A decades-old vision to extend the passenger rail line from Beerwah to Caloundra and Maroochydore could soon be on track after a Federal Government announcement.
The Morrison Government has revealed “investment planning” for heavy passenger rail running along the coastal strip of the Sunshine Coast will get underway in 2022 thanks to a $3 million funding pledge.
This was included in its mid-year budget update.
The commitment will be matched by the Queensland Government to deliver a $6 million investment planning project for extending the rail line from Beerwah to the Maroochydore CBD, running through Caloundra and Kawana.
The agreement would give traction to a renewed push to extend the line to the Maroochydore CBD using the CAMCOS corridor in time for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien welcomed the news.
“This is the next step to take the project forward,” he said.
“There’s still a long way to go, but there’s no time to waste and we must keep
moving which is why this news is so welcomed.
“The jointly funded $6 million project means both tiers of government are putting skin in the game and dedicating resources for investment planning in 2022.”
Mr O’Brien paid credit to the Queensland Government, noting the importance of aligning tiers of government behind advancing critical infrastructure.
“It demonstrates what can be done when governments work together,” Mr O’Brien said.
“Our job is to leverage the 2032 Games to deliver lasting legacies for the communities we serve and I’m grateful the Queensland Government is collaborating with us on this vitally important project.”
The Australian Government commitment is listed in the budget papers as “$3.0 million for Investment Planning for the Sunshine Coast Rail Extension (Beerwah to Maroochydore), page 275 in Appendix A: Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications.
The existing railway line from Brisbane currently only passes through the hinterland from Beerburrum to Nambour, with no access to the coastal strip.
But Transport Minister Mark Bailey recently revealed a project, dubbed CAMCOS — which has not progressed since 1999 — will now be re-examined in 2022 because of the 2032 Olympics and population growth.
CAMCOS was envisioned as a heavy rail line from Brisbane, branching east at Beerwah and taking passengers directly to coastal suburbs at Caloundra and Maroochydore.
There could be stations at Caloundra South (Aura), Caloundra (near the aerodrome), Currimundi, Sunshine Coast University Hospital, Kawana and Parrearra enroute to Maroochydore.
But as Sunshine Coast News has previously reported, the announcement after decades of broken promises has raised what could be a $2 billion question. Back in 2005, the Beattie State Government referred to CAMCOS as a “$1 billion fast passenger rail service” which in today’s terms could be double this amount.
There’s also a big question mark over whether this amount of money would be invested in Sunshine Coast infrastructure after decades of local residents seeing such cash flow towards the Gold Coast and Brisbane.
