‘Long-lasting legacy’: Sunshine Coast promised mass transit for 2032

The Crisafulli government has unveiled a mass transit solution for the Sunshine Coast – dubbed “The Wave” – that would have Metro-style rapid buses complementing an extension of rail services from Brisbane.

While the LNP had promised to extend rail services to Maroochydore, despite questions over the budget and timeframe, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie last week hinted that the government could go “beyond Maroochydore” in its plan for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The solution involves heavy rail running through Caloundra to Birtinya, and the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, where it would connect with rapid buses running to Sunshine Coast Airport at Marcoola.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the transport project was the reason the region joined Brisbane’s Olympic bid.

Premier David Crisafulli said the government had listened to the community and avoided terminating heavy rail at Caloundra, which could turn arterial roads on the southern end of the Sunshine Coast “into a car park”.

“We promised people they’d be able to get on public transport at Maroochydore and head into Brisbane. They’re going to be able to do that from the airport, and that happened because of the review,” he said.

A heavy rail Sunshine Coast Line would run from the existing Beerwah station to Birtinya, passing through Caloundra.

“It became clear that the missed opportunity in not allowing someone to be able to fly into the Sunny Coast and get on public transport was too great.”

The public transport announcement was coupled with an athletic village slated for Maroochydore – where the council has been developing a new city centre for years – and upgrades to the Kawana Sports Precinct and Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Rosanna Natoli said the upgrades would be a long-lasting legacy for the region.

“It’s the reason that we were keen on being part of this whole Olympic process right from the very beginning,” Natoli said.

“That was key for us moving around the Sunshine Coast, and to and from Brisbane – that’s what’s been lacking.”

A first look proposed route for the Sunshine Coast heavy rail and Metro bus route, dubbed ‘The Wave’.

Natoli said she had “just received news of the plan” on Tuesday and the final details had not been determined.

Costings were not released, and Crisafulli said his government would work with the council and not seek additional federal funding.

“We’re not asking for a single extra cent – the costings are here … the budget will be met,” he said.

To date, the federal government has committed $2.75 billion to the Sunshine Coast Line project, with the state government being shot down on a bid for more funding as late as January this year.

At the time, Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King said the state government had not done the necessary work to justify its bid to extend heavy rail to Maroochydore.

The state government has also proposed an extension of the Brisbane Metro, and is consulting on the final stage of the Gold Coast light rail project.

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