A budget blowout has cast uncertainty over another key transport project on the Sunshine Coast.
It was initially expected to cost $550.8 million to deliver the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade (Stage 1) from Beerburrum to Beerwah, but it now has a revised price tag of $1.0042 billion and no guarantee of full funding.
Work has already started on the project, including the realignment of Steve Irwin Way, the opening of new train station car parks and construction of a bus interchange.
The new costings also cast further doubt on the proposed Stage 2 to Nambour.
It comes after costs estimates soared for other transport projects in the region, including the $12 billion Direct Rail Sunshine Coast and the essentially abandoned $750 million Mooloolah River Interchange Upgrade.
A Transport and Main Roads spokesperson said the B2N Rail Upgrade would be of great benefit.
“Once complete, it will increase capacity, improve reliability, and reduce travel times for passengers and freight in the growing Sunshine Coast region,” they said.
“Works are progressing well on Stage 1, with preconstruction and design works currently underway for the main construction works.
“These (main) works will include duplication of the North Coast Line between Beerburrum and Beerwah, address level crossings on the alignment, expand the park ‘n’ ride facility in Beerburrum and undertake associated road works.
“In preparation for the main works, early works were completed with the opening of new park ‘n’ ride facilities at Landsborough and Nambour (300 car parks at Landsborough and 50 car parks at Nambour) and a new bus interchange at Landsborough station in August.
“A section of Steve Irwin Way has also been realigned near Glass House Mountains to make way for the duplicated rail line.”
The spokesperson said detailed design for Stage 1 (an estimated 13km stretch) was expected to be completed this year, with main construction works to follow, but added that costs had blown out and the government would consider its next steps.
“The Australian and Queensland governments have committed $550.8 million towards the B2N Stage 1,” they said. “A revised project cost of $1004.2 million ($1.0042 billion) is subject to further consideration.”
The spokesperson revealed why it had become much more expensive and said further studies could provide more clarity on its future.
“With the significant labour and material cost escalations since the business case was complete and funding committed, completing detailed design will provide more certainty on expected costs,” they said.
Do you have an opinion to share? Submit a Letter to the Editor at Sunshine Coast News via news@sunshinecoastnews.com.au. You must include your name and suburb.
The spokesperson said Stage 2 of the B2N (an estimated 37km stretch from Beerwah to Nambour) was being looked at.
“Future stages of B2N will be investigated as part of the $6.25 million duplication study, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments,” they said.
“This study will assess options to improve operations, efficiency, accessibility to rail services, and meet future freight needs, including refining the scope for future stages of the B2N project beyond the scope of Stage 1.
“The study is proposed to be undertaken in parallel with delivery of the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line to ensure that network wide operations and demand profiles in the Sunshine Coast region are being considered in a staged and logical way.”
Rail Back on Track spokesperson Jeff Addison lamented the lack of progress on the line and said it should be duplicated all the way to Nambour, as soon as possible.
“It needs to happen now,” he said.
“(It needs to happen) for the economically advantageous freight benefits.
“Improvements to passenger rail services are a nice collateral advantage.
“The rail is restricted by short passing loops along its predominant single track that restricts the length of freight trains from Brisbane up to north Queensland.
“We can only run 650m long trains.
“The state government has known about this critical freight bottleneck for decades but … the only action is yet another study which will likely never be actioned, if past performance is any guide.”
