LNP welcomes CoastConnect plans but questions the timing and the detail

While I welcome the release of plans for CoastConnect, a government project aimed at improving travel between Caloundra and Maroochydore, Sunshine Coast residents are desperate for better public transport systems now, not in eight years time.

The plan advises that staged construction is scheduled to take place between 2014 and 2020, subject to State government funding, but there are no cost estimates for different stages of the project and only sketchy route plans with vague timelines which hasn't provided residents with any certainty about the impact the project will have on their homes and businesses. 

Bus priority measures on Sunshine Coast intersections would significantly improve local traffic flow and building them won’t bust the government’s budget.

The latest release of the Department of Transport and Main Roads' Concept Design and Impact Management  Plan for the bus priority transport corridor has done little to allay the concerns of some businesses and property owners waiting to hear whether their properties will be impacted.

Residents may be further confused by the fact that the Brisbane Road to Walan Street section of the route is now being handled completely by Council, as these are Council roads.  I am concerned that several land owners in this area may have received letters from the Department of Transport and Main Roads advising that the State has no proposed land requirements, which is very misleading as Council may still require part of some properties for road widening, bus lanes and bus stops.

Although plans for the future widening of Brisbane Road was originally handled completely by Council, this became a joint planning exercise when CoastConnect, which is a State project, commenced and the State became involved in direct consultations over a number of affected properties.  However, the State now appears to have stepped back from this process along this section of Council road, leaving Council to pick up on the consultation with affected landowners and tenants.

It is unacceptable that this process has been handled in such a way to cause added hardship and confusion to property owners.

I've asked the Transport Minister to listen to the feedback received from so-called ‘community consultations’ and to address this issue now so that affected businesses are not left in limbo and congestion is lessened now.