The state government has announced its next steps and provided further details for a heavy rail line from the Sunshine Coast hinterland to the coast.
A total of $5 million has been fast-tracked to further develop design and planning for the $5.4 billion Stage 1 of the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line.
The money will fund geotechnical investigations between Beerwah and Birtinya, to help construct what will be the longest rail spur line in South-East Queensland.
One third of the initial 19km rail line will be built on viaducts and 10 bridges, crossing roads, creeks and the Bruce Highway.
The project team will also install groundwater monitoring wells and conduct further environmental investigations to ensure the revised rail corridor minimises environmental impact and reduces track curves, allowing trains to travel faster for longer.
About 83 per cent, or 15.8km, of the track between Beerwah and Caloundra stations is designed to allow speeds of 140kmh or faster. This is expected to enable passengers to travel between the Sunshine Coast and Brisbane at least 46 minutes faster.
It was initially anticipated that the entire DSCR, a 37.8km route for high-speed trains, would be built from Beerwah to Maroochydore in time for the 2032 Olympics.
But the government recently announced it would only commit to building the 19km section from Beerwah to Caloundra by then, after a business case summary revealed the whole line would cost $12 billion and take many years to build.
The business case said it might be possible to build Stage 2, from Caloundra to Birtinya, by 2032 but it would not be possible to build the third and final stage to Maroochydore.
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The government will also soon start directly engaging with the construction industry on the tender process for DSCR.
Market sounding will ensure companies have the expertise, workforce capacity and readiness to deliver the massive, multibillion-dollar rail project.
The Department of Transport and Mains Roads has also launched an online portal for businesses to register for upcoming industry engagement sessions.
The sessions will provide companies the opportunity to learn more as the project progresses.
Contractors and suppliers who register will also get regular updates tailored to their industry.
The project is expected to support thousands of local jobs and create a pipeline of opportunities for the region.
Procurement will be guided by the Buy Queensland policy to help ensure local businesses benefit from the project.
The Queensland Government has committed $2.75 billion in funding to deliver Stage 1 of the project from Beerwah to Caloundra, subject to matched funding from the Federal Government.
The TMR industry engagement portal is separate to a formal expression of interest to undertake work on the project, which will be announced later.
Businesses can now access the online portal.
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Bart Mellish said the DSCR would be a “game changer”.
“It’s also a significant opportunity for Queensland businesses and local suppliers to contribute to this critical infrastructure project,” he said.
“The market sounding and industry engagement process will look at the capacity and capability of businesses to do the work required to bring the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line to life.
“This important step will tell us more about when shovels can get in the ground and when we could potentially see the first trains operating from Caloundra to Brisbane.
“We want to hear from Queensland businesses and work with them to seize the opportunity the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line represents for the future of transport in South-East Queensland.
“The feedback government receives from market sounding will drive TMR’s final procurement strategy and marks an exciting milestone for the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line.”
Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said the government wanted Queensland businesses to be “front and centre”.
“Delivery will take a workforce with expertise from across the construction industry from engineers to architects and manufacturers, builders and truckdrivers,” he said.
“The Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line will offer opportunities for students to complete local apprenticeships in the booming rail and construction industries, encouraging talent to grow and stay in South-East Queensland.
“Projects of this size and scale don’t come around every day.
“It is important that we maximise the opportunity that this project presents for the people of Queensland and deliver a secure pipeline of good jobs in one of Queensland’s fastest-growing regions.
“The Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line will support thousands of jobs during construction and ongoing operation and maintenance of the line after construction means secure jobs well into the future.”
DSCR facts
- Stage 1 of the planned 37.8km Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line will deliver 19km of rail between Beerwah and Caloundra, with possible delivery of Birtinya by 2032 pending procurement activities and advice from leading engineering and construction companies.
- The business case evaluated technical requirements for the full rail line including seven new stations (including a proposed future station at Beerwah East), 17km of structures, a 1.2km tunnel at Little Mountain and two new stabling facilities.
- The business case determined an optimal realignment of the corridor between Beerwah and Maroochydore, which enables rail speeds of up 160kmh. The new corridor will be protected in 2024.
- More than 80 per cent of community feedback, received during community consultation in 2023, was supportive of the DSCR project, helping inform the business case.
Source: Sunshine Coast News
