Transport Minister Mark Bailey confirms Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade will not be completed by 2024

Spending on a major rail upgrade on the Sunshine Coast has fallen $10.5m short of the project’s budget, causing a blowout to the completion date.

The timeline for a long-awaited Sunshine Coast rail upgrade is blowing out after spending fell $10.5m short of the project’s budget last year.

The state government has been accused of “losing control” of the $550.8m Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade.

Hall Contracting will start early works next year to increase parking at Landsborough and Nambour stations, but other parts of the project’s first stage still require environment department approvals.

The project is being delivered in stages and includes duplication of the North Coast Line between Beerburrum and Landsborough stations as well as station upgrades, new park ‘n’ ride facilities and rail passing loops between Landsborough and Nambour.

It is touted as a vital project that will reduce rail travel times between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.

LNP transport spokesman Steve Minnikin said the government spent $10.5m less than it budgeted for the project in the 2020-21 financial year.

Works on the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade will not be completed by 2024 as initially expected.

“At this slow rate, the duplication project won’t be finished by its set completion date in 2024,” Mr Minnikin said.

“Not only is this rail upgrade vital for the people of the Sunshine Coast, but it’s also supposed to create more jobs for the region.”

But Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the federal government was to blame for the delays.

Mr Bailey said his government had been seeking approval from the federal environment department for works included in the first stage of the project.

“Property resumptions for early works are complete and Transport and Main Roads has been engaging with the federal government to remove the delays caused by the federal environmental approval requirements, which means that works on those can progress by early next year,” Mr Bailey said.

Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said the Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade was being held up in an approval process. Picture: Zak Simmonds

“The team can’t start major works until those federal approvals are granted, which means the project is now expected to be completed by 2025.”

The government confirmed on Tuesday that Hall Contracting was awarded the early works construction contract for the project, jointly funded by the state and federal governments.

It is expected to create 333 jobs throughout construction.

Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said it would help alleviate pressure on the Bruce Highway.

The early works include adding 50 new parking spaces to the Nambour Station carpark and building an additional park ‘n’ ride facility at Landsborough with 300 spaces.

Mr Bailey said that in July the federal government determined the park ‘n’ ride upgrades at Nambour and Landsborough would not require environmental approvals.

Originally published as Transport Minister Mark Bailey confirms Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade will not be completed by 2024