Published Tuesday, 05 June, 2007 at 08:25 PM

Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Paul Lucas

BUDGET WIN FOR SUNSHINE COAST ROADS, PUBLIC TRANSPORT

A record transport allocation in today's 2007-08 State Budget injects millions of dollars into roads and public transport on the Sunshine Coast.

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said new and upgraded rail services and more than $130 million for Sunshine Motorway projects were a big win for transport in the region.

Mr Lucas said the Beattie Government was committed to delivering projects that made roads safer and helped meet the transport needs of a growing state.

A total of $133.7 million will be provided in 2007-08 to advance and complete construction of four projects on the Sunshine Motorway including:

  • four-lane construction from Sippy Downs to Kawana Way and a new interchange with local network connections at Dixon and Claymore roads to improve safe access to Sunshine Coast University and adjoining schools
  • four-lane construction from Maroochydore Road to Pacific Paradise including a second Maroochy River Bridge
  • construction of the Pacific Paradise interchange with connections to David Low Way
  • completion of the Maroochy Boulevard interchange project with connections to the new southern access into Maroochydore's CBD. (This project also has Maroochy Shire Council and private sector funding.)

"These works have a total estimated cost of $290 million and will transform the road infrastructure on this part of the Sunshine Coast, reducing congestion, improving access and aiding road safety," Mr Lucas said.

These Sunshine Motorway projects form a part of the new record five-year, $13.3 billion Roads Implementation Program (RIP). The RIP includes roads funding allocations totalling $715 million for projects programmed over the next five years across the Caloundra, Maroochy and Noosa region.

Other Sunshine Coast funding includes:

  • $36.3 million to complete work on the $75 million first stage of the new Caloundra-Mooloolaba arterial road
  • $29 million to continue four-lane upgrading of the two-lane section of Caloundra Road between the Bruce Highway and Little Mountain. The $80 million project includes new access to Caloundra racecourse and a connection to the new Caloundra-Mooloolaba Road
  • $25 million to continue work on a new, $90 million four-lane deviation on Maroochydore Road, running east from the Bruce Highway to Pike Street, Kunda Park, to replace a rough, flood- prone two-lane road.
  • part of $104.6 million for new Citytrains to provide more services between the Gold Coast, Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast
  • $15 million for planning a major railway track upgrade between Beerburrum and Landsborough
  • $8.2 million to continue development of the bus and high occupancy vehicle priority measures on the Sunshine Coast
  • $1 million to continue planning the track upgrade between Landsborough and Nambour
  • $633,000 to continue development of the bus priority corridor from Caloundra to Maroochydore.

Even boaties gain, with $100,000 for preparation of a long term dredging strategy for the Mooloolaba Boat Harbour.

Media contact: Robert Hoge 3237 1942 or
Darren Roberts 3237 1947