The 7000-strong Beach Matters Group is planning a rally to protest the Sunshine Coast’s Mass Transit Project over fears one of the region’s most popular beaches would be under threat.
The group said it did not want to see light rail and trams with tracks, overhead wires, poles or barriers along the coastal corridor, visually polluting the beachfront, and these should be removed as options for future transport plans.
Sunshine Coast Council is seeking to improve traffic flow and public transport as our population swells and recently released the much-anticipated results of its community engagement on the five public transport options under consideration.
These include bus rapid transit, high-quality bus corridor, trackless trams, light rail with wires, and wireless light rail.
A special meeting has been called for October 20, when it is expected council officers will ask councillors to vote to forward the options analysis to the state government.
The state would then prepare a detailed business case before pushing ahead with mass transit for the 13km stretch between the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Maroochydore.
However, The Beach Matters Group said councillors should respect community feedback that stated light rail was the least favoured option.
Group president and bestselling author and book publisher Rachael Bermingham said council officers had spent $500,000 of community money on an eight-week consultation process and then ignored the results.
“Surely our officers are far smarter than this and can come up with options that suit the Sunshine Coast and reflect what the community wants,” she said.
Ms Bermingham said she had faith that councillors would do a better job at listening to the community by seeking to revise the analysis and reflect what residents wanted.
Beach Matters, which has an array of prominent members from former deputy prime minister and treasurer Wayne Swan to developer Mal Pratt and surf legend Hayden Kenny, is organising the rally.
Ms Bermingham said the gathering would be the last time residents would be able to make a difference in relation to this issue.
“We need to be part of a legacy that our future generations will thank us, not curse us, for.
“For those of us who were raised here, it’s an easy thing to understand. For new residents we are welcoming here, we really want them to remember to not destroy what they came to enjoy and stand at the rally and be part of their new community.”
“We are a fantastic, passionate group that really cares about the Sunshine Coast and our beaches. This is a chance for the community to come together in a history-making morning to show their support and save what we all love and treasure.
“We’re not saying we’re against public transport. We are advocates of active living and a better transport system, however, light rail and tram tracks along the beach are not what the community wants, or needs.
“Put the time and date in your diary with an alert, tell your friends to come down and rally with us at 10am on Sunday the 17th of October to send a clear message to all councillors to VOTE NO!”
“We will line up, arm’s distance apart beside the walking/cycling path from the Maroochydore Caravan Park opposite the Sebel, along Alex Parade, the Bluff and through to Venning Street in Mooloolaba.
“Bring your No Light Rail sign or make your own sign on white cardboard with thick orange or black marker to get your message across loud and clear.”
Ms Bermingham said it would definitely be a peaceful rally, and COVID guidelines would apply.
Her comments follow Mass Transit Action Group (MTAG) spokesperson Tracey Goodwin-McDonald telling Sunshine Coast News she believed light rail should be removed as an option and deleted from the Options Analysis report.
Ms Goodwin-McDonald said it did not appear as though the council used any of the public feedback to review the options on the table.
“They’ve completely ignored the fact that the community does not want light rail,” Ms Goodwin-McDonald said.
Council states that seeking the community’s views was never intended to alter the five mass transit options or rewrite the report.
“The purpose of seeking this feedback was to obtain community perspectives on the options being recommended in the Options Analysis which would then inform the further investigations to be undertaken during the preparation of the Detailed Business Case,” council’s agenda report states.
“This feedback was not intended to result in the removal or elimination of any options from the Options Analysis.”
Council said without a good mass transit system, the Sunshine Coast’s high car dependence would continue and trips by private vehicle would increase by more than of 50% over the next 20 years.
“This means for every 10 cars on the road now there will be at least another 5 cars by 2041, so the Sunshine Coast will become more known for its congested roads than its relaxed and friendly lifestyle.”
