'Work has to start now': Coast steps closer to 2032 Olympics

For the Coast to be able to cater for a 2032 Olympics "preparatory work has to start now”, according to Cr Rick Baberowski.

STEP CLOSER: The council has endorsed a Strategic Business Case for Sunshine Coast mass transit system.

FOR the Coast to be able to cater for a 2032 Olympics "preparatory work has to start now", according to Cr Rick Baberowski.

The comment was made today as Sunshine Coast Council endorsed a strategic business case for a new mass transit system to cater for a growing region.

The case identifies the need to reduce reliance on private vehicle transport as a key challenge to be addressed if the liveability of the Coast is to be maintained as the region continues to grow.

The strategic business case supports the need for a high quality integrated public transport system, providing frequent and reliable services as a key driver for reducing car dependency and to support urban consolidation within the existing urban footprint and reduce the potential for urban sprawl.

Cr Baberowski said while 2032 seemed an eternity away, the case made it appear otherwise.

"As important an event the 2032 Olympics might be in bringing focus to our region... what we're really trying to aim for is the event we experience every day," he said.

"As the people on the Sunshine Coast look for ways to move effectively, efficiently, comfortably and conveniently throughout the region- that's what this case is aimed at."

Mayor Mark Jamieson said addressing the Sunshine Coast's road, rail and public transport needs was crucial to securing the future liveability and prosperity of the Sunshine Coast.

"While the public transport network is the responsibility of the State Government, our council has had to forge ahead with planning and assessment of potential solutions if our community is to gain access to the public transport services the region needs, given the population growth we are experiencing now and will continue to experience into the future," Cr Jamieson said.

"The strategic business case demonstrates that a mass transit system needs to cover the most urbanised parts of the region and connect to the North Coast Rail Line at Beerwah.

"It also shows that a major investment like this will need to be delivered in stages."

Cr Jamieson said the strategic business case found 74 per cent of all trips are local and under 10km in length, and these would need to be addressed first.

"The business case indicates the logical first stage of the new system would be from Maroochydore to Kawana, via the coastal corridor through Mooloolaba and Birtinya," he said.

"While past studies undertaken by council and widespread community engagement activities in 2012, 2014 and 2018 have suggested light rail is the best mass transit solution for local travel, this will be looked at again, along with other mass transit options as part of the next phase of the process.

"At this stage, there is no confirmation that light rail will be the eventual mass transit solution as we want to ensure all viable options are considered."

Cr Baberowski said the council had started the three-staged planning process that would "potentially" lead to the right outcome.

"We want to ensure the process is as robust as possible and the technology ultimately used works for our community," Cr Baberowski said.

"As such we will look at every technology - the tried and tested and the new and emerging technologies to ensure they are functional, feasible and will stand the test of time."

The next phase will be to finalise the preliminary business case, which is already under way and will be brought to council early next year.

A detailed business case will then be prepared by the end of 2021 - in partnership with the State Government.

The government has already agreed to contribute up to $7.5 million, to be matched by the council, to support the development of the detailed business case.

The case highlighted that achieving the aspirations and maintaining the liveability of the region would require a multi-faceted approach.

This included a major improvement to mass transit to connect the major activity centres with where people lived and linking this to Brisbane.

Cr Jamieson said the strategic business case is the first major step in building the case to encourage and secure Queensland and Commonwealth government investment in the project.

"These things take time - but if you don't start them, you can never finish them," he said.

Originally published as 'Work has to start now': Coast steps closer to 2032 Olympics