Article: No timeline for key rail link (Sunshine Coast)

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

No timeline for key rail link

No timeline for key rail link

Bill Hoffman | 25th February 2010

THE state government has failed to provide a delivery date for a rail service into the centre of Maroochydore.

Premier Anna Bligh in Parliament debunked a claim by Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson that a document that appeared to push delivery of the route out to 2031 was either secret or government policy.

Ms Simpson had earlier described as "leaked Transport department documents" a Connecting SEQ 2031 report Ms Bligh insisted was a draft and only a consideration of options.

However Transport Minister Rachel Nolan when asked by the Sunshine Coast Daily failed to provide a completion date for the project that would link the Coast from Maroochydore to Caloundra and then Brisbane.

The link is considered vital to transport needs for both the government required planning for an incrase of 15,000 people in the Maroochydore principal activity centre and development at Caloundra South, also government mandated, for a city the size of Glastone.

Ms Simpson, the LNP Shadow Transport Minister, said it appeared the timeframes for the Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study (CAMCOS) rail service had blown out under the Labor Government's plans.

"The Bligh Labor Government had previously talked about a future rail link reaching Maroochydore by 2026, but a draft report Connecting SEQ 2031 makes no mention of Maroochydore and the Kawana link being only by 2031," she said.

"Therefore, the new rail link to Maroochydore under the government's plans isn't going to be on line until after 2031 and Kawana has been pushed back by up to ten years.

"The people of the Sunshine Coast have been lied to about when we could get a new hospital, and now it appears we have been lied about when we will get the public transport we need.''

Ms Simpson said the Bligh Labor Government was pushing high growth targets on to the Sunshine Coast but failing to invest the public transport needed to cope with that growth.

Ms Bligh said the government was working with councils across south east Queensland to get transport planning right.

She said the government will build the infrastructure needed today and tomorrow.

[paulg]

This is all very disappointing. The sooner this rail link can be built the better, with all of the proposed development going on in the Caloundra South / Bells Creek area.
Perhaps the delay is due to a realisation that Cross River Rail will be needed first, and will likely need some State contribution.
Beerburrum to Landsborough really needs to be started immediately.
Cheers, Paul

[somebody]

Cross River Rail will be needed first, and will likely need some State contribution.
Beerburrum to Landsborough really needs to be started immediately.

I only really agree with the last point, it should have been done as one project.  State contribution?  Did you mean federal?  I'm sure the relevant councils aren't paying for it.

Regarding CRR, that's really only needed to solve the Merivale Bridge limitation.  From the north & west aren't really as restricted.

[paulg]

Cross River Rail will likely need a mix of federal and state funds. By taking the Airport-Gold Coast trains off the main lines it should free up capacity for more North and West services through the CBD.

[somebody]

Cross River Rail will likely need a mix of federal and state funds. By taking the Airport-Gold Coast trains off the main lines it should free up capacity for more North and West services through the CBD.

But there's no capacity problem with running more trains from the north or the west.  Just a lack of will to do so.