Making waves towards Sunshine Coast Transport vision
By Sonia Isaacs
A HIGH-level infrastructure round table hosted by Sunshine Coast Council on April 11 has been hailed as a key step in advancing the region’s major public transport project, ‘The Wave’, ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Convened by Mayor Rosanna Natoli and Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie, the forum brought together all levels of government to discuss delivery strategies and strengthen collaboration.
Attendees included Caloundra MP Kendall Morton, Glass House MP Andrew Powell and Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace.
“This round table was the first, and we’ve already committed to continue this process of working together and to having more round tables in the future,” Mayor Natoli said.
“All parties came to the table with a singular focus — ensuring our region is prepared for the opportunities ahead.”
The forum focused on sharing critical information, forging cooperative relationships and maximising the legacy potential of the 2032 Games.
It comes as ‘The Wave’—a proposed integrated transport network of rail and metro bus services—moves into its delivery phase.
Funding for Stage 1 of the project, spanning Beerwah to Caloundra is secured, however funding for the remaining stages — including rail extensions to Birtinya and a metro link to the Sunshine Coast Airport — is yet to be publicly confirmed.
Last month Queensland Transport Minister Brent Mickelberg suggested the state would be “open to working with the private sector”.
“We will consider any measure to deliver this in a fiscally responsible way that supports Sunshine Coast residents and the Games Plan,” he said.
A spokesperson for Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King confirmed $2.75 billion for Stage 1 of the rail and $3.5 billion for broader Games infrastructure.
“We will consider future transport priorities in line with the usual Budget processes.”
