Investment planning for heavy passenger rail running along the coastal strip of the Sunshine Coast will get underway in 2022 after the Morrison Government today committed $3 million to the project as part of 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 builds on Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien’s proposal to extend the line to the Maroochydore CBD using the CAMCOS corridor in time for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, built as an extension to the existing system but designed to accommodate a fast rail solution in the future.
Mr 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,” said Mr O’Brien. “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.
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