RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Yes.

From the Sunshine Coast Council website:

"The heavy rail connection along the CAMCOS corridor will be suitable for traveling longer distances with less stops. While the local mass transit system will enable travel along shorter distances with more stops. The integration of the systems will enable greater connection across the Sunshine Coast. It will provide an easier and more convenient sustainable travel option.

"Did you know that 74 percent of car trips made in the Sunshine Coast are local and under 10 kilometres?"

Staging the Mass Transit system

"A regional mass transit system has to be delivered in stages. A staging plan is proposed based on the need to service the largest travel markets first, and to arrest the rate of urban expansion by supporting the urban consolidation policies already endorsed in the existing planning strategies.

"An initial priority in the implementation of the public transport solution would be a local mass transit system in the northern part of the Sunshine Coast Urban Corridor, extending from Maroochydore City Centre to Sunshine Coast University Hospital at Birtinya. This part of the system is considered a priority because the area it would serve contains the Sunshine Coast's greatest concentration of population, jobs, facilities and services and is already experiencing growing traffic congestion.

"Of equal importance will be the regional rail connection in the CAMCOS corridor linking the Maroochydore City Centre to the heart of South East Queensland."

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2022/1298-2022.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 1298
Asked on 9 November 2022

MS F SIMPSON ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to the Minister confirming on 26 October 2022 in Parliament that the Federal
Government Budget allocation of $1.6b funding for the Sunshine Coast Direct Line will be
honoured—

Will the Minister advise (a) if this funding is subject to the State matching 50:50 funding, (b) will
the State match this funding to make the project happen and (c) when will this commence?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Maroochydore for the question.

The Palaszczuk Government is investing at record levels to deliver better rail services, including
on the Sunshine Coast, and is progressing a number of projects in the region in partnership with
the Australian Government.

In 2021, I wrote to the Australian Government seeking matched funding of $3 million for
investment planning for the Sunshine Cost Direct Line (formerly known as the Beerwah to
Maroochydore rail extension) and was pleased when this was announced in December 2021.
State and federal government departments continue to work collaboratively to deliver detailed
planning and analysis of the proposed rail extension.

As I confirmed in Parliament on 26 October 2022, unlike the previous Federal Government, the
Albanese Government passed its budget which allocated $1.6 billion in funding for the Sunshine
Coast Direct Line. The previous government had the opportunity to pass its budget to allocate
the funding to the Sunshine Coast Direct Line, but made the decision not to.

Any future project investment decisions will need to be made after the finalisation of the planning,
scoping, and costing work that is currently underway, so we understand the real cost of this
important project. The commencement date of the project will be an important part of the
discussions with the Australian Government once detailed planning is finalised.

The Palaszczuk Government is committed to delivering better public transport services to the
Sunshine Coast region, and looks forward to working together with the Australian Government
through the planning stages of this and other key infrastructure projects across the Sunshine
Coast region.

Thank you Hon Fiona Simpson MP for asking these questions.
I only wish there was legislation to ensure proper and appropriate answers.

The Minister needs to be aware that this project was approved and promised in the past, to Caloundra by 2015 and Maroochydore by 2020.

I am grateful to Federal Labor for honouring the $1.6 billion commitment.
There is no higher ethos than keeping one's word, in my book.
Thank you Hon Catherine King MP.

Rail must occur to Maroochydore.

I am pleased to see additional Engineering positions have been advertised by DTMR to assist in the planning of this project.

Interesting comment from the Sunshine Coast Mass Transit Action Group:

An eye watering $33 million is estimated to be spent on 'studies' for public transport on the Sunshine Coast by the end of 2024 yet it will be years after this before we see anything being built, if at all. The latest round of business cases being conducted by the State Government on Mass Transit and Heavy Rail are estimated to cost $21million and this is on top of the estimated $12million the Sunshine Coast Regional Council has already spent on their Light Rail/Mass Transit studies.

All of this to determine 'what the Sunshine Coast needs', yet in the meantime we all continue to sit in hours of traffic with no viable solution in the foreseeable future. Whilst we agree it is good practice to plan for the future, there also needs to be a solution for now ... just ask anyone who sat on the Bruce Highway for hours over Christmas! And next year will be no different, probably worse.

Media coverage re Direct Sunshine Coast Line:

https://www.facebook.com/SCMassTransit/photos/pcb.668966361568377/668960871568926

 

  That's how we do things in Queensland.

Couriermail --> Fears vital rail project off track with little action one year after funding boost $

QuoteThere are fears a vital Olympic and Paralympic Games infrastructure project will not be ready in time for the event with movement on the transformative project stalled.

The Sunshine Coast rail extension, which would take the line into the heart of the Coast at Maroochydore, lacks a specific route, finished business case or even a proposed time frame.

One year after the project received a $1.6bn boost, there has been little action on the crucial project and Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson has warned time is running out. ...

... Rail Back On Track spokesman Robert Dow said there were already delays in duplicating the rail line between Beerburrum and Beerwah, which made him doubtful about the extension to Maroochydore.

"I don't think it's going to happen," Mr Dow said.

"It's not even mentioned in any of the Olympics hype any more."

https://twitter.com/7NewsBrisbane/status/1640097422285357057

It's probably the most studied rail line in Australian History.

Quotespin one's wheels

Expend effort with no result, as in We're just spinning our wheels here while management tries to make up its mind. This idiom, with its image of a vehicle in snow or sand that spins its wheels but cannot move, dates from the mid-1900s.

https://www.dictionary.com/browse/spin-one-s-wheels

https://twitter.com/couriermail/status/1640167355061002242

^

Quote... When pressed if the extension would be done before the Games, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk did not directly answer the question.

She instead said the government was looking at the priorities that were needed for the Games, but acknowledged the Sunshine Coast was a growing region.

"We will be working very closely once we see that study, and that's very good that we've put the money aside for that study," Ms Palaszczuk said.

Asked if the rail extension may not be needed for the Games, the Premier said: "Well we're going to look at it." ...

Wouldn't delivering the Sunshine Coast line into Maroochydore be the single most prominent ongoing legacy project that you could find?

A lot of media interest in this today. I spoke with the CM at length last week.

Fares Fair is doing interviews up on the Sunny Coast today.

Disappointing, but the Premier has talked down rail as part of the Olympics once the bid was secured.
I am not surprised and always felt DSCRL was unlikely, particularly when you consider the shambolic state of the Sunshine Coast line itself (got that lurkers?).

I think this is an appropriate song ...

Quote from: #Metro on March 27, 2023, 12:10:11 PMWouldn't delivering the Sunshine Coast line into Maroochydore be the single most prominent ongoing legacy project that you could find?

Well, if they were fair dinkum.  But they are clearly not ...

QuoteWell, if they were fair dinkum.  But they are clearly not ...

It's a very simple narrative.

1. Sunshine Coast line a huge pain point for decades
2. Olympics comes along
3. Government secures funding through window of opportunity Olympics Games presents (access to Federal $)
4. Project is built and opens 12 months before the games - can be used to access venues
5. That's the Legacy - Bronze Statue of Annastacia at Maroochydore Station, goes down in history as the Premier who got it done, after everyone else before her who failed.

An appropriate slogan for the project could be: "Transforming the way the Sunshine Coast Travels".

Or do the authorities think putting everyone on a bus for ~ 1 hour and bussing passengers to the Sunshine Coast ex Roma Street during the Olympics is viable?

Email update from the Couriermail

12:49pm 27th March 2023

Premier refuses to guarantee rail link in time for Games

"Lunchtime briefing"

QuoteFears that the $1.6 billion Sunshine Coast rail extension won't be finished in time for the Olympic and Paralympic Games have not been quelled by the government, with both the Premier and Transport Minister unable to confirm a timeframe for the project's completion.

As reported in The Courier-Mail this morning, Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson believes time is running out for a pre-Games finish, a Coast federal MP fears it has fallen off the agenda, while community rail advocates have given up on it going ahead at all.

While State Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the government remained committed and that the timeline for the project had not changed since the Coalition announced funding for the project, he would not guarantee a time frame on a better rail connection between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

When pressed if the extension would be done before the Games, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk did not directly answer the question.

She instead said the government was looking at the priorities that were needed for the Games, but acknowledged the Sunshine Coast was a growing region.

Mr Bailey said the Palaszczuk government's $6 million joint study with the Albanese government to establish the scope and costing of the heavy rail line would be completed this year.

Quote from: #Metro on March 27, 2023, 13:05:49 PMOr do the authorities think putting everyone on a bus for ~ 1 hour and bussing passengers to the Sunshine Coast ex Roma Street during the Olympics is viable?

Landsborough is going to be an important bus interchange come 2032. 
The line needs to be duplicated through to Landsborough. 

The neglect of the Sunshine Coast line is frankly embarrassing. 
I think the State Labor Government is on the way out .... not that the other mob will do much.

Probably be a lot of hand wringing and crocodile tears about the mess left by Labor 

https://twitter.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1640119924336234496

^

A decade of inaction by the lnp? Does he not know how long this project has been going for??? Who does he think built the upgraded Caboolture-Beerburrum section Time the minister for selfies and blaming everyone else actually does his job and deliver on pt infrastructure.

Errr, both sides are useless Mr Bailey ...





On 31 March 1999, Minister for Transport & Main Roads Steve Bredhauer announced that a route from the existing North Coast line at Beerwah through to Maroochydore had been decided on.
"Sunshine Coast Rail Route Announced" Railway Digest May 1999 page 14

Well at least there is a bit of well overdue attention on these matters.

Quote from: HappyTrainGuy on March 27, 2023, 14:14:52 PMA decade of inaction by the lnp? Does he not know how long this project has been going for??? Who does he think built the upgraded Caboolture-Beerburrum section Time the minister for selfies and blaming everyone else actually does his job and deliver on pt infrastructure.

Exactly.  It was Labor that spat the dummy in 2009 and stopped the Beerburrum to Landsborough track amplification.
Bit rich blaming the other mob.

Quote from: ozbob on March 27, 2023, 14:37:50 PM

Quote from: HappyTrainGuy on March 27, 2023, 14:14:52 PMA decade of inaction by the lnp? Does he not know how long this project has been going for??? Who does he think built the upgraded Caboolture-Beerburrum section Time the minister for selfies and blaming everyone else actually does his job and deliver on pt infrastructure.

Exactly.  It was Labor that spat the dummy in 2009 and stopped the Beerburrum to Landsborough track amplification.
Bit rich blaming the other mob.

Best to look forward now. Continue to apply the pressure now. There's no point discussing the failures of the past (at least publicly) since it is bound to produce a defence response.

Well if the Minister is calling out the inaction by the blue mob, it is only proper to highlight that there has been a lot of inaction by red too. They are both failures.

There is not a snowflakes chance in hell of the DSCRL being built by 2032, be lucky to get the line upgraded north of Beerburrum.

Don't forget there is the North Coast Connect study floating around as well. 

IA > https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/projects/north-coast-connect 

Quote from: ozbob on March 27, 2023, 14:47:28 PMWell if the Minister is calling out the inaction by the blue mob, it is only proper to highlight that there has been a lot of inaction by red too. They are both failures.

There is not a snowflakes chance in hell of the DSCRL being built by 2032, be lucky to get the line upgraded north of Beerburrum.

Don't forget there is the North Coast Connect study floating around as well.

IA > https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/projects/north-coast-connect 

I agree. I just think at this stage we need to be the better people and look past the partisan politics. We don't want to turn the issue into which *side* did or did not fail, we want to continue to look into the future. It doesn't matter which side gets it done. It just needs to be done.

The Minister is always the first to start playing politics with our lives on our rail transport.

His line to blame the feds for inaction for almost 10 years is just a distraction - because public transport is a state government responsibility PERIOD and what have they done for the Sunshine Coast since they have been in power since 2015, 8 years now and in power in Queensland for 28 of the past 35 years?

The inaction lies squarely on the Premier's and Transport Minister's heads.

Rail to Landsborough has been promised twice now and not yet delivered, or even started after 5 years.
Rail to Maroochydore was promised for Caloundra by 2015 and to Maroochydore by 2020, then under the Beattie Govt - and nothing was delivered.

Blaming the feds is really clutching at straws for excuses.

Further, if it wasn't for the $390 million from the Feds for Sunshine Coast rail duplication to (now Beerwah), it is unlikely it would have ever gone ahead given the Queensland government's measly $160.8 million contribution, equaling just 30% of the $550 million cost.
They are happy to pay $1.3 billion to do the Gold Coast rail quadruplication.
They are happy to pay $2.7 billion for an unnecessary stadium demolition and reconstruction.

I am always prepared to counter a false narrative on any side - and will continue to do so.
Why?
Because truth, the whole truth - always matters.

State LNP will be supporting this project at the next election I'm sure.

I hope so.
That's more than one can say for the current mob...

Quote from: kram0 on March 27, 2023, 16:08:44 PMState LNP will be supporting this project at the next election I'm sure.

I think they will.

As is the way politics runs, they could push a message that CRR was supposed to free up capacity for trains for the outer regions and new lines, and planning has been slow on these outer lines, and LNP will deliver them.

QuoteThe Minister is always the first to start playing politics with our lives on our rail transport.

His line to blame the feds for inaction for almost 10 years is just a distraction - because public transport is a state government responsibility PERIOD and what have they done for the Sunshine Coast since they have been in power since 2015, 8 years now and in power in Queensland for 28 of the past 35 years?

The inaction lies squarely on the Premier's and Transport Minister's heads.

Rail to Landsborough has been promised twice now and not yet delivered, or even started after 5 years.
Rail to Maroochydore was promised for Caloundra by 2015 and to Maroochydore by 2020, then under the Beattie Govt - and nothing was delivered.

Blaming the feds is really clutching at straws for excuses.

Further, if it wasn't for the $390 million from the Feds for Sunshine Coast rail duplication to (now Beerwah), it is unlikely it would have ever gone ahead given the Queensland government's measly $160.8 million contribution, equaling just 30% of the $550 million cost.
They are happy to pay $1.3 billion to do the Gold Coast rail quadruplication.
They are happy to pay $2.7 billion for an unnecessary stadium demolition and reconstruction.

Absolutely. Transport is a state responsibility. Also, the feds are now Red Team so it doesn't really matter where the tennis ball lands now, its all Red Team.

QuoteI am always prepared to counter a false narrative on any side - and will continue to do so.
Why? Because truth, the whole truth - always matters.

Agree!!

Quote from: Fares_Fair on March 27, 2023, 15:21:10 PMThe Minister is always the first to start playing politics with our lives on our rail transport.

His line to blame the feds for inaction for almost 10 years is just a distraction - because public transport is a state government responsibility PERIOD and what have they done for the Sunshine Coast since they have been in power since 2015, 8 years now and in power in Queensland for 28 of the past 35 years?

The inaction lies squarely on the Premier's and Transport Minister's heads.

Rail to Landsborough has been promised twice now and not yet delivered, or even started after 5 years.
Rail to Maroochydore was promised for Caloundra by 2015 and to Maroochydore by 2020, then under the Beattie Govt - and nothing was delivered.

Blaming the feds is really clutching at straws for excuses.

Further, if it wasn't for the $390 million from the Feds for Sunshine Coast rail duplication to (now Beerwah), it is unlikely it would have ever gone ahead given the Queensland government's measly $160.8 million contribution, equaling just 30% of the $550 million cost.
They are happy to pay $1.3 billion to do the Gold Coast rail quadruplication.
They are happy to pay $2.7 billion for an unnecessary stadium demolition and reconstruction.

I am always prepared to counter a false narrative on any side - and will continue to do so.
Why?
Because truth, the whole truth - always matters.

I see where you're coming from and sometimes, they should be called out. The only issue is that it is clear Mark Bailey wants to turn everything into a partisan thing. I just think we need to ensure we don't get distracted by these attempts and continue to focus on getting the job done. We need to put the responsibility on the people currently in power, instead of blaming people in the past or getting bogged down in partisan politics. 

https://twitter.com/7NewsSC/status/1640266692637892609

Who the f**** cares. Just bloody build it. We don't want excuses. We want good infrastructure! It's really not that difficult.

Looks like a "lick of paint" for Bus Lanes from Beerwah Station (Roys Road) connecting to Bells Creek Road to Baringa (Caloundra West/Aura) followed by "Bus Lanes" paint on Kawana Way, Caloundra Road and Nicklin Way may be required.  Beerwah could be used as the 'new' interchange into Caloundra via Baringa with the bus route focused on connections.

The existing 605 could be converted to a 'local service' to Landsbrough with less focus on connections.

Another "lick of paint" will be required for the Steve Irwin Way from Landsborough on the assumption that Landsborough is still used for the 'increased' 615 services.

All based on the assumptions that CAMCOS doesn't get off the ground for the Olympic Games, as it'll basically be a 'miracle' if they go to Maroochydore in "one hit".

Realistically though, Caloundra is a more 'likely' target at this stage, if at all.

Questions are again being asked about whether the Gabba, the centrepiece of 2032, needs a $2.7 billion rebuild. The boss of the Australian Olympic Committee today said the stadium only needs a coat of paint. youtu.be/Oj_ye4HUG9w @ErinEdwards7 #7NEWS

In Queensland --> 'Hysteria': Transport minister waves away Sunshine Coast rail concerns

QuoteConcerns over the potential delay of a major Queensland rail project have been brushed off as "hysteria" by the state's transport minister. ...

What an insulting response.  Both DSCRL and the upgrade north of Beerburrum are many many years behind already.

Quote from: Fares_Fair on March 27, 2023, 21:24:06 PMQuestions are again being asked about whether the Gabba, the centrepiece of 2032, needs a $2.7 billion rebuild. The boss of the Australian Olympic Committee today said the stadium only needs a coat of paint. youtu.be/Oj_ye4HUG9w @ErinEdwards7 #7NEWS

Ha ha, what a joke this is turning out to be ... brisBANE 2032! 

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1640355352100339713

Quote"There's been no delays (on the Sunshine Coast rail) whatsoever," Bailey added

 

I think this govt is reaching its use by date. It's just unreality.

Also, the suggestion by the IOC official that the Gabba needs to be knocked down for $2.7 billion so that more children play sport is ludicrous.

Funding sport clubs would do the same thing for less. 

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1640407972328390656