A Sunshine Coast member of state parliament has further criticised the government for its handling of key transport projects in the region, but Labor says it remains focused on delivering infrastructure in a thorough manner.
The Sunshine Coast Direct Rail, the Kawana Motorway, the Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade and the Southern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy are in planning and/or design phases, with mixed levels of funding.
The Member for Kawana, LNP’s Jarrod Bleijie, said the projects were behind time and government business case studies and a community consultation period were essentially “delay tactics” and a “stunt”, in the face of a growing population and the looming 2032 Olympics.
He questioned the government’s timing of last week’s call for community input, which was announced after detailed design had already started on one of the projects.
“It is too late (to call for feedback),” he said.
“The Mooloolah River Upgrade has already started.
“This is nothing but a delay tactic from the government, who are already spending another $14 million on another business case (Sunshine Coast Direct Rail).”
Mr Bleijie said that particular project had been in the pipeline for 24 years but little progress had been made. He and fellow Sunshine Coast LNP MPs recently started a petition to push for a greater commitment to the rail line.
“How great would it be to have a proper public transport system on the Sunshine Coast, with heavy passenger rail that is more affordable than car registration and putting fuel in the car, and giving that option to the Sunshine Coast community,” he said.
“(But) it’s blown out by time, and I fear the more time this project is delayed we’re going to have more blowouts (in timing and funding).”
Mr Bleijie pointed to a Queensland train manufacturing program that has ballooned from $7.1 billion to $9.5 billion as an example.
But the Minister for Transport and Main Roads, Mark Bailey, said the state government was doing its due diligence and the community “should have input into these four very important road and rail projects for the Sunshine Coast”.
“The community deserves the opportunity to have a say and give us their local knowledge and experience so these projects can be as good as they can possibly be,” he said.
He said the LNP had opportunities to further develop infrastructure in the region when they were in power (2012 to 2015).
“But with the Sunshine Coast Direct Rail Line and the other projects, we will do the proper planning to build real, high-quality infrastructure, whether it’s road or rail.
“This government will consult the community. We value the input of every Sunshine Coast resident who wants to let us know their views.”
Mr Bailey said there was a record level of funding for infrastructure for the Sunshine Coast.
“The Kawana Motorway, Sunshine Motorway (and Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade), direct line and the need for a Sunshine Coast public transport system are all things we’re committed to and we want the community to be involved in these projects.”
“You can trust the state government to actually build this infrastructure and we’re doing the necessary planning and getting the local input that makes these projects as successful as they can be.”
