Ministerial Statement: Landsborough to Nambour rail route released

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Minister for Transport, Trade, Employment and Industrial Relations
The Honourable John Mickel
03/04/2008

Landsborough to Nambour rail route released

Minister for Transport John Mickel has released the preferred route for the Landsborough to Nambour Rail Project.

Mr Mickel said letters had been posted to all landowners within the study focus area notifying them of the preferred route.

"The route was identified after community consultation on the study focus area in late 2007 and detailed technical, social, economic, and environmental investigations undertaken in recent months," Mr Mickel said.

"It is vital that in high growth areas such as this, we undertake long term planning to provide the best possible services to rail users and the community.

"The preferred route provides the best environmental, technical and social outcome when compared to other routes considered, for the future upgrade to the North Coast Line between Landsborough and Nambour currently planned for implementation by 2026," he said.

Member for Glasshouse Carolyn Male said the Landsborough to Nambour Rail Corridor Study was an early phase of the Landsborough to Nambour Rail Project.

"This project will improve the efficiency, service frequency, operating speeds and reliability of trains and cater for the increasing demand for rail services in the corridor caused by population and freight transport growth," Ms Male said.

"The study is a significant, long-term planning project that will allow for a greater level of certainty around the future development and land use of the areas surrounding the North Coast Line.

"By identifying the preferred route and land required for the future upgrade now, Queensland Transport is providing for the future needs of both rail users and the communities that surround the corridor," Ms Male said.

Mr Mickel said it was also important to note that while formal land resumptions may not occur for a number of years, property owners directly affected by the preferred route could now apply to Queensland Transport for a hardship acquisition.

"Each application will be assessed against the Department of Natural Resources and Water acquisition hardship policy, which can be accessed at www.nrw.qld.gov.au."

Mr Mickel said Queensland Transport had released a Route Identification Report detailing how the preferred route was determined.

Copies of the report and maps of the preferred route can be viewed on the study website, as well as at a number of locations in the local region.

While the preferred route has been identified, further investigation in consultation with landowners and the community is needed over the coming months to resolve a number of specific issues.

"These include the reinstatement of local road networks and private property access affected by the preferred route, potential station layouts, removal of Mooloolah's open level crossing and identifying the best location for the rail station in Palmwoods," Mr Mickel said.

"In mid 2008, the community will have the chance to comment on the draft Terms of Reference for the Environmental Impact Statement, which is essentially the 'rule book' for its preparation.

"Once the Environmental Impact Statement has been prepared the Coordinator-General will release it to the community for comment in late 2008 before completing his evaluation."

For a copy of the Landsborough to Nambour rail Corridor Study update, call 1800 221 991, or visit www.landsborough-nambour.com.au.

April 3, 2008

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Article from the Sunday Mail click here!

Houses resumed for rail upgrade

Houses resumed for rail upgrade
Article from: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

By Lou Robson

April 20, 2008 12:00am

ABOUT 200 homes, a school oval, a bowls club, a Scout hall and sections of national park are to be wiped out to make way for a rail upgrade on the Landsborough-to-Nambour line in the Sunshine Coast hinterland.
Some properties not resumed could end up 10m from the new track, without compensation.

The mass resumption is smaller than the Traveston Dam land grab which saw more than 400 properties ? 75 per cent of the total required ? forcibly sold to Queensland Water Infrastructure in less than two years.

Irate residents said the stress of losing their properties had been aggravated by a lack of warning from Queensland Transport.

They said they first heard of the rail upgrade through a small newspaper advertisement on November 20 encouraging Nambour, Woombye, Palmwoods, Eudlo, Mooloolah and Landsborough residents to attend information sessions and identify whether their properties would be affected. Affected homeowners weren't notified directly until March 30.

According to the Landsborough to Nambour Rail Corridor Study, 17 properties in Price Lane, Nambour, 20km northwest of Maroochydore, will be knocked down to make way for a new railway station.

More than 180 other homes, the Landsborough State School oval, the Palmwoods Bowls Club, Clio's Wedding and Function Centre and the old Scout hall in Woombye, as well as sections of the Dularcha and Eudlo Creek national parks, would be resumed.

Butler McDermott Lawyers spokesman Peter Boyce said more than 20 homeowners had contacted the firm for legal advice.

Mr Boyce said homeowners must now have their properties independently valued before meeting with government valuers to determine a price.

He said those who failed to reach an agreement would be sent a notice of intent to resume. Owners who refused would be stripped of their land.

"Sadly, under the Land Act, homeowners just have to grin and bear it," Mr Boyce said.

A Queensland Transport spokeswoman said the Government would "ultimately acquire" all properties necessary to replace 22km of winding track with a more direct 20.6km line.

The spokeswoman said compulsory acquisition wouldn't begin until the project's environmental impact statement was completed later this year.