Final stop, Caloundra: Sunshine Coast Coast rail gets $2.75bn boost to take it halfway

The Premier has announced nearly $3 billion of funding to build a critical rail line into the heart of the Sunshine Coast, but has conceded the cash will only get the tracks halfway in time for the 2032 Olympics.

The state government will pour nearly $3bn into building a critical rail line into the heart of the Sunshine Coast but has conceded the cash will only get the tracks as far as Caloundra for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

As reported by The Sunday Mail, Premier Steven Miles on Sunday unveiled a long-awaited blueprint for the direct Sunshine Coast rail line, revealing the project will be built in three stages – from Beerwah to Caloundra, then Birtinya, before ending in Maroochydore.

Only the first section to Caloundra can be built in time for the 2032 Games, though this is contingent on the federal government coming on board with an extra $1.1bn on top of its existing $1.6bn commitment.

This is because a detailed business case has found Stage 1 will cost a whopping $5.5bn at least and up to $7bn at the highest end of estimates – more than double the $3.2bn initially earmarked by the Morrison government in 2022.

Premier Steven Miles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Twitter / @AlboMP

The state government will set aside $2.75bn – the same cost of demolishing and rebuilding the Gabba – as its share for Stage 1.

The cash will go toward building the 19km dual track from Beerwah to Caloundra and reserving the updated rail corridor all the way to Maroochydore.

There are no timelines for the delivery of stages 2 and 3. The detailed business case has been submitted to Infrastructure Australia.

The first section starting in Beerwah is set to include a stop in Nirimba to service Stockland’s sprawling Aura mega-development and its 50,000 future residents before ending in Caloundra about 3km from the town’s main beach.

But the ability to only get as far as Caloundra by 2032 means the rail line stops short of getting to Kawana, where the closest proposed venues are.

An artist’s impression of the new rail line into the heart of the Sunshine Coast. Source: Queensland Government

Proposed venues for the 2032 Games within the Sunshine Coast zone are in Kawana, Alexandra Headland, and Parklands with the satellite athletes’ village located in Maroochydore.

The direct Sunshine Coast rail line is expected to shave 45 mins off travel from Brisbane to Caloundra compared to driving, with trains to go as fast as 140km/h in some sections of the full line.

Mr Miles said the project, including stage 1, would unlock “thousands of homes” and accelerate new developments.

“Without the rail line, that development would bring an unmanageable level of congestion to the local road network, making this connection essential for new housing to be brought forward,” he said.

Treasurer Cameron Dick said he “looked forward to the federal government hopping on board to match our commitment” so the project can be delivered.

The new funding will get the rail line as far as Caloundra.

The $2.75bn funding commitment marks the first firm contribution to the project from the state government after years of the critical rail line being marred in political sniping.

The Morrison government in its final budget in 2022 allocated $1.6bn to the rail line in a proposed 50-50 funding split with the state, with then-Transport Minister Mark Bailey refusing to match the commitment, citing flimsy maths.

While the detailed business case continued per schedule, the project’s federal funding became increasingly precarious, with the Albanese government failing to mention the rail line in its initial budget.

An audit of the nation’s infrastructure pipeline in 2023 then led to the federal government controversially putting the project on ice indefinitely, before ultimately reaffirming the cash was available to build the rail line upon lobbying from the state.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King, in November last year, signalled updated estimates had the price tag for the project at “three times higher, billions of dollars higher than has been previously stated”.

The detailed business case for the direct Sunshine Coast rail line has determined a slight realignment of the corridor, which has been set aside since 2001, will be needed.

According to the state government the realignment aims to minimise environmental impact and reduce curves in the line to allow for faster train speeds.

Originally published as Final stop, Caloundra: Sunshine Coast Coast rail gets $2.75bn boost to take it halfway