Plans revealed: 333 jobs up for grabs in major rail upgrade
FLYOVER VISION: Watch how the $550.8 million Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade will better connect the Sunshine Coast with Brisbane.
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Hundreds of jobs will soon be up for grabs to deliver the $550.8 million Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade to better connect the Sunshine Coast with Brisbane, and divert drivers off the Bruce Highway.
Tenders will be sought in August for the design and construction of stage one of the upgrade, which is expected to create 333 jobs and is jointly-funded by the State and Federal governments.
Early works to support the upgrade are expected to start early next 2021, with major construction to follow in 2022.
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The 39km section between Nambour and Beerburrum is currently a single track with trains using passing loops at stations, limiting the number of daily services for passengers and freight.
The project will include sections of line duplication, as well as station upgrades, new park 'n' ride facilities and new rail passing loops.
Stage one works include duplicating the track north of Beerburrum; expanding park 'n' rides at Nambour, Landsborough and Beerburrum; a bus interchange at Landsborough; relocating utilities; and constructing road-over-rail bridges at Beerburrum Rd, Barrs Rd and Burgess St.
BEERBURRUM TO NAMBOUR (B2N) BREAKDOWN:
- Duplicating 20km of track between Beerburrum and Landsborough
- Create new rail passing loops
- Upgrade stations and expand park 'n' ride facilities at Beerburrum and Nambour
- Construct a new park 'n' ride facility on the eastern side of Landsborough station
- Duplicate track between Beerburrum and Beerwah
- Straighten the Beerburrum to Glass House Mountains section of track
- Realign 1km section of the Steve Irwin Way
- Construct new roads over the rail bridges at Beerburrum Rd, Barrs Rd and Burgess St
Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the major rail upgrade was ready to move off the page and onto the ground in the coming months.
"Realignment of Steve Irwin Way needs to happen before we can start work in the rail corridor, so it's pleasing to see progress being made," Mr Bailey said.
"The 333 jobs and economic stimulus that will be delivered by stage one of the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade project are essential for the Sunshine Coast.
"Those new jobs are in addition to more than 2300 jobs being supported by the four Bruce Highway upgrades underway or due to start in the coming months between Caboolture and Gympie."
Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said an industry briefing last week gave local businesses some indication on what kind of work was coming down the line, and allowed the project team to get early feedback to help as they developed the final scope for the upgrade.
"This project will provide local jobs for local people and we want Coast and Hinterland communities to be part of every step of this project," Mr Wallace said.
Federal Member for Fairfax Ted O'Brien said the 333 jobs created by stage one would be crucial to the local community's economic recovery.
"The Federal Government has been focused on saving jobs during this pandemic and now we are working harder than ever to create them too," Mr O'Brien said.
"Jobs change lives and I am very excited for work to begin because I know the opportunities this will bring to our community."
Planning activities for the project, underway since early 2019, include land surveys and geotechnical investigations, environmental and cultural heritage surveys, hydraulic modelling, traffic counts, park 'n' ride design and consultation with affected property owners.
The Australian Government has contributed $390 million and the Queensland Government has contributed $160.8 million to the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade.
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