In the absence of nothing else to squawk about, the Labor State Government continues to rehash old infrastructure announcements to galvanise its image after years of neglecting the Sunshine Coast.
With the long-awaited North Coast Rail duplication project finally beginning to take shape, it is hardly a cause for Labor to celebrate given their track record on the project and its astonishing delays.
Over four years ago, the previous Coalition Federal Government provided $390 million to fund 50% of the $780 million duplication of the North Coast Line from Beerburrum to Nambour. That’s 50% of a project which is 100% the responsibility of the State Government.
Instead of getting on-board, the Labor State Government argued for many months about the State and Federal contributions to the Beerburrum to Nambour rail duplication. Rather than stumping up with its 50% share, Labor chose to drastically shrink the scope of the project, to a stretch from Beerburrum to Beerwah, coughing up just 30% of the project cost.
As rail advocate Jeff Addison points out in a Sunshine Coast News article on 6 July 2022, the reduced project scope means that the project fails to reach our busiest stations in Landsborough and Nambour, robbing thousands of residents of the chance to opt in to travelling by rail. It also makes the unreasonable delay in delivering the project all the more farcical.
Federal Member for Fisher, Andrew Wallace MP, said that the Labor State Government’s continual failure to invest in and deliver rail infrastructure for the Sunshine Coast reflects how little the Palasczcuk Government and local Labor State Members care about the region.
“Has the Member for Caloundra spoken out for the people of Landsborough to return to the original project scope? No. Has the Member for Nicklin stood up for the people of Nambour, who have been crying out for this duplication for years? No. Their silence on rail infrastructure is deafening. The people of Caloundra and Nicklin deserve State Members who will speak up for their communities, beyond party politics,” he said.
“After Labor’s debacle with the Youth jail in Caloundra, both Labor Members need to understand that they should be the voices for their constituents in George Street, not George Street’s voices on the Sunshine Coast.”
“Instead of leadership, we are constantly spammed by rehashed announcements from a tired State Government. It’s just another example of Labor’s blatant disregard for the people and the needs of the Sunshine Coast,” he added.
Mr Wallace also decried the Member for Nicklin’s reference to a Beerwah to Maroochydore rail study – a project which isn’t even in his electorate – as a vain attempt to distract Sunshine Coast residents from the fact that the Labor State Government have not committed to the project, despite $1.6 billion of Federal Government funding in the Federal Budget, and the support of the State LNP.
“Over three months ago we secured $1.6 billion to deliver Sunshine Coast Rail from the Coalition Federal Government. Despite the support of the State LNP and somewhat tacit support from Federal Labor, we still have no commitment from the State Labor Government.” Mr Wallace said.
“Just like their budget of smoke and mirrors, it’s all spin and no substance with this Labor State Government’s infrastructure agenda. As we say in the building industry, we need ‘less chat chat and more tap tap’ from Labor. With the window between now and the 2032 Games quickly diminishing, it’s time to put politics aside and get these projects funded and delivered in full.”
Concerned residents can make their voice heard by signing Mr Wallace’s petition for heavy passenger rail from Beerwah to Maroochydore by visiting www.sunshinecoastrail.com.au.
