The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Political foes to 'join forces' in Nambour rail push $

Partisanship has been set aside as political foes attempt to turn friends in a bid to deliver long-awaited rail upgrades to the region.

Federal Member for Fairfax, the LNP's Ted O'Brien, and state Labor MP for Nicklin, Robert Skelton, have started discussions in a bid to deliver rail duplication through to Nambour.

The olive branch was extended in the wake of news assessments done for the North Coast Connect fast rail project, led by a private consortium and backed by a group of Queensland MPs, had settled on preferred routes which didn't include duplication through to Nambour.

Infrastructure Australia is yet to deliver its assessment of the North Coast Connect business case, but moves were now under way to try and push for rail duplication to Nambour as part of the Beerburrum to Nambour upgrades. ...

[verbatim9]

I have a feeling that an undisclosed deal has been done between State and Federal counter parts to focus on the line to Caloundra and Maroochydore via Beerwah.

[Gazza]

^We can only hope!

[Fares_Fair]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Political foes to 'join forces' in Nambour rail push $
(Live link in ozbob #2560 post above)
Friday 19 February, 2021

"Early works have started on the first stage of the Sunshine Coast rail duplication from Beerburrum to Landsborough, which includes an expansion of Nambour's park n ride," he said.

"I'd like to see our community benefit by having the rail line duplicated all the way to Nambour, which is stage two of this project, so if Ted O'Brien can win support from his government to pay its fair share for that to happen, I'll be right behind him."

Local councillor David Law was understood to be supportive of the more collaborative approach being taken, while long-time rail advocate Jeff Addison's support was also being sought, along with key local business groups.

Cr Law said rail duplication to Nambour was a "long overdue requirement for Nambour and the hinterland".

Mr O'Brien said the efforts were a "defiant response" to the North Coast Connect snub of Nambour.

"I am so disappointed that the assessment done by the consortium landed on a preferred scenario of connecting Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast excluded Nambour," Mr O'Brien said.

"But the fight is far from over.

"There's no easy ride to winning huge transformational projects and that's what this is.

"My long-term vision remains for a fast rail connection between Nambour and Brisbane, along with a connection through to Maroochydore.

"However, the best pathway forward is to secure full duplication of the existing network from Landsborough to Nambour and this should be designed in a way to accommodate for faster rail when the time is right."

I was given the opportunity to respond to this story, follow up to come on Monday.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Rail 'unity ticket' gathers steam in Nambour $

Key figures have thrown their backing behind a bipartisan push to deliver much-needed rail upgrades to the former heart of the Coast.

Late last week Fairfax MP Ted O'Brien (LNP) revealed discussions had started between he and state member for Nicklin Robert Skelton (Labor) about a push to have duplication of the North Coast Line to Nambour included as part of Stage 2 of the Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade project.

Jeff Addison, who has been advocating for upgraded rail services for commuters and freight, said he had long lamented the war of words between the state and federal governments over funding responsibility.

"I think it's a great approach," he said.

"I've lost track of the number of times I've said I'm sick of the politics." ...

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> New Nambour business chief backs fresh rail approach $

A "new face" in the Nambour business scene is encouraged by positive talks between opposing political parties in a bid to broker a rail solution for the hinterland hub.

New Nambour Chamber of Commerce president Mark Bray, a prominent lawyer who has based his practice out of Nambour for decades, said the news of constructive talks between the region's federal LNP member and state Labor member had buoyed the business community.

Mr Bray had only been in the role of president for a few months, but had served on the chamber's executive previously. ...

[Stillwater]

It will be interesting to see what transpires during the delayed City Deal negotiations and what infrastructure SEQ might need of the state gets the 2032 Olympic Games. Some of the Games venues will be on the Sunshine Coast and rapid transport will be required between Brisbane-Kawana-M'dore. Teams are likely to train at Noosa/Sunshine Coast in the lead-up to the Games.

[verbatim9]

It will be interesting to see what transpires during the delayed City Deal negotiations and what infrastructure SEQ might need of the state gets the 2032 Olympic Games. Some of the Games venues will be on the Sunshine Coast and rapid transport will be required between Brisbane-Kawana-M'dore. Teams are likely to train at Noosa/Sunshine Coast in the lead-up to the Games.

That's what I was implying as well in the fast rail thread.

[Fares_Fair]

I have a feeling that an undisclosed deal has been done between State and Federal counter parts to focus on the line to Caloundra and Maroochydore via Beerwah.

Fingers crossed 

[HappyTrainGuy]

Gee wouldn't it be great if they were already building the original 2005 duplication and realignment of the line already.

[Arnz]

As outlined previously, beyond Caloundra has some 'expensive' issues with the Little Mountain area with the possibility of tunneling required.

Saying that, the SCUH is ideal as a alternate (inbetween) terminus if they don't want to deal with the bridges north of Birtinya (would also be a LR/HR interchange as well if they were to terminate the LR at SCUH) and the upcoming proposed Mooloolaba interchange upgrade (on the assumption if TMR were to plan on solving th Little Mountain alignment beyound Caloundra).

[Fares_Fair]

It does indeed, Arnz.
A 0.7km long tunnel was proposed through Little Mountain as part of the Fast rail option to Maroochydore.

I too have a suspicion that a deal has been done between Stockland and the State Govt.
The current B2N stage 1 rail duplication works stopping just shy of where the CAMCOS corridor would peel off is no co-incidence.

Corrected: 0.7km 29.2.2021 7:22am

[Gazza]

Are you sure it's 7km? If the tunnel started at the Caloundra station site (near the aerodrome) then 7km Would be tunnel all the way to SCUH!

[Fares_Fair]

Correction: 0.7km
Thank you.

Oops

[Stillwater]

www.stockland.com.au › 17203-aura-prospectus-web

^^ Place all of above in search engine. Open prospectus, see maps.

I suspect the deal that's been done is Stockland giving up developing Halls Creek, which was their preference, in exchange for Beerwah East, which has the CAMCOS corridor running through.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Valley Gazette --> Get on board. Leaders unite in renewed push for full rail duplication to Nambour

Nambour leaders are throwing their weight behind a push for long-awaited full duplication of the rail line between Brisbane and Nambour.

Member for Fairfax Ted O'Brien described the current service as "woeful" and called for unity from all levels of government. Current plans are to duplicate just north of Beerwah Station, which would mean a negligible reduction in the current two-hour Nambour to Brisbane journey.

Mr O'Brien said the Federal Government had contributed $390 million for upgrades between Beerburrum and Nambour. ...

[Fares_Fair]

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/1370684576192860162

[Fares_Fair]

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/1370677695852384259

[Stillwater]

It is interesting, isn't it, that the past lessons regarding the Sunshine Coast Line duplication must be told over and over again -- and yet successive governments and bureaucratic agencies still don't heed the advice.

This advice still stands, unchallenged by any additional information analysis or new investigation.

Formal advice to government and the transport minister (Ministerial briefing note dated 15 July 2009) was that the expenditure involved in duplicating the SCL only as far as Beerburrum would not buy any improvements unless full duplication to Landsborough was carried out. The department continued its position in advice to the then Minister and confirmed this in a briefing note for the 2009 Budget Estimates process.

That note read: "The benefits of increased capacity will not be fully realised until the next stage (Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication) is undertaken."

So what does the current government plan? Duplication as far as Beerwah only (at best) and NOT to Landsborough (North). The result? -- the truncated limited capacity improvement to the line means that the best benefit won't be achieved until duplication continues to Landsborough North.

Landsborough is the interchange for buses to Maroochydore and Caloundra and represents the best course of action for more efficient public transport connections between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane now that IA has quashed fast rail via the CAMCOS corridor. Another piece of advice via a Parliamentary Inquiry was that "doing nothing is not an option."

[Jonno]

The fact that this State has major towns and areas of development that are not connected by rail nor any real plans to do so is a very sad indictment on transport planning in QLD indeed.  It's just plan negligence!

[Stillwater]

^ True. The City of Aura (Caloundra South) will have a mate - known currently as 'Beerwah East'. Immediately north of Aura is the Glenview/Palmview residential development. Millions are being spent widening the Bruce Highway to take the traffic commutes back to Brisbane when efficient rail would do a better job.

Even if QR went ahead with the Landsborough Station upgrade to include a car park and bus interchange on the eastern side of the station, things would be better. Buses would be able to service the station without delays at the Landsborough level crossing.

[achiruel]

A second platform at Mooloolah would help a lot, too, but I wouldn't advocate building one if the station is to be relocated.

[Fares_Fair]

Mooloolah station (it's a shelter, not a station) is not slated to be moved.

[Cazza]

https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/caboolture-to-maroochydore-corridor-study

Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study

We undertook the Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study to investigate the feasibility, preferred development, impacts and benefits of a new public transportation corridor between Beerwah and the Sunshine Coast Airport. The study was completed in 2001.
...
What was decided at the end of the study?
The Queensland Government agreed to implement the recommendations from the Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study, including the need to protect the preferred future public transport corridor from Beerwah to Maroochydore and on to the Sunshine Coast Airport. Since then, the government has been actively acquiring land for the corridor.

Track upgrading and duplication from Caboolture to Beerburrum was completed in 2009, as was the elimination of the open level crossing at Beerwah, ultimately providing for the branching off of the new line to Caloundra and Maroochydore.


Taken 20 years to only have duplicated about 14kms of track... Maroochydore is looking likely

[achiruel]

Mooloolah station (it's a shelter, not a station) is not slated to be moved.

So why not build two proper accessible platforms? Might reduce the number of times "Dance of the Trains" needs to be executed.

[Fares_Fair]

That's part of the Stage 2 B2N plan - lifts and overbridges, which has no funding whatsoever.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/1376843157850103808

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1376918043872296962

[Stillwater]

ANOTHER 'CITY' FOR THE SUNSHINE COAST

Beerwah East has been slated in the State Government's southeast Queensland regional plan as a major expansion area during the next 25 years.

The area is tipped to have 44,000 residents occupy the area, with development ready by 2027.

Preliminary submissions to the SEQ regional plan review in 2014 showed the Beerwah East Identified Growth Area (IGA) was the preferred long-term growth area rather than Halls Creek for the Sunshine Coast given its location and proximity to major road and rail transport infrastructure and the CAMCOS corridor.

The Beerwah East IGA also poses less risk to water quality in the internationally-recognised Ramsar protected Pumicestone Passage.

[Gazza]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1376918043872296962

Because if you actually built a Caloundra spur it wouldn't be used as a bus hub anymore, and you could probably operate Landsborough as a single track terminus for a few years until that happens.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/186-2021.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 186
Asked on 10 March 2021

MR A POWELL ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to the proposed Barrs Road overpass being progressed as part of the Beerburrum
to Nambour Rail Upgrade—

Will the Minister advise (a) if Marshs/Barrs/Moffatt/Johnston Roads will become the new heavy
haulage route (replacing Coonowrin Road and Steve Irwin Way), (b) if Sunshine Coast Regional
Council have been involved in design plans for the overpass, (c) if Marshs/Barrs Roads will be
upgraded to address the surface of the road, width of the road, bends and crests in the road and
flooding and (d) what efforts will be taken to accommodate increased traffic with existing
residential and tourism traffic, both vehicular and pedestrian (given many tourists walk from
neighbouring railway stations to Mt Tibrogargan via Barrs Road)?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Glass House for the question.

As part of the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade, I can confirm the following in relation to the
Barrs Road overpass.

(a) Following public release of the 2016 reference design, Sunshine Coast Council (SCC)
advised that an option to connect Barrs Road more directly to Moffatts Road to the east of
the railway was preferred and this option was incorporated into the updated concept design
in 2019. This rail upgrade project does not alter haulage routes.

(b) The project team has worked closely with SCC since 2016 and council has provided advice
and input into the design for the Barrs Road overpass.

(c) Marshs/Barrs Roads are SCC owned and managed assets. Any upgrade to these roads
would be delivered by the local government authority.

(d) A recreation trail to connect the Glass House township and Barrs Road along the western
side of the rail line is currently in the planning phase. Consultation for the recreation trail
commenced in late 2020, with online engagement now open for public comment. I can also
confirm that the project team consults regularly with SCC and the Queensland Parks and
Wildlife Service across a range of matters.

The Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) 2020–21 to 2023–24
represents a record investment in road and transport infrastructure for the fifth year in a row, with
$26.9 billion in works committed over the next four years, supporting an average of approximately
23,600 direct jobs over the life of the program. Of this, $3.612 billion is committed across the
Department of Transport and Main Roads' North Coast Region, which is estimated to support an
average of 3200 direct jobs over the life of the program.

With the pandemic impacting Queensland businesses and communities, significant road
upgrades will be delivered to help stimulate the economy as part of Unite and Recover:
Queensland's Economic Recovery Plan. These upgrades provide immediate economic record
benefits, support more jobs and deliver ongoing benefits of vital infrastructure for years to come.

The QTRIP 2020–21 to 2023–24 includes continued delivery of the $12.6 billion, 15-year jointly
funded program to upgrade the Bruce Highway, the continued delivery of more than $3.4 billion
in upgrades on the M1 Pacific Motorway, the commencement of the $1.53 billion Coomera
Connector (Stage 1) project between Nerang and Coomera, over $1 billion for dedicated and
targeted initiatives to bolster the Queensland Government's commitment to road safety, the
$709.9 million Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 3 project, and a $1 billion new pipeline of rail projects
that includes making trains again in Queensland.

[ozbob]

Queensland Parliament

https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2021/366-2021.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 366

Asked on 25 March 2021

MR A POWELL ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

With reference to the Beerburrum to Nambour (B2N) Rail Project—

Will the Minister detail (a) if the existing historic buildings at the Glasshouse Mountains Railway
Station will remain as part of/be incorporated into the upgraded station and (b) if not, what future
plans are there for the historic buildings?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Glass House for the question.

As part of the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade (B2N), I can confirm the Department of
Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is aware of the historical significance of the buildings at the
Glass House Mountains Station with the original structures dating back to 1890. Stage 1 works
on the B2N project will include duplication of the track between Beerburrum and Glass House
Mountains on an improved alignment. The track will be duplicated on land within the existing
corridor between Glass House Mountains and Beerwah. There will not be any impacts from the
B2N on the existing buildings at Glass House Mountains Station.

The Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2020–21 to 2023–24 represents a
record investment in road and transport infrastructure for the fifth year in a row, with $26.9 billion
in works committed over the next four years, supporting an average of approximately 23,600
direct jobs over the life of the program. In stark contrast to the infrastructure cuts of the previous
LNP Government, $3.612 billion is committed across TMR's North Coast Region, which is
estimated to support an average of 3200 direct jobs over the life of the program.

With the pandemic impacting Queensland businesses and communities, significant road
upgrades will be delivered to help stimulate the economy as part of Unite and Recover:
Queensland's Economic Recovery Plan. These upgrades provide immediate economic record
benefits, support more jobs and deliver ongoing benefits of vital infrastructure for years to come.

It was the Palaszczuk Government that got the B2N project moving after the previous LNP
Government ignored it while they were in office. It was the Palaszczuk Government that submitted
the business case and negotiated a funding deal with the Australian Government to get stage 1
going. In contrast, the previous LNP Government took no action to even fund a business case
while the Member was serving in the Cabinet of the previous LNP Government.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Funding war runs off the tracks in Palmwoods $

A war of words has erupted over the notorious rail bridge junction in Palmwoods with the federal and state governments butting heads over the funding needed to fix the intersection.

Calls for the upgrade of the Chevallum Road, Jubilee Drive, Margaret Street and Woombye Palmwoods Road intersection have been growing as the community banded together to demand urgent safety works in the hinterland town.

It comes after the Sunshine Coast Daily launched the Pave the way for Palmwoods campaign to give businesses and residents a voice. ...

[Stillwater]

Checked out 'Check Mate' to see what Cross River Rail offers SCL commuters.

Was informed CRR would result in:

Better access to Brisbane with connections to five new inner-city stations. ('Better' is not defined and that could be via road, not rail.)

More reliable services, with added network capacity and more trains running to, from and through Brisbane. (The services will be more reliable, not to be confused with more services, and there will be greater network capacity, but perhaps not more trains to fill that capacity, and more trains through Brisbane, but not necessarily from the Sunshine Coast.)

Cross River Rail, together with future service initiatives, creates the capacity and network growth to support the future, committed Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade. (That hoary old chestnut. When? Description now becomes an 'upgrade' B-N, no longer duplication.)

[ozbob]

^

[verbatim9]

Couriermail----> Record $1.6 billion in road and rail budget bonanza


Another duplication study from Beerburrum to Nambour in this upcoming Federal Budget

Why another study?

[ozbob]

^



This is basically a ' get fuked ' Sunshine Coast ...

This would have to be the most studied line in Australia.  Nothing of substance ever happens.  Yet the Feds stump up billions for railways in Victoria and NSW that have never been tested in terms of business cases etc.   

Shafted!!

The pathetic attitude of the Queensland Government and DTMR towards improving rail services on the Sunshine Coast doesn't help either.  They really are verging on contemptible IMHO.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Budget bounty revealed: The Coast projects that won and lost  $

.. Transport was clearly the focus, with Mr O'Brien also announcing a $5 million commitment for a study into an improved Stage 2 design for the North Coast Rail Line upgrades between Beerburrum and Nambour.

"The current Stage 2 proposal for passing loops and other upgrades between Landsborough and Nambour is totally unacceptable," Mr O'Brien said.

"Nothing short of full duplication of the line, that's two tracks, all the way to Nambour is what the community deserves."

Mr O'Brien said the new design should allow for full duplication to Nambour and accommodate the possibility of a future fast rail system.

Mr Wallace said upgrades north of Beerwah would be important for residents in railway towns like Landsborough, Eudlo, Palmwoods, Woombye and Nambour.

The federal commitment was subject to the state government matching the $5 million contribution. ..

Hey Ted, haven't even got a double line through to Landsborough yet ... 

[Stillwater]

Gold Coast Line Capacity Improvement PRE-CONSTRUCTION? There must be a construction component in a $356m project budget.

Yet another study for B-N .... as if this hasn't been studied to death already. Hopefully this one will redo the costings (they would have increased) and reveal to the state and feds what represents the best value-for-money proposition. Then they should just get on with funding the bloody thing. A $10 million study should be pretty thorough and let's hope in includes not just a study of the line costs and travel time savings, but the economic spin-offs for the wider region and the towns along the way. Nambour would benefit enormously.

Hasn't the state government thrown every benefit they can think of (including urban renewal and value-adding to land) into the CRR case? The same should happen this time around for the SCL. Past studies have proven a good BCR for SC Line duplication based on the freight train benefits. That should be in the mix also.

Agree with Ozbob, bugger all really for the Sunny Coast.

[Fares_Fair]

I will be discussing this latest development in depth with ABC #SunshineCoast radio 90.3FM tomorrow morning at around 7:10am on.