13 Mar 2012: SEQ: Sunshine Coast Line - makeover for Cooroy railway station ...

[ozbob]

Media release: 13 March 2012

SEQ: Sunshine Coast Line - makeover for Cooroy railway station is long overdue

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org), a web-based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers, has added its voice to the community chorus call for Cooroy's 'rocket launcher' pedestrian rail overbridge to be replaced.

Robert Dow, Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The Cooroy railway station is an eyesore, not in keeping with its historic status or its role as the rail gateway to the Noosa region.  In the short term it requires repainting while, in the medium term a solution must be found to improving pedestrian and bicycle access across the tracks.  That means the 'rocket launcher' pedestrian overbridge must be replaced. 

"Plans to repaint the station buildings appear to have stalled.  Meanwhile, long-term, planning must be sped up for the Cooroy station to become a Transit-Oriented Development hub, something the state government talks about, but does nothing to implement.  RAIL Back On Track hopes candidates in the upcoming election will get behind moves to bring the station to an appropriate standard.

"The facts are that the existing overbridge, nicknamed the 'rocket launcher' for its steepness, is the only place in Cooroy where school children, pedestrians, cyclists, those using mobility scooters and mothers pushing prams can cross the railway tracks that divide the town.  It was built in the 1980s, and fails the current Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) standards.  A new overbridge complying with the DDA provisions would cost about $1.6 million.

"RAIL Back On Track notes recent community calls for an 'at-grade' pedestrian crossing where people will be able to walk across the tracks, back and forth, between Maple and Elm streets, While not ruling out this proposal entirely, RAIL Back On Track would want all safety implications examined thoroughly.

"Lifts may be another solution, but they can fail, meaning that all avenues for pedestrians and cyclists to cross the railway at Cooroy would be cut for the number of hours it would take to have a technician come and repair the lift mechanism.

"RAIL Back On Track would like to propose another possible solution, involving a ramp through the car park opposite the Cooroy Fruit Bowl, passing under the railway line, with a ramp to the station, or possibly further extension of the underpass beneath Elm Street to its far side, with a roundabout at the junction of Diamond Street acting as a traffic control measure and a light well into the underpass.

"It is appropriate that Queensland Rail and the Department of Transport and Main Roads should begin a dialogue with the local community rather than develop plans to an advanced stage and presenting them.  Fundamentally, planning should confirm that the current alignment of the railway line through Cooroy is the most appropriate.

"The operation of the station overbridge is the subject of a rail infrastructure Transport Services Contract that expires in 2012-13.  We call upon whichever party is in government after March 24 to commit to a round of public consultation involving the Sunshine Coast Council about cross-rail pedestrian access at Cooroy so that the most practical solution can be included in the next Transport Services Contract to be implemented from July 2013.

"Queensland Rail, TransLink, and the Department of Transport and Main Roads are the principal agencies involved, but a role exists for the Sunshine Coast Council to be involved when considering wider town planning implications," Mr Dow said.

Reference:

http://viewnews.com.au/sunshine-coast/2012/commitment-sought-for-a-safer-cooroy-community-452361/

Contacts:

Jeff Addison
Sunshine Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Bridge at Cooroy











Photographs R Dow 13th March 2012

[Jonno]

I think the Rocket Launcher looks great...run down but not an ugly piece of architecture!

[HappyTrainGuy]

Doesn't look too bad in my eye tbh.

[ozbob]

Timbers are rotting, non compliant and is going to be replaced.  The question is what is the best option from here.  Another bridge, subway or pedestrian grade crossing (locking gates etc.).

The bridge is a major thoroughfare for the community, while I was there a lot of people using it.