Will Nambour be shunted again?

by Jeffrey Addison,
Sunshine Coast Commuter Advocate

The announcement was: “The general objective is that we would have fast rail up to Nambour in five years and to Maroochydore in ten years.”

So said Ted O’Brien, Federal MP for Fairfax, on 18 January 2018 at Nambour rail station. Granted, it wasn’t a promise. But it was an ambitious plan that set expectations high.

A business case was to be prepared by a consortium comprising Stockland, KPMG, Urbis and SMEC.

The North Coast Connect Consortium was one of three proponents to win a share of $20 million in federal funding for a business case. Winners were announced in March 2018.

The Consortium was hamstrung by a limited budget from the outset. 

The Queensland Government made no monetary contribution towards the business case, but offered an ‘in-kind’ contribution (of reports and information) that they valued at $5 million.

The business case was completed in December 2019, submitted to the new National Faster Rail Agency (NFRA) and handed to the State Government in February 2020. It was submitted to Infrastructure Australia in August 2020.

The North Coast Connect Consortium was originally tasked to investigate options for upgrades along the existing rail corridor from Brisbane to Nambour and a spur line from Beerwah to Maroochydore. The objective: a 45 minute trip to Brisbane.

What is of concern is that the National Faster Rail Agency website now shows that route options have changed to what was announced at Nambour on that sunny January morning. It says “The detailed business case investigated options for a spur line from Beerwah to Maroochydore, upgrades along the existing corridor from Brisbane to Beerwah (not Nambour) and a range of faster rail speeds.”

When did that criteria change, why did it change, and why weren’t we told?

Beerwah to Nambour residents (with a single track rail line) deserve to know why their fast rail has been derailed.

If not fast rail, at least ensure they get duplicated tracks for their tortuous, congested, freight-shared corridor.

The NCCC could not confirm if Nambour fast rail was in the mix.

Ted O’Brien MP said that he understood that it had been presented with options to Nambour.

Why does the National Faster Rail Agency website state otherwise?

I ask the National Faster Rail Agency to release the business case in the interests of transparency, once Infrastructure Australia has released their report on it.

A consortium with members interested in a fast rail line to their Caloundra invested developments will never be amenable to it reaching Nambour first. Perhaps the plan was flawed from the start.

I am not against a fast rail service to Maroochydore. If the Federal and/or State Governments want to fund it and the advantaged proponents make significant contributions towards it, then please do so.

Passenger rail services are heavily subsidised by the state government (and so they should, we pay taxes).

For every $1 a commuter pays, it costs the state $3. I have always campaigned for Nambour rail duplication due to the freight benefits which are economic and positive. Improved passenger services are collateral advantage.

Nambour doesn’t deserve more hardship – headed its way on a single track.

Jeffery Addison at Nambour station… “Nambour doesn’t deserve more hardship - headed its way on a single track”