Brisbane 2032: Sunshine Coast mayor sounds warning over rail, mass transit

The challenges of the Sunshine Coast’s lack of public transport were laid bare as the Mayor said heavy rail and mass transit were crucial before the 2032 Games.

The Sunshine Coast mayor has warned that construction for a heavy rail connection between Maroochydore and Brisbane must begin in the next five years for it to be Brisbane Olympics and Paralympics ready.

Mark Jamieson said the objective was to have a rail connection completed by the 2032 Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Funding for it would be split between the state and federal governments, and the former Coalition government had promised $1.6bn towards the $3.2bn project.

Mr Jamieson said “only time would tell” if the promise made by the former government was enough to fund the expensive infrastructure project.

“The next budget to be brought down by the new Labor federal government on October 25 may shed some light on that or it may not,” he said.

Andrew Liveris and Mayor Mark Jamieson at the Brisbane 2032 Board Press Conference. Picture: Patrick Woods.

“Having the Brisbane 2032 board here to see the challenges that exist and what it might look like with 200,000 more people living here on the Sunshine Coast is really important.”

The mayor said coupled with the heavy rail connection, construction also needed to start on a mass transit solution.

A Brisbane 2032 organising committee board meeting was held on the Sunshine Coast on August 7, 2022. Picture: Patrick Woods.

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.

“They definitely need to be underway in the next five years,” Mr Jamieson said.

The comments were made at a press conference ahead of a Brisbane 2032 organising committee board meeting held on the Sunshine Coast on October 7, 2022.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and Andrew Liveris are on the Sunshine Coast for a Brisbane 2032 organising committee board meeting. Picture: Patrick Woods.

Noosa Mayor Clare Stewart is a board member, replacing the Redlands mayor Karen Williams who quit amid a drink-driving controversy earlier this year.

Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games president Andrew Liveris said the organising committee’s first major contract was on the market to deliver the Brisbane 2032 brand.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced about 500 Australian community and business leaders, sports stars, school leaders and Games representatives would be consulted to shape the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy plan.

Originally published as Brisbane 2032: Sunshine Coast mayor sounds warning over rail, mass transit