Sunshine Coast Council votes to send mass transit options analysis to detailed business case phase

Campaigners say it’s not over yet after Sunshine Coast council agreed to hand the full mass transit report – including light rail – over for a $15m state government report.

Hopes for a controversial light rail proposal to be scrapped for good were dashed after a lengthy and heated Sunshine Coast council meeting.

Maroochydore resident Rob Hoy said he was disappointed with the result after being involved in a campaign against light rail along the coastal strip.

A majority of councillors voted in favour of sending the mass transit options analysis report to the state government to help form a $15m detailed business case.

The options include light rail, wireless light rail, trackless trams, bus rapid transit and a quality bus corridor, to connect Maroochydore and Kawana.

Mr Hoy was among 4500 residents to protest against light rail on Sunday afternoon.

“Alex is our backyard,” he said.

“(My wife and I) have lived here for 16 years but it’s the first time we’ve really protested against anything.

“We’re pensioners who are worried about our area and what it will become.

“I cannot see light rail working, just simple things like the marathon that was a few weeks ago, how would running along there with light rail work? It’s inappropriate.”

Councillor Joe Natoli attempted to have light rail and wireless light rail removed as options but that proposed amendment was shot down.

“My fear is we are going to destroy the beach with overhead wires and create mass transit like the Gold Coast where the sky is the limit,” he said.

“Congestion is rife … but if we go down this mass transit path, based on what I’ve heard, it will be light rail.

“The community has spoken loudly and they do not want light rail.

Mayor Mark Jamieson slammed the suggestion of having light rail removed.

He said it was important all five options were considered in the state government’s business case.

He quoted the council’s community consultation that found 68 per cent of people said it was important to have a mass transit system.

“Removing one or two options now is saying to those residents who supporting having it further explored that their interest is of no significance to us,” Mr Jamieson said.

Mass Transit Action Group member Mark Attwell, councillor Joe Natoli and Beach Matters group member Rob Hoy were disappointed light rail was kept as a mass transit system option. Picture: Tegan Annett

Questions were raised around how much light rail would cost the council and if it would affect all ratepayers or just those who live in the areas that would directly benefit.

Councillor David Law said he did not want to see a light rail system on the Sunshine Coast.

But he said if they did not progress with the mass transit plan they risked having no solution to the lack of public transport.

“I have great doubts this is the best way to do it but if we don’t put this forward will we get another 20 years of getting nothing,” he said.

Sunshine Coast Council urban growth program director James Coutts said the council was not being asked to make an investment decision or endorse a particular option.

He said traffic congestion cost the Sunshine Coast $500m annually but that was estimated to increase to $3b if nothing was done.

“(Council) is not being asked to allow high rise development along the beach,” he said.

Mr Coutts said stage one of the mass transit system was proposed to connect Maroochydore and Kawana.

Mr Hoy said the campaign would not end here.

“”There’s a long way to go yet and by the time this gets off the ground there could be new technologies available,” he said.

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Council votes to send mass transit options analysis to detailed business case phase