By Sonia Isaacs
MEMBER for Caloundra, Kendall Morton, says she is backing the delivery of the Beerwah to Caloundra rail line despite funding concerns.
The Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line to Maroochydore was thrown into doubt earlier this month when it was revealed Infrastructure Australia had removed the project from its priority list.
Ms Morton said despite this the LNP remained committed to the fully funded $5.5bn Stage 1 to Caloundra.
“We know the community is frustrated due to the lack of investment for the last 30 years,” Ms Morton said.
“The LNP Government remains committed to mass transit for the Sunshine Coast Region including stage 1 Beerwah to Caloundra line.”
“My key priority has always been, and will always be, transport infrastructure for the Caloundra electorate.”
Ms Morton said she supported significant investment in infrastructure for the region, which she said had been neglected.
“We have tasked the Games Independent Infrastructure Coordinating Authority (GIICA) to ensure that we deliver generational infrastructure in time for the 2023 games,” the Caloundra MP said.
“This includes transparency and proper consultation regarding costs and time frames for future stages of the DSCRL to ensure the best possible outcomes … are achieved.”
Ms Morton’s comments come as former MP Jason Hunt said he believed the entire project remained at risk because of political dithering.
Deputy Premier, Jarrod Bleijie, recently walked back on an election promise to build the rail line to Maroochydore by 2032, citing costings and its removal from IA’s priority list.
Writing in You Said It (p17) this week, Mr Hunt, who lost to Ms Morton at the October 2024 election, said while he believed that fears of a cost blowout were yet to materialise, the project could still be shelved. “(Last week) the Department of Transport and Main Roads Director-General Sally Stannard confirmed there was already geotechnical work happening on site to deliver this rail line to Caloundra by 2032,” he wrote.
“She also confirmed the expected costs to build the rail line had not increased.”
“But regardless … the whole thing is at risk. And it is at risk because of (the LNP) over-promising and under-delivering.”
He added that the line was also not on IA’s priority list when $2.5bn in federal funding was secured in May 2024.
