What we know so far: Coast’s major mass transit plan

Public feedback will be the key to how a plan shaping the region’s future public transport strategy progresses. Here is what we know about the plan so far.

Sunshine Coast Council will conduct more community consultation on its mass transit plan. This artist's impression shows the region's population is expected to reach 424,000 by 2031.

Public feedback will be the key to how a plan shaping the region's future public transport strategy progresses.

The Sunshine Coast Mass Transit Strategy Preliminary Business Case and Options Analysis will be out for community consultation, following a fiery debate at Thursday's council meeting.

History:

The light rail proposal was first pitched in 2012 in the Line in the Sand report.

The report canvassed six technology options for a new Mass Transit System. An online consultation hub was also launched.

Between October and November 2014 public consultation was completed on the Sunshine Coast Light Rail Project.

There were 704 responses to the survey, which asked residents if they wanted a light rail system and about their preferred routes.

In 2015 the Sunshine Coast Light Rail Route Options report identified Maroochydore and Kawana as the two most important areas of the corridor.

The 13km stretch is expected to form the first stage of the rail project and be operational by 2025.

Light rail could transform main roads. Pictured is an artist's impression of Alexandra Pde with one traffic lane in each direction and a central median strip for light rail.

Based on 2012 estimates formed on the average unit costs for the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project, the Maroochydore to Kawana stretch would cost $1.3 billion and Kawana to Caloundra $700 million.

The report into the Preliminary Business Case, due to be finished mid-year, had light rail as the preferred option to service the urban corridor from Maroochydore to Caloundra.

Stage 1 of the project involved a 30-minute, 13km route from the Maroochydore CBD to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, with 13 stops along Aerodrome Rd, Alexandra Parade to Venning St, Mooloolaba, Mooloolah River, Nicklin Way and the Birtinya Town Centre.

Market research in November 2017 and February 2018 discussed obstacles to changing travel behaviour.

It found the main reasons for residents not using public transport were they preferred using a car, poor accessibility, inconvenient frequencies and journey times not being competitive.

Sunshine Coast Regional Council Mayor Mark Jamieson hopes Melbourne Storm will play more home games at Sunshine Coast Stadium.

In June 2018 council endorsed the Draft Integrated Transport Strategy.

The strategy helped inform the Preliminary Draft Business Case, expected to be presented to the council next week.

The State Government has promised to chip in $7.5 million towards the $15 million detailed business case, hoped to be finalised next year.

Public transport network:

The light rail is expected to be part of an integrated network of bus, light rail and eventually the regional rail to Brisbane.

It is proposed that it would be linked to the rest of the region by a network of high frequency buses connecting directly with light rail stations and the North Coast Line.

The Sunshine Coast Mass Transit Strategic Business Case Review said buses would play an important role in the future public transport network, but light rail was considered more desirable for the major transit corridor between Maroochydore and Caloundra.

Sunshine Coast councillor Joe Natoli, Mass Transit Action Group founder Tracey Goodwin-McDonald and Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie want more consultation on the mass transit plan.

Population growth and infill development

The call for greater public consultation was sparked by concerns for infill development associated with the light rail proposal.

The Sunshine Coast Mass Transit Strategic Business Case Review said the light rail project would support infill development, because residents were likely to "gravitate" towards transport connections.

Mayor Mark Jamieson has rejected claims it would result in a "wall of development" between Maroochydore and Caloundra.

The business case review said the Maroochydore to Caloundra corridor provided the "key opportunity" to accommodate a significant portion of the 70,000 to 100,000 new dwellings required for the Coast's expected population of 518,000 in 2041.

It said there was potential for another 50,751 dwellings along the Maroochydore to Kawana strip between 2016 and 2041.

Sunshine Coast Council has revealed concept designs of transport options for the Sunshine Coast Mass Transit Plan.

The Mass Transit Action Group claims the council has failed to make the public aware of the infill development plans attached to the light rail proposal.

Councillor Joe Natoli and Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie have said to achieve this businesses and homes along Nicklin Way would need to be resumed to make way for high-rise apartments.

The Sunshine Coast Light Rail Shaping our Future document said property acquisition would be lower for the Sunshine Coast than the Gold Coast's transit project.

Light rail and CAMCOS

The business case review said the light rail would complement the proposed heavy rail service, referred to as CAMCOS (Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study).

The study was completed by the State Government in 2001 and proposed a passenger rail service from the North Coast railway line at Beerwah, extending through to Caloundra to Maroochydore and the Sunshine Coast Airport.

It said a corridor is preserved for the railway line, but it is an expensive project and not currently a priority for the government.

The light rail would connect within the planned regional CAMCOS rail at Kawana and Maroochydore.

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