Nambour leaders are throwing their weight behind a push for long-awaited full duplication of the rail line between Brisbane and Nambour.

Member for Fairfax Ted O’Brien described the current service as “woeful” and called for unity from all levels of government. Current plans are to duplicate just north of Beerwah Station, which would mean a negligible reduction in the current two-hour Nambour to Brisbane journey.

Mr O’Brien said the Federal Government had contributed $390 million for upgrades between Beerburrum and Nambour.

“Sometimes you need teamwork to get stuff done,” Mr O’Brien said. “I believe it’s teamwork that we need again, to redesign stage two. Instead of the current plan, which is to upgrade stations and look at passing loops, north of Landsborough.  I believe what we need now is full duplication of the rail line all the way through to Nambour, ideally designed in a way that will accommodate the possibility of faster rail when the time comes.

“We need all three tiers of government, federal, state, and local, and we need the business sector and the community at large working together.”

Mr O’Brien said he’d held promising early discussions with Labor’s Member for Nicklin Robert Skelton.

Mr Skelton said he would always work collaboratively on projects which benefited the people of his electorate, but said his immediate focus was to get Stage One of the project delivered.

“We’ve waited long enough for (Stage One, Beerburrum to Beerwah duplication) and I want to see that happen as soon as possible,” he said.

“I’d always welcome the Federal Government stumping up the cash for a second stage 80/20 like it has done for projects in other states.

“Ideally that would mean rail duplication to Nambour, but it would have to take into account Palmwoods’ heritage values, and include comprehensive community consultation.”

Div 10 Cr David Law said he was very pleased all levels of Government appeared to be working together to achieve full duplication. “I have lived in Nambour for more than 20 years now and this duplication has been a promise the whole time,” he said. “It is very disappointing that Nambour seems to be overlooked once again in the current stage. So I will work alongside State and Federal MPs to get Nambour back on the map as the very important destination that our town is.

“We are all here to achieve the very best outcomes for the residents of Nambour and politics must not get in the way of progress for the town.”

Nambour Chamber of Commerce President Mark Bray said it was obvious the rail needed to be fully duplicated to Nambour. “There is a large growth in population occurring on the western side of the Bruce Highway, particularly in and around Nambour and the Hinterland,” he said. “With Nambour’s central location and its history as a main railhead in the region, it makes complete sense to urgently provide the full duplication (not just passing loops) along the Beerburrum to Nambour line. The current residents of Nambour, Palmwoods, Woombye and the Hinterland, and the many new residents that are coming to those areas need a high quality rail service to Brisbane.”

Sunshine Coast Commuter Advocate Jeffrey Addison was delighted at the prospect of  a bi-partisan approach to meeting the region’s crucial transport needs.

“It’s a fantastic move,” he said. “It’s wonderful to see politics put aside for the good of the populace.

“I think it shows a special maturity by Rob Skelton and Ted O’Brien, who are willing to talk and work together - and for that I’m grateful. This project has been marred by the politics for over ten years. If we can get proper rail duplication happening from Beerwah to Nambour, that would be a decade’s long dream come true.”

Background:

The 39km section between Beerburrum and Nambour is currently a single track with trains using passing loops at stations to pass each other. This limits the number of train services making it increasingly difficult to meet peak demand and to accommodate freight services.

Current plans are to duplicate 14km of track between Beerburrum and Beerwah. Mr O’Brien is pushing for full duplication of the Beerburrum to Nambour line. Currently only part of that distance, between Beerburrum and Landsborough stations, is being  duplicated.