Sunshine Coast Mass Transit: UDIA plays down advanced ministerial briefing spruiked for developers on survey, feedback results

An advanced ministerial briefing spruiked for developers on the outcomes of the mass transit survey has been played down by a development industry organisation.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey says he was never set to give an advanced briefing on the outcomes of the Sunshine Coast Council's Mass Transit survey at a UDIA event on August 10, as he hasn't even received the results from council. UDIA Queensland chief executive Kirsty Chessher-Brown also played down the prospect of an advanced briefing to the development industry.

A “scoop” for developers on outcomes of community feedback and results from the Sunshine Coast Council’s Mass Transit survey has been played down by a major development industry organisation.

An Urban Development Institute of Australia Queensland flyer circulated spruiking the chance for members to get the inside word on the controversial project which appeared to have light rail positioned as the leading option.

The flyer for the members-only event at Maroochy RSL on August 10 advertised the opportunity to hear from Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey with an update “on the outcomes of the recent Mass Transit survey”.

A panel discussion was to follow with Mosaic Property Group’s Brook Monahan.

“Get the scoop on council’s processes and timelines, detailed community feedback, the State’s view on transport for the Sunshine Coast region and the key issues and potential solutions currently being discussed,” the flyer stated.

Mass transit options imagined at Warana North.

Urban Development Institute of Australia Queensland chief executive Kirsty Chessher-Brown said the organisation marketed events “based on anticipated speakers and content”.

She said the council had declined the invitation to participate and the event details had been “updated accordingly to reflect the changed content of the event”.

“Minister Bailey was invited to provide an update on the state’s perspective of transport at a high level,” Ms Chessher-Brown said.

“There was no mention of this being an advance or exclusive briefing.”

The event page on the institute’s website had no reference to outcomes of the recent survey, or any “scoop” on processes, timelines or community feedback as of late Friday, July 30, 2021.

Mr Bailey said there would be no “advanced briefing or exclusive update from me next month” because he hadn’t seen the results of the council’s Mass Transit survey.

“Council ran the survey, so of course the Mayor and his team will be the first to share those results with the community, not me,” Mr Bailey said.

He said he understood there was “plenty of interest” in the results of the survey and he understood the council was still finalising its analysis of the community feedback.

Mr Bailey said he’d been invited to the institute’s event to “speak generally about the state’s view on transport on the Sunshine Coast”.

“As the responsible State Minister, I want to play my part in the community discussion about how the Sunshine Coast’s transport system can evolve to meet the future demands of population growth,” he said.

“Public meetings, surveys like the one recently run by council and industry-focused events like the one UDIA is holding next month all help to increase awareness and understanding in the community about these issues and what the future may hold.”

A Sunshine Coast Council spokeswoman said the organisation was not participating in the institute’s development industry briefing on August 10.

“Over the coming months, council officers are examining and analysing the feedback received from the community engagement process on the draft Mass Transit Options Analysis report prior to reporting the outcome to council,” the spokeswoman said.

Ms Chessher-Brown said the institute commended the council’s commitment to mass transit which would improve the region’s liveability and assist with the transport needs of a growing population.

“The branch believes immediate action is needed to improve public transport and cater for future growth,” she said.

“It also noted the importance of considering the urban consolidation targets of the SEQ Regional Plan in developing their approach, as well as the critical need for strong integration of land use and transport planning to ensure built form outcomes maximise the benefits of a mass transit system.

“The branch considers regional connectivity is critical to unlocking infill development.”

Originally published as Sunshine Coast Mass Transit: UDIA plays down advanced ministerial briefing spruiked for developers on survey, feedback results