Ministerial Statement: Route chosen for transport corridor

[ozbob]

Minister for Main Roads
The Honourable Craig Wallace
29/04/2010

Route chosen for transport corridor

A high speed rail, road and bus link to the Sunshine Coast is a step closer following an announcement today by Main Roads Minister Craig Wallace of a preferred transport corridor.

Minister Wallace said all going well with environmental approval processes, the planned link would be built along the original route for the corridor, across the Mooloolah River.

"We listened to the community, took their concerns on board and the route we've chosen is the one that will have the least impact on the community," Mr Wallace said.

"The original transport corridor was set aside many years ago for this very purpose and that's the route we've decided to take.  It was a complex process to get to where we are today and we've come up with a solution that we believe will be in everyone's best interests.

"We conducted several rounds of community consultation, undertook extensive investigations into an alternative route and commissioned studies by an environmental expert.

"We went back to the drawing board time and again so that the final decision would be the right decision," he said.

"A number of people had concerns about the 1.8km section of the transport corridor going through private land at Hideaway Waters.  Today's decision will ease their concerns.

"This high speed, state-of-the-art rail, road and bus link from Brisbane all the way to the Sunshine Coast will change the face of the transport network in the south east. It's about planning for and managing growth," Mr Wallace said.

"With 2,000 people heading to Queensland each week, it's more important than ever before to plan for our future growth.  That's why this rail, road and bus project is so important.

"When the project is completed, subject to federal approval processes and funding, it will go a long way towards easing congestion along Nicklin Way.

"It will slash travel times between Caloundra, Mooloolaba, Maroochydore and Noosa and offer motorists better transport options to get around the region," he said.

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[ozbob]

From the ABC News click here!

Government slammed for rail corridor backflip

Government slammed for rail corridor backflip


The Queensland Opposition says the State Government has bungled a major transport project on the Sunshine Coast, comparing it to the failed Traveston Crossing dam project.

The Government announced yesterday that the road and rail corridor over the Mooloolah River at Mountain Creek would remain in its original alignment instead of resuming about 50 homes.

Buderim MP Steve Dickson says the Government has wasted millions of dollars buying more than 20 homes it no longer needs.

"This just is such a repeat of the Traveston Crossing Dam debacle," he said.

"[They are] absolute experts at stuffing up everything they touch."

[#Metro]

When will it be built: year 2300?

[WTN]

Is this the CAMCOS corridor or the Landsborough/Nambour realignment and duplication? 

My neighbour who owns a holiday unit at Caloundra said the traffic up there has gotten worse and worse.  We went up there on a weekend and traffic was on the verge of congestion - like suburban Brisbane on a weekday.  There was also the gridlock on the Bruce Highway at the end of the Easter holidays. 

Goes to show we need construction to start ASAP or else we'll regret in a few years.

[Arnz]

Reading the article over, it refers to the CAMCOS alignment.

This topic should really be under the New Lines forum, as the Sunshine Coast Line forum pretty much refers to the existing North Coast mainline alignment (which includes the NCL realignment between Beerburrum and Landsborough and between Landsborough and Nambour)