Updated June 2nd 2023

Queensland Government Releases

"Southern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy"

After over a year of silence, the Queensland State Government this week released its "Southern Sunshine Coast Public Transport Strategy". This is based on the draft strategy that was put out for public consultation early in 2022.

So what does it really say? Have they listened? And is it really any different to what the Sunshine Coast Regional Council (SCRC) put out in their Options Analysis in 2021 which favoured light rail and high rise along our coastal corridor?  Have we advanced at all since 2021?

Our summation of the Strategy:

• Not a lot has changed.

• The bigger picture is the same as what was outlined in the SCRC Options Analysis in 2021.

• High rise development along the coastal corridor is still at the heart of the strategy document.

• Whilst light rail along the coastal corridor is not specifically mentioned, it is also not ruled out.

• Electric buses are specifically mentioned and identified for use on the "Key Connectors" (mostly East/West routes).

• Reference to "staging" the execution of the strategy is made but no indication of what this staging looks like is given.

• Heavy/passenger rail along the CAMCOS corridor is identified in the strategy but no commitment to delivering it is made. It also indicates it too would be delivered in stages.

• At the end of the day the report states it will come down to the findings of the two business cases currently underway to determine what does or does not go ahead.(($6million Sunshine Coast Direct Line Business Case (heavy/passenger rail) due for completion this year and the $15 million Sunshine Coast Public Transport Project Detailed Business Case (Coastal Corridor Maroochydore to Birtinya) not due for completion until 2025)).

• So whilst we now have a definite "strategy" provided by the Queensland Government, we still have no idea of the timing or commitment to delivering it nor what mode of transport we are likely to get along our coastal corridor.

Key Highlights of the Strategy:

• Looks out to 2041.

• Says it is a "package of public transport initiatives" that will be delivered in stages over time.

• Concentrates on 4 key areas:

• Western Corridor

• Centre Corridor (CAMCOS)

• Coastal Corridor (Maroochydore to Caloundra)

• Key Connectors 

• Says it does “not specify a preferred public transport mode (i.e. rail, bus or light rail) on corridors, nor does it plan specific services". 

The western corridor is an inter-regional freight and passenger line, connecting coastal Queensland between Brisbane and Cairns. Rail is identified as the mode of transport.

The centre corridor (previously called CAMCOS) is to enable medium and longer distance trips connecting the economic centres of the Sunshine Coast and delivers a fast, reliable and direct link to the western corridor at Beerwah. Passenger rail is identified as the mode of transport. Its implementation is to be "staged".

The coastal corridor will enable local, intra-regional travel with access to key coastal tourism, health and business precincts and to the centre corridor. No mode of transport is identified other than it is to be "Rapid Service High frequency with partially separated priority". Its implementation is to be "staged" commencing with improved public transport between Maroochydore and Birtinya.

The key connectors include trips to and between major centres and areas of strategic importance that are not directly connected by the western, centre or coastal corridors. The key mode of transport is identified as predominantly electric buses.

Other things of note:

• No strategy for the Northern sections of the Sunshine Coast is identified. TMR says the Southern Section was chosen because it is "home to the majority of the Coast's population and employment". 

• Light rails is not specifically identified as a solution for the Coastal Corridor but it is not ruled out either. 

• The report states that by 2041 almost all buses on the Sunshine Coast will be zero emissions. 

• The report specifically says that " more infill development will be inevitable and bring change" . It also says "infill development can be encouraged through the provision of high-quality public transport and enabled and managed by local planning controls". 

• High-rise along our beach corridor is still part of the plan

Click here to view the Strategy