The Queensland Government has insisted there are no delays on a major rail project proposed for the Sunshine Coast.
A $6 million scoping and costing study for the 37km passenger branch line between Beerwah and Maroochydore is due to be completed later this year.
The line will link the steadily growing region to the main north-to-south rail line, and could provide a transport link between three 2032 Olympic venues and an athletes’ village precinct.
However, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk sidestepped a question about whether the project would be completed in time for the Games.
“Well, we are looking at the priorities that are needed for the Games but of course, this is a growing area of the Sunshine Coast,” she told reporters on Monday.
“So we will be working very closely once we see that study, and it’s very good that we put the money aside for that study.”
Two Sunshine Coast federal MPs have raised concerns about the line being completed within nine years, saying the government was running out of time to break ground.
“Everything was in place this time last year,” Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien said via a media release.
“The 2032 Games had been secured, an Olympic sport had been earmarked for the Maroochydore CBD, a business case for the rail was done, federal funding was allocated and all that was needed was for the Queensland Government to confirm its contribution and get going.
“In a highly inflationary environment, where supply chains and human capital are constrained, Labor’s indecision and delay will see project costs skyrocket and the $3.2 billion will be rendered insufficient to build rail to Maroochydore.”
Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said the project was long overdue but the catalyst for starting the project now was the Games.
“As each day ticks by and the start of this project is delayed, opportunities are lost here on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
“Because of the delays by federal and state governments, particularly the state government, this project is now at risk.”
The line would link the South-East with a planned Sunshine Coast Indoor Sports Centre, which is set to host the Olympic basketball preliminary games.
It could also provide transport to the upgraded Sunshine Coast Stadium, which is hosting the football preliminaries, the Sunshine Coast Mountain Bike Centre and a satellite village in Maroochydore that will host 1400 athletes and officials.
State Transport Minister Mark Bailey said the scoping study would be very seriously considered but they were not going to succumb to “hysteria from the LNP”.
He said the opposition had raised the same concerns in the lead-up to the 2018 Commonwealth Games, saying Labor’s transport plan wouldn’t work.
Transport during that event was “superb”, the minister said, with light and heavy rail working seamlessly together and would be the same during the upcoming Olympics.
“There’s been no delays (on the Sunshine Coast rail) whatsoever,” Mr Bailey said.
“Let me just say it was a very disappointing (newspaper) report that came out this morning.
“They didn’t run most of my lines in response to a story of two lazy LNP MPs out there who have achieved nothing on heavy rail for the Sunshine Coast, and who are now struggling with the deprivations of opposition.”
Shadow Olympics and Paralympics Infrastructure Minister and Member for Kawana Jarrod Bleijie said billions in Gabba blowouts may cost Queenslanders the new rail line.
“Premier Palaszczuk has been too busy basking in the glory of a rebuilt Gabba, and other Olympic infrastructure, including road and rail, has been pushed to the side,” Mr Bleijie said.
“Queenslanders have a right to be worried that Premier Palaszczuk doesn’t intend to deliver the critical transport infrastructure that’s needed for the Games and for Queensland’s future.”
Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson said Sunshine Coast locals have known for 20 years heavy rail to the heart of the Sunshine Coast is needed.
“Anyone who commutes to Brisbane knows how badly a rail link is needed to Maroochydore to take pressure off our roads and connect our region,” Ms Simpson said.
“The window to deliver the Sunshine Coast Rail is rapidly closing and any delay means it will not be completed in time for the Olympics.”
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