Caloundra South

[verbatim9]

Yeah I saw the same story on 7news and saw a potential lightrail or heavy simulation in and out of the new mega Stockland suburb. Even a rep Jeff Addison from Rbot had a chance to voice concerns

[Stillwater]

Overview map of Aura showing the CAMCOS railway corridor serving it.  Note transit centre.  At this stage, these things are just lines on a map.

http://www.stockland.com.au/residential/images/Caloundra%20South/Caloundra_south_masterplan_-_BOTTOM_LEGEND_PORTRAIT_A3_.pdf

Note this disclaimer on the 'indicative map':

Disclaimer: This map illustration is intended as a visual aid only and does not necessarily depict the actual development. Stockland gives no warranty and makes no representation to the accuracy and accepts no liability for any loss which may be suffered by any person who lies either wholly or in part upon the information presented. All representation is subject to change without notice, information correct at time of publishing.

Maybe there is a wink and a nod deal here -- possibly involving Stockland building CAMCOS rail to Caloundra, past Aura IF the state government approves Stockland's further extension of residential development to Bells Creek South.  Sunshine Coast Council opposes this further extension.

Is the fix in?  Duplication to Landsborough North only, duplication from there to Nambour delayed in favour of CAMCOS dual tracks to Caloundra.  Landsborough North to Gympie North improved with additional and extra long crossing loops.  Shuttles north from Beerwah, train transfer at Beerwah for passenger services to and from Gympie North.

The state government has to give firm timetables for Beerburrum to Landsborough North duplication works and what its thinking is re duplication to Nambour and CAMCOS track to Caloundra, eventually to Maroochydore.

[verbatim9]

Ah cool, now it makes sense

[Stillwater]

Jackie Trad MP must be pinned down on her claim that the infrastructure agreement between the State Government, the Sunshine Coast Council and Stockland, the developer of Aura (Caloundra South), anticipates and meets all the foreseeable needs of the city of 50,000 people.  While she is the transport minister, Ms Trad does not use the term 'transport' in respect of Caloundra South, preferring the more generic 'infrastructure', meaning roads, drains, footpaths, parks and bicycle network.

Contrast that with her embrace of the term 'transport infrastructure' when referring to GCLR.  It is a very subtle nuance in her use of language.  And it is deliberate.

Some simple questions for Ms Trad:

when will Beerburrum-Landsborough North track be duplication
when will duplication be extended to Nambour
where is planning at for CAMCOS rail through Caloundra South to Caloundra
what long-term planning is happening around Caloundra-Maroochydore heavy rail

Hopefully the media will do their job and pin her down on these issues.

Because the Federal Government meets 80 per cent of the cost of a road-based (Bruce Highway) upgrade, all state government planning is being skewed that way.  The State Government is up for 100 per cent of any passenger rail infrastructure costs on the Sunshine Coast Line/CAMCOS corridors.  Why pay 100 pet cent of the cost of a solution when you can get away with 20 per cent for the highway alternative and shift 80 per cent of the costs to the feds?

[Stillwater]

Brisbane Times follows up on rail access to the new Town of Aura at Caloundra South.

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/aura-new-city-for-50000-on-sunshine-coast-will-rely-on-single-rail-line-20151005-gk1rp5.html

Note that Jackie Trad, when questioned about timing for Beerburrum-Landsborough North duplication engages in polly-speak and criticises LNP.  (See last few paragraphs)

[ozbob]

Media release 6 October 2015



Government must set timetable for Nambour track duplication and CAMCOS rail corridor to Caloundra

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, says the Sunshine Coast faces unprecedented traffic congestion due to increasing population growth and the development of the Aura town centre at Caloundra South.  It has called on the state government to commit to a definite timetable for constructing dual railway tracks to Nambour as a priority and eventually building a rail spur to Caloundra along the CAMCOS rail reserve.

"The start on construction of a new city called Aura at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast will be a game-changer for the entire region.  It will affect how and where people shop and will contribute to increased car-based transport activity that threatens our lifestyle," RAIL Back on Track Sunshine Coast spokesperson, Jeff Addison, warned today.

"Let's not forget also that, in addition to the 50,000 residents of Aura, another 20,000 people will be housed at Palmview.  It is a recipe for transport chaos, made worse by the state government's silence about any solutions, apart from road-based solutions financed largely by the federal government.

"It may be more affordable to buy land at Aura, but the trade-off will be increased transport costs for residents, as theirs will be two-car households where people will be forced to get behind a steering wheel to move outside the town centre and to find jobs elsewhere on the Sunshine Coast or, most probably, choke the Bruce Highway to Brisbane.  There is a very real danger that Aura residents won't relate to the Sunshine Coast at all.  They will be living in a smart urban centre that would empty during the day, as the bread-winner takes the car south, leaving their spouse and children isolated in a weird social welfare utopia.

"Clearly, the state government has approved Aura in isolation without considering its impacts upon the wider Caloundra region.

"The new city with its huge new retail hub will become a disposable income sponge, soaking up the household spend of a much wider area beyond Aura itself and threatening the viability of Caloundra's traditional Bulcock Street shopping precinct.  Aura will assume the Caloundra town centre role, leaving Bulcock Street with slim pickings and empty shops.  Certainly it will be much easier for people from the Blackall Range to shop for big-ticket items and source professional services at Aura, not Caloundra," Mr Addison said.

"The focus of this new development has been on the design elements within the borders of Aura with scant regard to the wider implications and impacts as Aura residents travel outside their city the size of Gladstone.

"While Stockland, the developer, has made a significant contribution to 'infrastructure costs' such as drainage, parks and roads, the infrastructure plan does not include a commitment to building a transit centre shown in its promotional video.  Most likely that is because the state government will not stipulate a timetable for augmented rail and feeder bus routes servicing Aura.

"Its only commitment to transport infrastructure at Aura is $55 million for an East-West Arterial.  That's it.

"Today, RAIL Back on Track calls upon the state government and Deputy Premier Jacki Trad, the Transport and Infrastructure Minister, to spell out a clear and unequivocal timetable for duplication of the Sunshine Coast Railway line to Landsborough in order for Aura residents to access trains to Brisbane from the Beerwah and Landsborough stations.  Augmented parking will be required to prevent commuters parking their cars all day in both towns, hogging frequent parking spots and affecting shopping convenience.

"While fast and frequent buses linking Landsborough and Caloundra via Aura will provide adequate public transport services in the interim, during the early stages of the Aura development, the state government must now start serious consideration about scheduling a start on building the CAMCOS rail spur to Caloundra and then to Maroochydore.

"CAMCOS rail would draw Aura residents to the rest of the Sunshine Coast, linking to the proposed light rail network.  As planned, Aura might as well be called 'North Caboolture'.  For all intents and purposes, it will be a satellite suburb of Brisbane, not integrated with Caloundra and the Sunshine Coast.

"Crucial to CAMCOS is the Beerburrum-Landsborough rail track duplication.  The project has environmental approval, the plans have been drawn and it remains 'shovel ready'.  It makes sense for the Queensland Government to call for expressions of interest from qualified consortiums to construct it, especially as rail track equipment, specialised workforce and expertise is released from the Moreton Bay railway line, now nearing completion.

"Beerburrum-Landsborough rail realignment and duplication would provide jobs transferable from the mining sector, which is experiencing a severe downturn.  Many of those mining workers are fly-in fly-out employees based on the Sunshine Coast," Mr Addison said.

ENDS

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

References:

1. Caloundra South
http://www.stockland.com.au/residential/caloundra-south.aspx

2. Sunshine Coast and Caboolture line upgrades
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Rail/Rail-infrastructure-upgrades-in-south-east-Queensland/Sunshine-Coast-and-Caboolture-lines.aspx

3. The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6647.0

4. Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/C/Caboolture-to-Maroochydore-Corridor-Study.aspx

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

6th October 2015

Transport failure fast becoming a hallmark of SEQ ...

Greetings,

If you haven't realised it already, SEQ is headlong into transport failure.  Massive developments with scant regard to transport issues .. it is not only Caloundra South

Even simple things like bus network reform for Brisbane is too hard!  Crikey ...

Brisbanetimes -->  Aura, new city for 50,000 on Sunshine Coast, will rely on single rail line
http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/aura-new-city-for-50000-on-sunshine-coast-will-rely-on-single-rail-line-20151005-gk1rp5.html

More

From Couriermail Quest Logan News 1st October 2015 page 5

Station with no trains



Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 6 October 2015



Government must set timetable for Nambour track duplication and CAMCOS rail corridor to Caloundra

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, says the Sunshine Coast faces unprecedented traffic congestion due to increasing population growth and the development of the Aura town centre at Caloundra South.  It has called on the state government to commit to a definite timetable for constructing dual railway tracks to Nambour as a priority and eventually building a rail spur to Caloundra along the CAMCOS rail reserve.

"The start on construction of a new city called Aura at the southern end of the Sunshine Coast will be a game-changer for the entire region.  It will affect how and where people shop and will contribute to increased car-based transport activity that threatens our lifestyle," RAIL Back on Track Sunshine Coast spokesperson, Jeff Addison, warned today.

"Let's not forget also that, in addition to the 50,000 residents of Aura, another 20,000 people will be housed at Palmview.  It is a recipe for transport chaos, made worse by the state government's silence about any solutions, apart from road-based solutions financed largely by the federal government.

"It may be more affordable to buy land at Aura, but the trade-off will be increased transport costs for residents, as theirs will be two-car households where people will be forced to get behind a steering wheel to move outside the town centre and to find jobs elsewhere on the Sunshine Coast or, most probably, choke the Bruce Highway to Brisbane.  There is a very real danger that Aura residents won't relate to the Sunshine Coast at all.  They will be living in a smart urban centre that would empty during the day, as the bread-winner takes the car south, leaving their spouse and children isolated in a weird social welfare utopia.

"Clearly, the state government has approved Aura in isolation without considering its impacts upon the wider Caloundra region.

"The new city with its huge new retail hub will become a disposable income sponge, soaking up the household spend of a much wider area beyond Aura itself and threatening the viability of Caloundra's traditional Bulcock Street shopping precinct.  Aura will assume the Caloundra town centre role, leaving Bulcock Street with slim pickings and empty shops.  Certainly it will be much easier for people from the Blackall Range to shop for big-ticket items and source professional services at Aura, not Caloundra," Mr Addison said.

"The focus of this new development has been on the design elements within the borders of Aura with scant regard to the wider implications and impacts as Aura residents travel outside their city the size of Gladstone.

"While Stockland, the developer, has made a significant contribution to 'infrastructure costs' such as drainage, parks and roads, the infrastructure plan does not include a commitment to building a transit centre shown in its promotional video.  Most likely that is because the state government will not stipulate a timetable for augmented rail and feeder bus routes servicing Aura.

"Its only commitment to transport infrastructure at Aura is $55 million for an East-West Arterial.  That's it.

"Today, RAIL Back on Track calls upon the state government and Deputy Premier Jacki Trad, the Transport and Infrastructure Minister, to spell out a clear and unequivocal timetable for duplication of the Sunshine Coast Railway line to Landsborough in order for Aura residents to access trains to Brisbane from the Beerwah and Landsborough stations.  Augmented parking will be required to prevent commuters parking their cars all day in both towns, hogging frequent parking spots and affecting shopping convenience.

"While fast and frequent buses linking Landsborough and Caloundra via Aura will provide adequate public transport services in the interim, during the early stages of the Aura development, the state government must now start serious consideration about scheduling a start on building the CAMCOS rail spur to Caloundra and then to Maroochydore.

"CAMCOS rail would draw Aura residents to the rest of the Sunshine Coast, linking to the proposed light rail network.  As planned, Aura might as well be called 'North Caboolture'.  For all intents and purposes, it will be a satellite suburb of Brisbane, not integrated with Caloundra and the Sunshine Coast.

"Crucial to CAMCOS is the Beerburrum-Landsborough rail track duplication.  The project has environmental approval, the plans have been drawn and it remains 'shovel ready'.  It makes sense for the Queensland Government to call for expressions of interest from qualified consortiums to construct it, especially as rail track equipment, specialised workforce and expertise is released from the Moreton Bay railway line, now nearing completion.

"Beerburrum-Landsborough rail realignment and duplication would provide jobs transferable from the mining sector, which is experiencing a severe downturn.  Many of those mining workers are fly-in fly-out employees based on the Sunshine Coast," Mr Addison said.

ENDS

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

References:

1. Caloundra South
http://www.stockland.com.au/residential/caloundra-south.aspx

2. Sunshine Coast and Caboolture line upgrades
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Travel-and-transport/Rail/Rail-infrastructure-upgrades-in-south-east-Queensland/Sunshine-Coast-and-Caboolture-lines.aspx

3. The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6647.0

4. Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/C/Caboolture-to-Maroochydore-Corridor-Study.aspx

[Stillwater]

The people of the Sunshine Coast do not need Ms Trad to spout history - to tell them what the LNP did not do in respect of the SCL duplication between Beerburrum and Landsborough North.  If she went back further in time, Labor also promised this project and didn't deliver, but Ms Trad won't acknowledge that.

Rather than remind us what the LNP didn't do, Ms Trad should tell Queenslanders what a Palaszczuk Labor Government WILL do to make B-Nbr duplicated rail line a reality, starting with Beerburrum-L'borough North.

[Stillwater]

Question for Jackie Trad, Infrastructure Minister:

Are Stockland, the developers of Aura, and the state government in negotiation to allow further residential development at Halls Creek, despite protestations by the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, in exchange for Stockland making a substantial contribution to the cost of CAMCOS rail from Beerwah to Caloundra South/Caloundra?

Reference:
http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/sitePage.cfm?code=halls-creek

[ozbob]

Queens Wharf is another missed  ' value capture' opportunity ..

SEQ is going to be a real mess the way it is going ...

[Stillwater]

ABC Local Radio presenter Annie Gaffney interviewing Wyatt Roy MP about federal funding for SCL duplication.

[ozbob]

ABC Local Radio presenter Annie Gaffney interviewing Wyatt Roy MP about federal funding for SCL duplication.

Politicians been ' talking ' for years ..  we need action not more talk ...

[SurfRail]

Can't say I envy the rest of SEQ north of the Albert River at this point.

[colinw]

There is a transit centre in the animation at 3:34, showing rail. What's that?
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/caloundra-south-become-city-colour/2792949/

Probably the same thing as those brochures for Flagstone and New Beith that show rail stations on the mythical Brisbane to Beaudesert line.

[Stillwater]

On the Sunshine Coast, it is a case of award-winning mythical transport infrastructure.   

The Aura development has won Stockland, the developer, a six-star green rating for urban design, sans railway
The concept-only SC light rail project has won an urban design award

We even call tenders for projects that are not subsequently built (original Nambour railway station DDA works and Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication).  We plan for stuff that won't be built for ages (CAMCOS bus and rail).  We build things as temporary when, in fact, they are permanent (seven 'temporary' rail way station platforms on the line to Gympie North).

We defy physics and describe buses as trains (SCL).

We do lots of dumb weird stuff on the Sunny Coast.

[Stillwater]

Story on Sunshine Coast Daily website:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/rail-advocates-call-state-government-commit-upgrad/2797484/

[Fares_Fair]

Does the Palaszczuk Government seriously believe that they will get away from this largest development of its' type in Australia by doing absolutely nothing for rail infrastructure and think we'll be content with an extra 50,000 people (Gladstone size city) and a single line rail track for our burgeoning population.

They got a dual rail track to service Greater Springfield (6 suburbs) with a population of just 24,000 in 2013 when the rail opened in December that year.
A smart deal having been struck with Mr Maha Sinnathamby, the Malaysian born developer.

The hypocrisy and politicisation of this is laid bare for all to see.
Get ready to say goodbye to the Palaszczuk 'Do Nothing for Rail Infrastructure' Government.

[BrizCommuter]

Aura, or Black Hole?
http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/aura-or-black-hole.html

[verbatim9]

There is a transit centre in the animation at 3:34, showing rail. What's that?
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/caloundra-south-become-city-colour/2792949/

Probably the same thing as those brochures for Flagstone and New Beith that show rail stations on the mythical Brisbane to Beaudesert line.

YEP that's the simulation I saw with the train on 7 last week. Have to say Stockland is promising alot! Like being 24/7 without 24/7 public transport/major retail and proposed 1 am lockout laws with no drinks after 1am. It may have to tweak its promotional video.

[Stillwater]

Academics and advocates unite in call for better public transport options serving Aura:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/frustration-at-lack-of-major-transport-commitments/2798802/

Jeff Addison to the fore again.

[#Metro]

I think we should officially declare black hole areas.

We could declare:

Bulimba
Yeronga
Albany Creek
Centenary Suburbs
Upper Kedron (Cedar Woods)

and *drumroll* Aura, Sunshine Coast

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Frustration at lack of transport commitments for Aura

Frustration at lack of transport commitments for Aura
Scott Sawyer | 7th Oct 2015 5:00 AM

AS A NEW, Gladstone-sized city begins its 30-year construction at Aura, otherwise known as Caloundra South, fears about future transport continue to grow.

Sunshine Coast RAIL Back on Track spokesman Jeff Addison said the decision to green-light the massive, 20,000-home, 50,000-resident development without a commitment to major public transport infrastructure had left him dumbfounded.

"It borders on negligence," an exasperated Mr Addison said.

While infrastructure agreements were reached providing for East-West arterial road, as well as a local roads network within Aura between Stockland and the State Government, Mr Addison said the continued refusal to prioritise an upgraded rail network to the region was a huge mistake.

"Springfield (suburb of Ipswich) got a duplicated rail line for only 24,000 people," Mr Addison said.

"The need is already there for the Sunshine Coast alone, let alone adding a city the size of Gladstone on the foot of the Coast."

"It (Aura) doesn't promise anything about public transport."

Mr Addison has been a long-time campaigner for rail duplication of the North Coast line to Nambour, as well as the creation of a rail spur to Caloundra, to link up with either heavy rail via CAMCOS, or a light-rail network connected to the heavy rail system.

He said he could not understand how the State Government had continued to fail to act on a service which could prove vitally important, as more pressure was placed on the Bruce Hwy.

"It'll be a social welfare utopia in Caloundra if they (Aura residents) can't get access to public transport," he said.

"We're headed for disaster unless they (State Government) can provide infrastructure."

Mr Addison said he fully supported the jobs that would be created by the project and the development of greater housing options, but said he would hate to see the city rolled out without adequate transport solutions.

Professor Martin Bell, demographer and director of UQ's Queensland Centre for Population Research said the development would greatly help with accommodating future populations, but added there was an "absolutely critical" need for State and Local Government infrastructure investment, to ensure new communities did not become isolated.

Aura Facts:

     50,000 residents to live in the new city
     $5 billion project to be built over three decades

[Stillwater]

Lots of negative views on social media about Aura (not the official name).  Interesting comments that the developer's concept images show plazas, lakes, cycleways, sporting fields, entertainment precincts and schools and NOT the reality of streets clogged with cars.  Can Stockland show depictions of cars at traffic lights, full carparks and clogged roundabouts?

[verbatim9]

If Stockland is going to promote itself as an entertainment precinct that means there will be people coming in from outside the city adding to congestion. It took years for a similar project up near Rouse Hill in Sydney to get the rail nod. Hope this doesn't happen at Caloundra South and that a rail line is approved and built before 2020.

[ozbob]

I think we should officially declare black hole areas.

We could declare:

Bulimba
Yeronga
Albany Creek
Centenary Suburbs
Upper Kedron (Cedar Woods)

and *drumroll* Aura, Sunshine Coast

Yarrabilba and Flagstone are lining up for inclusion too  ..  Ripley looks like it might make it too

[ozbob]

Much of SEQ is really a ' black transport hole ' ... incompetents just march onward to more terminal failure ..

[Stillwater]

The nickname this place is getting is 'Caboolture North'.  Stockland have done a snow job on everyone - this project is located on the Sunshine Coast, but won't relate to the Sunshine Coast.  It is an outer suburban extension to Brisbane.  Between Caloundra South and Caboolture lies an area called Halls Creek, which is under 'active investigation' as an extension of Aura southwards.  We will see whether the state government approved of this development when it brings down its regional plan at the end of the year.  That plan will have to cater for an extra 2.2 million people on current projections.  Aura suits the prevailing demographic -- retirees who can't afford to live on waterfront land, or 1km from the waterfront at the Sunshine Coast, but who still want to access all the facilities of the Coast (hospital, golf courses, RSL Club etc) AND young couples who can only afford to live in the sticks (Ripley, Yarrabilba etc) and have to travel down the highway for work.

Interestingly, federal MPs on the Coast have started a petition to six-lane the Bruce Highway between Caloundra turn-off and Caboolture, linking to the six-laning that already has the green light between Caloundra turn-off and the junction with the Sunshine Motorway leading to Maroochydore.  It is along this stretch of highway where another 20,000 people will be housed at Palmview. 

It is no accident that these new satellite cities are being placed along highways that the federal government funds, because it can do the heavy lifting when it comes to the provision of infrastructure.  The new PM has shown a different perspective, saying that the feds would look to funding rail if it proved to be more cost-effective.  However, the state government is not offering up an either-or comparison to the feds, just road-based solutions where the state has to contribute just 20 per cent of the costs.


We are not talking about a city of 50,000 people (Aura), but a city of 70,000 to be positioned right beside the Bruce Highway.  The traffic generated by that city of 70,000 will use up the extra lane capacity on the highway - forcing authorities to look to eight lanes, and so on.  Mass-transit rail must be in the mix.

[ozbob]

Because of the incompetence and corruption (real and moral) of all levels of Governments, local, state and federal I can see a real splintering of government coming of largely single agenda groups getting footholds for their main constituency.

The claptrap is getting worse by the day .. and it is not only Queensland, although Queensland is in the master class of incompetence for sure ..

[Arnz]

The "QUEENSLANDER" mentality is slowly becoming the "STRAYA!!" mentality with that approach starting to affect interstate projects. 

Of course the STRAYA mentality is minus the various words the cool kids use.

[Stillwater]

Aura lacks shine according to SCD:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/nothing-subtle-about-states-planning-power/2798752

[ozbob]

Aura lacks shine according to SCD:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/nothing-subtle-about-states-planning-power/2798752

Brilliant yarn!

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Get the Sunshine Coast on track with rail or reckon with traffic jams forever

THE highway was fit to burst – and so were we, stuck, carpark style, on it.

Last Monday afternoon heading south from the Sunshine Coast, the Bruce Highway was choked, not because of an accident or tragic loss of life but because loads of people were returning home after a long weekend at the end of the school holidays.

These were calendar events the beautiful Sunshine Coast is made for but when people wanted to make the most of it, it caused a standstill. It's ludicrous. That's without the comprehensive developments approved for Caloundra South or Palmview, bringing another 67,000 people into the region.

Buckets of money have been spent on the highway but largely on enabling cars to get on and off it more easily, which seems like adding another running hose to an already overflowing bucket.

The need for infrastructure is now urgent because a human tsunami is coming from Brisbane and the right people don't seem panicked enough.

The public transport system on the Coast remains largely lousy, with pockets of people off the grid of the bus services and with a rail line skirting the region that still only has a single track each way. Up to three hours between trains off-peak is standard ...

More > http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/opinion-get-the-sunshine-coast-on-track-with-rail-or-reckon-with-traffic-jams-forever/story-fnihsr9v-1227561161562

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 25s

Nothing subtle about state's planning power >

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/nothing-subtle-about-states-planning-power/2798752/ ...

Brilliant yarn! #qldpol > #auspol #springst

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

8th October 2015

Re: Government must set timetable for Nambour track duplication and CAMCOS rail corridor to Caloundra

Good Morning,

Caloundra South is shaping up as a transport disaster, to add to ever worsening transport failure and policy paralysis gripping South East Queensland.

Very interesting read this:

Nothing subtle about state's planning power

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/nothing-subtle-about-states-planning-power/2798752/

A few more recent media items:

Get the Sunshine Coast on track with rail or reckon with traffic jams forever

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/opinion-get-the-sunshine-coast-on-track-with-rail-or-reckon-with-traffic-jams-forever/story-fnihsr9v-1227561161562

Frustration at lack of transport commitments for Aura

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/frustration-at-lack-of-major-transport-commitments/2798802/

Aura, or Black Hole?

http://brizcommuter.blogspot.com.au/2015/10/aura-or-black-hole.html

Rail advocates call on Qld govt to commit to upgrade

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/rail-advocates-call-state-government-commit-upgrad/2797484/

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Stockland says Aura safe from one-in-100 year floods


  sure ... can you swim ? 

[ozbob]

From Letters to the Editor Couriermail 10th October 2015 page 60

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> LETTER: Train of thought

THE article "Rail the missing link in planning" by Ian Christesen (Daily, October 17) must be one of the best summaries of the planning problems for Caloundra South and indeed for the Sunshine Coast in general.

How anyone in local or state government can approve such a vast development without first putting in place the necessary infrastructure beggars belief.

Surely the Bruce Highway needs to be upgraded before this development starts and rail has been a line on the map for decades.

Who is going to make it happen?

The article summed up local sentiment and it would be wonderful to see action on the ground instead of further countless millions spent on studies and on planning that does not happen.

Compared with the Gold Coast, the Sunshine Coast has been starved of improvements in infrastructure whilst the population grows and the congestion frustrates.

We have a congested highway which is ultimately expected to serve a further 50,000 Aura residents living alongside it, not to mention the many other developments also under way, an antiquated railway system, and an airport which only operates internationally seasonally and provides no regular services for locals wishing to travel north on business or on holiday ...

[Stillwater]

In addition to the high-class ghetto that will be Aura (Caloundra South), the Sunshine Coast Regional Council has ditched 'green and sustainable' initiatives in the plan for Palmview (a planned community of 20,000), just up the road.  Green corridors for public transport have been ditched.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/sustainable-housing-project-fails-to-deliver/2817806

Like Aura, Palmview will sit adjacent to the Bruce Highway, between the turn-offs to Caloundra and Nambour.

[techblitz]

one has to wonder what effects this new development will have on the caloundra cbd and the main beach.....surely there will be a huge traffic problem around special events eg: caloundra festival...i guess one of the positives will be more numbers to the courbauld park races

[#Metro]

The development should go ahead. This is why: Reverse Psychology.  The government won't act until it is absolutely forced to by huge problems. The strongest case yet for an extension will come when there are more and more and more people.

Probably explains why the Gold Coast has both rail and now LRT. GC has the numbers.