Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie absented himself from budget deliberations about The Wave public transport system because of a personal conflict of interest over the project, it can be revealed.
The state government announced $5.5 billion in last week’s state budget to begin delivering the project, with $40 million also pledged to accelerate planning for stages two and three.
Mr Bleijie, who is the Member for Kawana, has a property at Aroona that is adjacent to the corridor where The Wave is expected to go.
In August 2024, the Department of Transport and Main Roads advised Mr Bleijie that the property may be impacted by the project, with the potential for it to be acquisitioned.
The current Queensland Parliament Register of Members’ Interests states that Mr Bleijie took advice from the Integrity Commissioner and Clerk of the Parliament regarding the issue, and in November a Conflict Management Plan from the commissioner was put in place.
A spokesperson for Mr Bleijie told Sunshine Coast News he had followed the stipulations in the plan.
“The Wave is a transformational infrastructure project, ensuring generational legacy for the Sunshine Coast in the lead-up to the 2032 Games and beyond,” they said.
“In relation to any potential conflict of interest on the project’s alignment, the Deputy Premier has sought and abided by advice received from the Integrity Commissioner in additional to all relevant and appropriate disclosures being made in the Queensland Parliament.”
Mr Bleijie has repeatedly declared his conflict of interest around the project in parliament.
“I declare my pecuniary interest and conflict of interest on The Wave Stage 2, as I have done on many occasions, pursuant to the standing orders,” he said on June 10.
“It is no secret that the former government wrote to me and my wife saying that our house was impacted by the rail and that they were going to compulsorily acquire our property or some of it. I again make that declaration pursuant to the standing orders.”
Stage 1 of The Wave is about 19km of heavy rail line from Beerwah to Caloundra, including two new stations at Aura and Caloundra.
Stage 2 includes a further 7km of rail line from Caloundra to Birtinya, with new stations at Aroona and Birtinya.
The final stage will add a “metro” bus extension from Birtinya to the Sunshine Coast Airport, including stations at Mountain Creek and Maroochydore.
It is understood Mr Bleijie absented himself from cabinet and Cabinet Budget Review Committee deliberations when Stage 2 of The Wave was discussed.
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The Register of Members’ Interests discloses more details about Mr Bleijie’s involvement with the property.
“The residential property at Aroona is adjacent to Crown land that is designated as the Caboolture to Maroochydore Corridor Study (CAMCOS), now referred to as the Sunshine Coast Direct Line,” it states.
“I have received written advice from the Department of Transport and Main Roads on August 9, 2024, that the alignment has now changed, and that my property may be materially impacted … TMR advised that approximately 650sqm of my land is materially impacted. This impact may lead to property acquisition.
“At all stages I have been receiving advice from the Integrity Commissioner and the Clerk of the Parliament.”
It is understood Mr Bleijie first disclosed to parliament that his home was adjacent to the CAMCOS Corridor in December 2021.
Sunshine Coast News asked Mr Bleijie several other questions that were not answered directly by his spokesperson. These included: What are the key elements outlined in the commissioner’s Conflict Management Plan?; Do you think Mr Bleijie should be speaking publicly on The Wave, given the declared conflict of interest? For example, on March 26 Mr Bleijie was among the public officials at a media event held at Sunshine Coast City Hall, where he spoke at length about The Wave plan; and Has TMR taken any further action on the proposed acquisition of Mr Bleijie’s land since the August 2024 notification?
