The South-East Queensland Transport Association (SEQTA) welcomes yesterday’s announcement that milestone contracts have been awarded for Stage 1 of The Wave rail project between Beerwah and Caloundra.
The awarding of contracts marks a major step towards a long overdue rail-link from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane City.
The South-East Queensland Transport Association recognises this as a significant investment in one of Queensland’s fastest-growing regions, where existing transport infrastructure is under increasing pressure from population growth and rising commuter demand. The area has for too long been neglected and disconnected from Brisbane City.
According to the Queensland Government, Stage 1 will deliver 19 kilometres of new dual track rail along with new stations at Aura (Bells Creek) and Caloundra, with a major upgrade to the already existing Beerwah station. These additions represent a meaningful improvement in access to reliable public transport for communities along the corridor.
With that in mind, SEQTA maintains that careful reassessment of The Wave Stage 3 (Metro) is needed to ensure planning remains aligned with genuine demand, cost effectiveness, and long-term network priorities. Whilst Brisbane Metro was a major success, it looks unlikely that replacing a railway with it on the Sunshine Coast will prove beneficial long-term.
Quotes Attributable to Imogen Buckley, Lead Founder @ SEQTA:
The Wave represents a generational improvement for the Sunshine Coast, but we must not lose sight of the bigger picture. South-East Queensland needs coordinated, long-term investment to ensure the entire region benefits from truly generational transport improvements.
As we plan for the future, it is critical that heavy rail remains central to long-term transport planning, particularly for corridors connecting the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane.
