By Kirra Livingstone
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson says he hopes a recent visit by the Brisbane 2032 Olympics board will help fast-track funding for the Beerwah to Maroochydore heavy rail line.
Speaking last week at the first Olympics board meeting to be held on the Sunshine Coast, political leaders were quizzed on the importance of the rail line in the context of the 2032 Games.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said time was of the essence.
“I think what’s important is having the Brisbane 2032 board here to see the challenges that exist and what that might look like with 200,000 more people on the Sunshine Coast,” he said.
Mr Jamieson said while the next federal budget, on October 25, “may shed some light” on the Labor Government’s commitment, “it may not and we may have to wait until the budget of May next year”.
“Based on the technology available, for (the line) to be in situ in 2032 they need to get underway in the next five years.” State Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk skirted around the issue, saying the government was investing in schools in the area as well as a $47 billion state wide infrastructure plan. “We’re investing in new schools,” she said.
“We are looking at all of that and how it all fits in with the venues here for the Olympics and Paralympics.
“Everyone who is living here on the Sunshine Coast is under no illusion of our commitment to infrastructure with all those works going up and down the length and breadth of the Bruce Highway.”
