“I welcome news the Federal Government will commit $1.44 billion to the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line, but the State Government needs to commit their funding to a destination in Maroochydore with a deadline to build.
“The State Government needs to stop dragging the chain and get on board.
“There’s been more business cases done on rail to Maroochydore than the Gabba knockdown and upgrade.
“Maroochydore CBD is the city centre for the Sunshine Coast and is at the nexus of the public transport system and services. Rail to Maroochydore is important not only for the Olympics, but to get people off the roads and to their jobs and services.
“My infrastructure survey has seen in under 48 hours 91% of the community respondents confirm that they believe this State Labor Government has forgotten the Sunshine Coast; 80% confirm Rail to Maroochydore is very important for the Sunshine Coast; and that 94% are concerned by the infrastructure cuts.
“How did the State Labor Government allow this to happen? They are meant to be governing for Queenslanders.
“The State Labor Government failed Queenslanders again as this funding never should have had to be rescued – it never should have been off the table, construction should already be underway.
“Now the State Government needs to stop dragging the chain and confirm not just that they will be going ahead with building the rail to Maroochydore, but confirm the funding they are committing – it’s time for action from this lazy State Labor Government.”
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