Lahnee Thomas Sunshine Coast Daily 25th August 2011
THE wheels are in motion for the Sunshine Coast to get a $2 billion light rail system within 16 years.
Sunshine Coast councillors yesterday approved the formation of a Sunshine Coast Light Rail Taskforce to develop the infrastructure project's plans.
Councillors and business and community members will make up the taskforce.
Landscape Architect James Birrell, of Conlon Birrell Landscape Achitects, presented their proposal at a Sippy Downs and District Residents Association meeting last week.
Feedback provided the basis for discussion at a council meeting yesterday.
Integrated Transport Systems portfolio holder Councillor Vivien Griffin moved for a taskforce to be created and community consultation to begin.
Cr Griffin said light rail was the preferred option for a public transport solution on the Sunshine Coast.
Fellow councillors strongly agreed.
“This proposed light rail system will be a city building project and will be transformational for the Sunshine Coast,” Cr Griffin said.
Sunshine Coast Council will base the project on a Gold Coast model, which will become operational in 2014.
“At a recent meeting and workshop with representatives from the Gold Coast Council it was inspiring to see a vision in action,” Cr Griffin said.
“They just said ‘we are going to do this' and did it.
“Their project is set to cost $950 million, of which their council will contribute $120 million, with the rest of the funds coming from state and federal government.
“They saw this as a major economic development project for the Gold Coast.”
Mr Birrell and his father Jim Birrell – a former Maroochy councillor, town planner and architect – have been planning the light rail system for more than six years.
They released their vision publicly two weeks ago.
Councillor Chris Thompson said the project would be a great investment for the Coast.
“The best time to implement this type of public transport infrastructure is when we don't have the large population such as the Gold Coast has,” CrThompson said.
“This infrastructure will be in place when the population does increase over time,” he said.
Over the next 10 years, major commercial and residential developments will start between Caloundra and Maroochydore with an estimated population growth of 8000 for Maroochydore, 50,000 for Caloundra South, 4500 for Sippy Downs, 17,000 for Palmview and 2500 for Kawana.
Mayor Bob Abbot said it would be a region-changing project.
“Timing is everything, and now is the right time and with a combined effort from the council, community and businesses, we can achieve this goal,” Cr Abbot said.
“It is a fabulous opportunity for the Coast.”
Cr Griffin said she would spend the remainder of her term as a councillor gathering support for the proposed project.
“I will build a coalition of support and I don't think it will be a difficult task,” she said.
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