Olympic bosses eye off fast rail
KEY Olympic Games bosses want the state and federal governments to reconsider fast-tracking a high-speed rail network between the Gold and Sunshine coasts.
Fast rail between Brisbane, the Sunshine Coast and Gold Coast was touted as a major project before southeast Queensland won the rights to the 2032 Games.
However, both Infrastructure Australia and state Transport Minister Mark Bailey poured cold water on it late last year.
Following a tour of Gold Coast and Brisbane Olympic venues this week, Kirsty Coventry, chairwoman of the 2032 co-ordination committee, said she favoured a fast-track being ready for the Games.
“It is part of the regional plan to connect the three for easy access and if it is done in time for the Games, that would be something for us. As we saw in Tokyo, the public transport was very good,” she said.
“Public transport is always a good thing for us.
“The roads are very good, the train is going to be incredible with huge capacity and there is always an influx of people and, especially postCovid, everyone would be very excited.”
Mr Bailey told the Bulletin in late 2021 there was virtually no chance high-speed rail would be built between Brisbane and the Gold Coast in time for the Games.
“In terms of ‘fast rail’ as people would think of it, that’s very unlikely,” he said.
“We’ll be getting faster railway services than right now but we won’t be getting bullet trains, that’s for sure.”
Fast rail has long been touted as a key solution to traffic congestion and moving people around southeast Queensland while taking pressure off the M1.
Council of Mayors South East Queensland studies found that by 2031, the combination of population and employment growth would significantly increase transport demand across the region and by 2041 all major road corridors would be over capacity.
International Olympic Committee (IOC) executive director Christophe Dubi said he was impressed by the “amazing” Gold Coast and Brisbane Games venues.
“I have been struck by the fantastic spirit. It is very special and your lifestyle is very special.
“The only thing we have too much of is time, because 10 years is a very long time to wait.”
The Premier took IOC officials on a tour of Gold Coast venues for the 2032 Games, including the site of the proposed Robina athletes village.
Area councillor Hermann Vorster this week called on Ms Palaszczuk to address necessary road upgrades.
The Premier said she would work to address “minor issues” and suggested the athletes village area next to Robina Town Centre would be named a Priority Development Area (PDA), similar to Southport and the former Commonwealth Games village at Parklands.
PDA status would allow development applications to be fast-tracked with less red tape.