Sunshine Coast residents are being asked to provide input into four of the biggest transport projects the region has seen in years.
From next week 130,000 homes on the coast will receive a kit outlining the projects and how they can submit feedback as part of the community consultation.
The State Government will use the feedback in its planning for the Beerwah to Maroochydore heavy rail line, the Mooloolah River interchange, Kawana motorway and the mass transit corridor or Sunshine Coast public transport project which could be light rail, buses or trams.
The projects are currently in the planning stage and Transport and Main Roads Minister, Mark Bailey, says it makes sense to bundle them together for community consultation.
Mr Bailey said the projects will all be built before the 2032 Olympics as they are much needed in one of the fastest growing regions in the state.
He said they are required now to alleviate congestion and get Sunshine Coast locals home sooner.
The Minister is confident he will be able to secure a workforce for the four projects despite other large construction jobs underway or planned.
They include Brisbane’s Cross River Rail and the $14 billion pumped hydro project at Borumba Dam near Imbil.
The Sunshine Coast Mayor says the four projects are vital for the region’s economy.
“We are a burgeoning community, a burgeoning economic force and to be able to move people around is critically important, otherwise if we end up in gridlock the cost of that to our economy will be significant,” Councillor Mark Jamieson said.
“It’s great to see the State Government funding the next stage of consultation with our communities so that people can have a say on these four really crucial aspects of public transport and the future mobility of our Sunshine Coast region,” he said.
“We look forward to the detail coming back from our community as they carefully consider the options, both road and rail, but all with a focus of moving people around the Sunshine Coast more readily now and into the future,” Cr Jamieson said.
Consultation runs from next week until August 20.
