Maroochydore heavy rail project funds raise questions about timeline

More than a billion dollars has been committed in writing towards connecting heavy rail to Maroochydore but when that money will leave the government’s coffers remains a mystery.

A $1.6bn federal government commitment towards heavy rail to Maroochydore has been slammed as a “scam” with little information on when the money will be spent.

Finer details from the pre-election budget reveal only $250m will be spent on the Beerwah to Maroochydore heavy rail line between now and 2026.

The state government would also need to match the $1.6bn funding, however Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey on Wednesday still questioned the project cost estimates and labelled it “SCAMCOS”.

Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien said it was the most important piece of infrastructure for the Sunshine Coast and needed to be delivered before the 2032 Olympics.

The 37km passenger rail line would connect to Maroochydore CBD from Beerwah via the CAMCOS (Caloundra and Maroochydore Corridor Options Study) line and pass through new stations at Caloundra and Kawana.

Mr O’Brien said the government estimated it would cost $3.2bn, based on commercial in confidence analysis of a business case that was completed in 2019.

Fairfax MP Ted O'Brien said the Beerwah to Maroochydore rail line needs to be completed before the Olympics. Picture: Patrick Woods.

The findings have not been released publicly.

Questions were raised over the four-year budget breakdown which showed only $446.5m would be spent on Queensland transport projects, including the Sunshine Coast rail extension – which was less than 14 per cent of the $3.3bn announced for projects statewide.

But according to Mr O’Brien the federal government funding was locked in.

Asked where the remaining funds were Mr O’Brien said “it’s all in the budget”.

“It’s listed on that same page in black and white,” Mr O’Brien said.

Queensland Labor Treasurer Cameron Dick said Prime Minister Scott Morrison was “all announcement and no delivery”.

“Nowhere is this clearer than when it comes to funding big road and rail infrastructure projects,” he said.

“Scott Morrison says this budget contains $3.3bn for road and rail in Queensland, but when you check the figures, there’s only $446.5m across the four years.”

Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick address the floor during question time at Parliament House. Picture: Sarah Marshall

Mr O’Brien said the majority of the costs would come later this decade when construction started.

“Even if everybody was ready to go right now you could not physically do the detailed design, the tendering, procurement and construction of the entire new line to Maroochydore within the next four years,” Mr O’Brien said.

“This is the same as every single infrastructure project that is in the budget.

“The year to year spend is based on when the money actually gets used.”

Fisher MP Andrew Wallace said it was time to put pressure on the state government to match the commitment.

He said the government had “absolute confidence” it could deliver the project for $3.2bn.

“This is an absolute no-brainer and will transform the way people commute around the Sunshine Coast,” he said.

The Federal Government has committed $1.6 billion to the Beerwah to Maroochydore rail line.

Once completed, the Maroochydore to Beerwah rail trip is expected to take just 20 minutes.

It will be 37km, include new proposed stations such as Kawana and Caloundra, and create 9550 direct and indirect jobs.

Sunshine Coast Business Council chair Sandy Zubrinich said the Sunshine Coast fared well in the budget with the rail funding the biggest coup.

She called on the council to support the project and encourage the state government to match the funding so the rail connection can be completed by the 2032 Olympics.

“The Premier stated as part of the recent SEQ City Deal announcements, that we work best when we work together – so now call on her to show the required leadership to bring this project to fruition,” she said.

“This is no time to let funding announcements get caught up in small-minded politics.”

The budget did not include any funding for the Sunshine Coast Stadium expansion however Mr Wallace said he would continue to push for that project.

However he added he was pleased with the rail funding outlined in the budget.

“Like Mick Jagger sang – you don’t always get what you want, but you get what you need,” Mr Wallace said.

“But I want to make it clear, I am not taking my foot off the pedal (for the stadium upgrade).”

Originally published as Maroochydore heavy rail project funds raise questions about timeline