The Shadow Minister for Transport has accused the state government of largely ignoring Sunshine Coast transport infrastructure in the budget.
Labor’s Bart Mellish said there was “zero additional money” for The Wave, the Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade and Caloundra roads.
The LNP government issued media releases on Wednesday spruiking the budget and those projects.
But Mr Mellish said the budget was “a shocker” and there was little substance for the initiatives.
“In this budget, we see zero dollars for The Wave (a train and bus network from Beerwah to Marcoola),” he said.
“All we see is the $5.5 billion that was previously committed by the former Labor government to get heavy rail all the way to Caloundra.
“So that’s still in there but there’s zero additional money to get it further to Birtinya, and then for the buses to go from Birtinya through to Maroochydore, on through to the Sunshine Coast Airport.
“There is (also) zero money for the Mooloolah River interchange.
“On the Caloundra roads projects – a $400 million suite of road projects that the LNP committed to at the last election – there is zero dollars in the budget for it.
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“There is some dot point that says they are doing some future planning but there is zero money allocated.
“It is pretty clear that this LNP’s first budget does not stack up when it comes to transport infrastructure on the Sunshine Coast.
“The Transport Minister (Brent Mickelberg) is a Sunshine Coast local, the Deputy Premier (Jarrod Bleijie) is a Sunshine Coast local, yet this first budget leaves the Sunshine Coast in gridlock.”
Mr Mellish, who said the budget was “a shocker”, also said that time was running out for The Wave.
“This government’s really got to crack on,” he said.
“If this project does not start by 2026, it cannot be completed by 2032. It cannot be completed in time for the Olympics”.
The state government issued several budget-related media releases this week, which included transport initiatives for the Sunshine Coast.
They included “commencing work to deliver heavy rail from Beerwah to Birtinya, with The Wave providing high-frequency metro-style services from Birtinya through Maroochydore to the Sunshine Coast Airport”, and “delivering road upgrades across Caloundra to ease congestion hotspots, boost capacity at the intersections and create additional connection roads to get Queenslanders home sooner and safe”.
The state government stated early in the week that “long-awaited funds will flow” in the budget to advance the MRIU, but there was little detail to follow.
Mr Bleijie said the region stood to benefit from the budget and the projects.
“(It) delivers a record investment in critical infrastructure projects that will leave a lasting legacy on the Sunshine Coast ahead of the 2032 Games and beyond,” Mr Bleijie said.
Mr Mickelberg concurred.
“From measures to ease cost-of-living pressures to school upgrades at Mountain Creek and Palmview, as well as significant transport infrastructure, like the Mooloolah River Interchange upgrade, The Wave and improved heavy rail connections, we’re building a better future for our communities across the coast,” he said.
