NEXT STEP FOR BEERBURRUM TO NAMBOUR RAIL UPGRADE

The Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade (B2N) is moving ahead with the next package of works ready to go.

A John Holland Queensland and Seymour Whyte Joint Venture (JHSWJV), with SMEC Australia and WSP Australia as Joint Venture designers, will undertake enabling works and finalise the design for the rail upgrade.

The preconstruction and design agreement (P&DA) will see the package of works kick off, clearing the way for construction to begin in 2024.

Entering into a P&DA will enable the B2N project to get a head start on rail approvals and investigate options for staging the works to strike the right balance between construction efficiency and service disruption.

With pressures on the supply of commodities such as steel and concrete used in track construction and rail structures, completing the detailed design is an important step before commencing the major works. This will provide additional confidence around the construction costs and reduce risks in delivery.

Construction is expected to be completed by 2027, weather and construction conditions permitting. The delivery timescale has been revised to allow for the complexity of design, construction and commissioning processes in the rail environment.

Stage 1 main works will duplicate the rail line between Beerburrum and Beerwah, build three new road-over-rail bridges, remove level crossings and expand the park 'n' ride facility at Beerburrum.

Early works on B2N Stage 1 are well-advanced, with new park 'n' ride facilities at Landsborough and Nambour set to open in mid-2023. The realignment of a one-kilometre section of Steve Irwin Way south of Glass House Mountains to make way for the new rail line is also expected to be completed in mid-2023.

The Nambour park 'n' ride expansion will provide 50 additional parking spaces on the eastern side of Nambour station, at the corner of Mill Street and Civic Way.

The Landsborough park 'n' ride expansion will provide an additional 300 parking spaces on the eastern side of the station, removing the need for people to cross the level crossing to park. Buses to the coast will also use the new facility.

The Australian and Queensland governments have jointly committed $550.8 million towards Stage 1 of the B2N project, with the Australian Government committing $390 million and the Queensland Government committing $160.8 million.

The B2N project will increase rail capacity, improve reliability, and reduce travel times for passenger and freight services in the growing Sunshine Coast region.

The B2N upgrade investment is estimated to support an average of 333 direct jobs over the life of the Stage 1 project.

For up-to-date information on the project, visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au and search ‘Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade'.

Quotes attributable to Queensland Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey:

“The Beerburrum to Nambour project will massively increase capacity on the rail network between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

“This upgrade is a vital infrastructure project for the Sunshine Coast and forms part of the Palaszczuk Government’s plan to deliver more than $3 billion worth of transport and road upgrades across the region over the next four years.”

Quotes attributable to Member for Nicklin Rob Skelton:

“With a growing population in the region, this key piece of infrastructure will help alleviate pressure on the Bruce Highway.

"With early works due for completion mid-year, the appointment of a contractor for pre-construction and design means the upgrade will be shovel-ready by 2024.

“Consultation can now also ramp up with the local community as the design becomes more detailed.”