coast light rail.

Brisbane Metro was estimated to cost $1.244 billion and the council funded $944m and federal government $300m.

Meanwhile stage 1 of the Gold Coast light rail cost $949m, with the federal government funding up to $365m.

Mr Wallace said a mass transit system would require federal funding but that he would object to supporting light rail.

He said light rail should be struck off the options provided to the state government if the council moved forward with a business case.

“The public don’t want it,” he said.

“I have no issue with a form of mass transit along Nicklin Way up to Maroochydore but what I want to see is heavy rail on the CAMCOS corridor with interconnected buses.

“I will go to war with my own government if we provide funding for light rail on the Sunshine Coast because I know how much it will impact on the life of those living along the coastal strip.”

The council’s latest options analysis report also included early documents to lodge to Infrastructure Australia – as part of future funding discussions.

“To be considered as part of the Commonwealth’s infrastructure priorities, it is proposed to refer the Sunshine Coast Mass Transit Options Analysis, in the form of a completed ‘Infrastructure Australia Stage 2 template’ to Infrastructure Australia for its consideration, should council endorse the options analysis on 20 October, 2021,” a spokesman said.

“It is one step in their assessment framework which is designed to guide decision makers to future investment decisions.”

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said he did not want to comment on which option he preferred before the council considered the report.

He said it was also too early to speculate on funding.

“We’ve committed to receiving council’s recommendations on mass transit and then completing a business case that will investigate those recommendations and the costs involved in more detail,” he said.

“When the time comes to discuss funding, I’d like to see all three levels of government at the negotiating table, but that time is still a way off.”

He said Mr Wallace’s comments were not constructive.

“I would have thought a more constructive way to go about being a federal MP on the Sunshine Coast would be to actually work on behalf of your constituents by putting forward positive projects and ideas and fighting for funding for them,” Mr Bailey said.

“It’s no secret that the Morrison LNP Government refuses to fairly fund Sunshine Coast infrastructure because it believes it has comfortable, safe seats here.

“The fact that Andrew Wallace is actively encouraging the Morrison LNP Government to direct billions of dollars they’ve got in their election slush fund elsewhere is a betrayal of the Sunshine Coast and its residents.”

The council will vote on October 20 if it should progress the mass transit plan with the state government to build a detailed business case.