First they need to agree on the most likely order ‘The Wave’ projects will be completed in:
MRI → BRT–> Caloundra → Birtinya
BRT–> Caloundra → Birtinya → MRI
Caloundra → Birtinya → BRT → MRI
Next we need to know what the ‘broken promise’ option is going to look like:
BRT via the entire SCMT corridor (Maroochydore to Caloundra).
Rail to Caloundra & Birtinya, then BRT from Birtinya to Maroochydore via SCMT.
Rail to Caloundra & Birtinya, then BRT along the DSCL corridor to Maroochydore / Sunshine Coast Airport.
Rail to Caloundra & Birtinya, then BRT along the DSCL corridor to Maroochydore / Sunshine Coast Airport, then later rail to Maroochydore / Sunshine Coast Airport.
Rail to Caloundra with no rail to Birtinya, BRT via SCMT to from Caloundra to Maroochydore via Birtinya.
BRT along the entire DSCL corridor (no longer a rail project).
Rail to Birtinya, LRT to Maroochydore / Sunshine Coast via DSCL corridor.
LRT along rail corridor to Caloundra, LRT along the SCMT corridor from Caloundra to Birtinya, Mooloolaba, and Maroochydore.
SCRAP THE ENTIRE PROJECT AND START OVER WITH ANOTHER ALIGNMENT!
The main obstacle in this project is and has been Caloundra. So what would happen if rail bypassed Caloundra completely?
After Aura run the alignment through the Bells Creek Arterial Road that has covers suburbs such as Bells Creek, Little Mountain, and Meridian Plains until it reaches Birtinya, Then either:
Continue the heavy rail alignment to Maroochydore as originally planned from Birtinya.
Build heavy rail to Birtinya, then use the SCMT corridor as a BRT corridor making Birtinya a hub for services going N to Maroochydore and S to Caloundra, following the entire SCMT corridor.
Use light rail starting from Beerwah to Birtinya using Bells Creek Arterial Road, but after Birtinya use the SCMT corridor as light rail to go to Maroochydore. Then use buses (not BRT) to reach the Sunshine Coast Airport from Maroochydore, and Caloundra from Birtinya.
Keep in mind there are no Olympics venues in Caloundra, and shifting the alignment on Bells Creek Arterial Road allows more access to the inland of the Sunshine Coast.
It would be good for members to see a higher detail map or diagram for precisely where the connecting BRT corridor is proposed to run. Right now it’s a wiggle and we don’t know the specific path of the corridor at road level.
Agreed, the main two points that aren’t clear are:
How will it integrate into the Mooloolah River Interchange?
Some of the mapping on the MRI Project Page includes provision for the CAMCOS corridor through the means of rail-over-road bridges that directly cross the new interchange, however in the industry briefing the TMR North Coast representatives suggested that this is sort of indicative only and doesn’t seem to be integrated into the detailed designs. They said in the briefing they’re investigating ‘right of way’ options with industry and the private sector to get the line over/through the new interchange… whatever that means.
How will it enter the Maroochydore CBD?
In the briefing they agree that it will follow the northbound motorway to the next interchange where Mountain Creek station will be located (exact location is still apparently TBC) before continuing to follow the motorway alignment North where they are “looking at opportunities to enter the CBD just south (I think they meant East) of Maroochy Blvd” which could include a ‘Metro overpass’ above the motorway, however again nothing is set in stone or designed yet and they are still exploring options with industry.
For anyone not familiar with the SCMTP I have done a very rough map that shows the Stage 1 and 2* proposed routes and how they integrate with The Wave at both Birtinya and Maroochydore. Stage 2 will also integrate with the new train station next to the roundabout in Caloundra.
I just realised I didn’t include the connection to Sunshine Coast Airport however I am unsure if it’s even worth adding as there’s no formal corridor for it yet, nor is there any info from the airport on how it will integrate into their future layout with a new terminal supposedly on the horizon (apparently the airport are working on identifying a location for a public transport interchange).
When you see the map comparison like that, to me it’s a no brainer to do the BRT on the originally planned coastal route and keep the rail corridor preserved for the eventual extension.
The $5 billion figure for ‘The Wave’ happens to be the exact same $5 billion set aside for the DSCL. The are using money reserved for rail to be allocated to the BRT and MRI.
It seems the DSCL will actually only have $2.5 billion minimum for funding, of which is Fed funding, that must legally be used on the DSCL.
This must be the reason why nothing about this project was funded in the 2025-26 budget? They are cannibalising DSCL funding for The Wave (all of the non-rail projects). That’s where the money for the MRI and BRT studies will be coming from. We were expecting to see separate funding for the BRT and MRI, because they are different projects.
Give it time and they will blame red team for “underfunding” the DSCL, and that the delays to construction was a result of this!
Got any evidence that BRT has been chosen having done any of that work or with any of that evidence? Had the Council announced support for it? The vibe from the industry briefing certainly suggests not. The new plan for the Sunshine Coast sporting venue is contrary to the council and other groups preferences.
We need to avoid being conditioned in to accepting inferior outcomes (let alone being grateful for them) because of past failure. The choice shouldn’t be BRT or nothing - governments need to be to held accountable to outcomes for the community.
Ultimately it was LNP themselves who promised rail to Maroochydore by 2032. Missing the time frame is one thing - giving up completely what was promised is unacceptable.
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.
Labor wouldn’t have done any better. They don’t really have a good track record of investing in PT on the Sunny Coast. They like plans, (not say they are good though).
Saying the other mob wouldn’t do any better doesn’t suddenly make it acceptable though. We should call it out for what it is regardless of who is in charge instead of getting sucked into speculation on who would have done what.
