The Queensland government is assuring residents the Sunshine Coast Rail network will be operational in time for the Olympics in Brisbane in 2032.
Tomorrow’s federal budget will include a long-awaited investment of $1.15 billion into the direct rail, which will bring the Commonwealth’s contribution for the project to $2.75 billion.
The Commonwealth contribution will match state funding, which will lock in the required $5.5 billion for stage one.
Premier Steven Miles described the project as a “game changer” for the region.
“It is well-planned, fully costed and we can now get underway and start building it, it is a region-changing project,” Miles said.
The first stage will see a 19-kilometre track between Beerwah and Caloundra, which is expected to cut travel time from the city to the coast by 45 mins.
The line is planned to eventually extend further north to Birtinya and Maryoochydore, but no timeline has been set for later stages.
“This project has been on the drawing board for so many years, to suggest now that it should stop halfway and turn the Caloundra region into a carpark is just wrong,” Opposition Leader David Crisafulli said.
The government has promised the Caloundra line will be up and running in time for the Olympics.
Work is expected to begin on stage one of the project in 2026.
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