Sunshine Coast heavy rail: ministers say government must commit to project

Pressure is on the Albanese government to commit $1.6bn to finally secure the long-awaited project between Brisbane and Maroochydore, as one vital deadline looms.

A community group and two Liberal ministers are demanding the government support the heavy rail line from Brisbane to Maroochydore in the October 25 budget.

The former Morrison government promised $1.6bn for the rail line, and Sunshine Coast ministers Ted O’Brien and Andrew Wallace want the federal government to make the same funding assurance this week.

The $3.2bn heavy rail line project needs federal and state government funding to become a reality.

Mr O’Brien said in the lead-up to the election earlier this year, infrastructure minister Catherine King expressed enthusiasm for the project.

Mr Wallace said when federal treasurer Jim Chalmers visited the Sunshine Coast in August, he promised projects slated for communities that would deliver an economic benefit would go ahead.

Sunshine Coast MPs Ted O'Brien and Andrew Wallace are demanding the Labor government make a $1.6bn commitment to the heavy rail line from Brisbane to Maroochydore. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Well, this is a great project, so let’s get on with it,” he said.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson earlier this month warned the heavy rail project must start in the next five years to be ready in time for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Sunshine Coast Council Mayor Mark Jamieson has warned the heavy rail project must start in the next five years to be ready for the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The Mass Transit Action Group executive member Kate Harvey said all levels of government had an opportunity to deliver a transport option that would improve residents’ lives.

“The Sunshine Coast Regional Council together with the Queensland and federal Labor governments have the opportunity to deliver what has been talked about for over 20 years,” she said.

A transport minister spokesman said the Federal Government was committed to working with the state government to identify, plan and fund priority transport infrastructure investments.

“We recognise that the Sunshine Coast is one of the fastest-growing regions in Australia, and the importance of making timely, targeted infrastructure investment to support this ongoing growth and development,” he said.

A spokesman for transport minister Catherine King says Queensland investments will be confirmed on October 25. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gary Ramage

The spokesman said Queensland investments would be confirmed in the budget.

Ms Harvey said her group still opposed the light rail solution along the coastal strip.

In 2021, the Sunshine Coast council voted to send a mass transit options analysis report to the state government to help form a $15m detailed business case.

The options in the report included controversial light rail, wireless light rail, trackless trams, bus rapid transit and a quality bus corridor to connect Maroochydore and Kawana.

Ms Harvey said investing in the heavy rail, or CAMCOS, corridor with a feeder bus network to support it would provide much greater benefit to people who lived and visited the Sunshine Coast.