Sunshine Coast MPs criticise consideration of light rail in mass transit plan
A Coast MP has warned that if council “has its way” heavy rail to Brisbane won’t happen and the region will be left with a $2.3bn local light rail network.
Sunshine Coast
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Sunshine Coast MPs have warned a $2.6 billion light rail system between Maroochydore and Kawana could ruin chances of having heavy rail from Brisbane to the region.
Kawana MP Jarrod Bleijie and other Sunshine Coast MPs have called on the Sunshine Coast Council to prioritise heavy rail before throwing its support behind an expensive local public transport network.
The council has released a comprehensive report into several mass transit options costing between $881 million to $2.6 billion to connect Maroochydore and Kawana.
Residents have eight weeks to have their say on the draft options analysis report, including on what their preferred public transport would be.
"We're saying people should have their say but the priority of rail on the Sunshine Coast should be from Beerwah to Maroochydore," Mr Bleijie said.
"The reality is if the council has its way (heavy rail) won't happen."
Mr Bleijie said if Brisbane was successful in its bid to host the 2032 Olympics there was an opportunity to fund and build heavy passenger rail.
The council estimated light rail would cost $2.6 billion but gave it a 10 out of 10 rating for legibility and the likelihood of it getting people out of cars and into public transport.
"Do not be fooled by glossy pictures ... (light rail) will not bring congestion down on the Sunshine Coast," Mr Bleijie said.
Wireless light rail, trackless trams, a quality bus corridor and bus network upgrades are also being considered.
Extending heavy rail from Beerwah to Maroochydore could cost up to $5.3 billion.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said that the LNP did not commit to funding heavy rail when it was in government in 2012-2015 or in the lead up to last year's election.
"The bottom line is that no funding has been committed by either the Federal Coalition Government or the Queensland Government to deliver public transport improvements (ie. fast rail, heavy rail or other mass transit options) across the Coastal urban corridor between Maroochydore and Caloundra - the area of the Sunshine Coast which already houses the majority of the region's jobs, facilities, services and rapidly growing population." Mr Jamieson said.
"Our council is doing the important planning work for an efficient, sustainable, affordable and viable public transport solution for the Sunshine Coast because no one else - including Mr Bleijie - is doing so."
Mr Jamieson said light rail was not the only option being considered.
"Council is keeping its options open on which mass transit solution should proceed and in fact, that will ultimately be a decision for the Queensland Government."
Maroochydore MP Fiona Simpson said residents had valid concerns about the proposed light rail, its associated increased density development and route.
"It would destroy areas like Alexandra Headland," she said in reference to the proposed corridor along Alexandra Parade.
The council report recommended a mass transit system be rolled out in five stages.
It recommends a mass transit in the urban corridor between Maroochydore to Sunshine Coast University Hospital, followed by a connection from the hospital to Beerwah which would most likely be heavy rail.
The draft report compared the first stage of mass transit to the long-awaited CAMCOS heavy rail project.
It found that only 2.9 per cent of trips would be made by public transport with mass transit stage one in place compared to 2.2 per cent with CAMCOS.
Public transport mode share was tipped to increase with mass transit, up to 9.8 per cent of trips, compared to 5.4 per cent with CAMCOS in operation.
Originally published as Sunshine Coast MPs criticise consideration of light rail in mass transit plan
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