10 minute read
RAIL UPGRADE TO START
WORKS will soon begin along Beerburrum Road that will result in the speed limit returning to 100km/hr later in the year.
Transport and Main Roads North Coast regional director Scott Whitaker said the works planned for early August would involve clearing trees and vegetation along a 2km section between Rose Creek to just north of Eaton Road.
“As well as removing potential hazards for vehicles that run off the road, the clearing will improve the visibility of signs and increase the fi re break within the corridor,” Mr Whitaker said.
“I want to assure the community we have thoroughly assessed the works against environmental and cultural heritage guidelines.
“Work crews will include a qualifi ed fauna spotter and catcher to proactively check the work zone for animals and wildlife. Any animals found will be safely relocated.”
Mr Whitaker said that following a speed limit review, the speed was lowered from 100km/h to 80km/h in late 2019 as an interim measure.
“This vegetation clearing is one of the safety improvements we are implementing to allow the 100km/h speed limit to return later this year,” he said.
Crews will work from 6am-5pm with a safety exclusion zone around equipment and workers.
Single-lane closures, traff ic controllers, reduced speed limits and signs will be in place during works to ensure roadworker and motorist safety.
“It is vital motorists observe all signs and directions from workers when approaching the roadworks and adapt their driving behaviour to the changed traff ic conditions,” Mr Whitaker said.
“Thank you to motorists and the local community in advance for their patience and cooperation during these essential works.”
The project is expected to be completed by mid-September, weather and site conditions permitting.
THE long awaited and much touted railway line upgrade project seems to have fi nally left the station.
Sunshine Coast company Hall Contracting has been awarded the early works construction contract for the $550.8 million Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade (B2N). Work is planned to start in early 2022, creating the fi rst of a total of 333 jobs for the overall project.
The upgrade is cooperatively funded, with the Australian Government providing $390 million and the Queensland Government providing $160.8 million.
With the project creating more than 300 jobs, state Member for Caloundra Jason Hunt said the early works contract was a coup for locals.
“More capacity and better rail takes extra cars and trucks off our road, and for the thousands of families that call this area home, that means a quicker, safer commute home,” Mr Hunt said.
“It also means more jobs and I’m proud to be part of a government that’s also delivering the new Bells Creek arterial road and the $662 million Bruce Highway upgrade from Steve Irwin Way to Caboolture.”
Stage one of B2N will realign a 1km section of Steve Irwin Way between Nursery Road and Moff att Road, allowing duplication of the rail line and smoothing the curves through this section.
The early works will pave the way for the major construction works to deliver rail duplication between Beerburrum and Beerwah, three new road-over-rail bridges and expansion of the park ‘n’ ride facility at Beerburrum.
At Landsborough, an additional park ‘n’ ride facility with about 300 parking spaces will be built on the eastern side of the station, removing the need for people to drive across the level crossing to park.
Landsborough Station will also benefi t from the construction of a new bus interchange.
Early works are expected to start in early 2022 and be completed by 2023, weather and construction conditions permitting. Stage one construction is expected to be completed by 2025.
For more information, visit www.tmr.qld.gov.au and search for Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade.
KOALAS and cars just don’t mix … and the numerous casualties dealt with by the Australia Zoo Wildlife Hospital will attest to the devastating, and oft en fatal, consequences.
With local koala populations at critically low levels, a $5 million state government investment in wildlife fencing along our main roads is a welcome announcement.
The funding will cover the Department of Transport and Main Road’s (TMR) North Coast region, which stretches from Strathpine in the south to Pomona in the north, and west to Fernvale, Esk and Toogoolawah and surrounding areas.
As koalas become scarcer, they need to move further during their breeding season, so having well maintained fencing is important to keep them off the roads and away from cars.
The funding will support more regular inspections and maintenance of existing koala exclusion fencing in TMR’s North Coast region, with crews now funded to create a clear zone along koala exclusion fences and repair any holes that koalas or other wildlife might get through.
Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey said that in some instances trees close to the fence may need to be removed to prevent koalas using them to climb over the fence and onto the road.
“To provide the clear zone, maintenance works will include clearing vegetation, trimming overhanging tree branches and spraying weeds growing on fences,” Mr Bailey said.
“TMR crews started removing vegetation encroaching on the koala exclusion fence on the Bruce Highway between Pine River and Caboolture back in May.
“This additional funding will allow them to inspect and repair fencing where needed across a wider area, with some sections requiring urgent attention already identifi ed.”
You may have noticed that wildlife fencing has been constructed along all new roadwork areas as part of the Caloundra Road to Sunshine Coast Motorway highway upgrade.
If a koala (or possum) becomes trapped on the highway side of the fence, TMR has also installed poles for them to climb up and over the fence to safety.
To prevent animals climbing from the safe side to the roadway, metal shields have been wrapped around the poles.
Environment Minister Meaghan Scanlon said trials of these koala shields along the M1 motorway between Brisbane and the Gold Coast had been very successful.
She said the shields prevented the claws of koalas and other nocturnal wildlife from holding onto the poles.
“This trial delivered very promising results. Not a single koala was able to climb past the shields and, in a bonus result, a possum also tried and was unsuccessful,” Ms Scanlon said.
“It adds to a number of environmental initiatives as part of our roads investment on the Sunshine Coast, like new fauna underpasses as part of the Bruce Highway upgrade between Caloundra Road and the Sunshine Motorway.
“This work, and the work going forward to get these shields operational, will help koalas in southeast Queensland.”
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A TOTAL of $5 million has been allocated by the federal government towards planning for improved road safety and reduced congestion at two hotspots on the Sunshine Coast.
Both projects have been identifi ed as a high priority for the region, with the business cases forming part of the Sunshine Coast Roads Improvement Study, which aims to develop both short-term and long-term solutions for congested roads.
Planning of the upgrades will also address the rapid urban growth in emerging communities south and west of Caloundra including Caloundra South (Aura) and Palmview (Harmony).
Federal Member for Fisher Andrew Wallace said these works were vital for the region.
“From this [funding] package, $2.6 million will deliver a critical business case into the Kawana Motorway (Mooloolah River Interchange to Kawana Way link road) project,” Mr Fisher said.
“A further $2 million will underpin a business case into the notorious Caloundra Road, Kawana Way link road and Bells Creek arterial road intersection.
“Both of these projects have been identifi ed as priorities for the region, having the potential to signifi cantly increase safety, reduce congestion and delays, reduce reliance on the Bruce Highway for local trips, bolster network resilience and improve active and public transport facilities.”
Mr Wallace said the project would also deliver a network assessment to identify future upgrade needs in the southern Sunshine Coast area.
“The Sunshine Coast population is widely spread, making our local road networks even more critical for communities to remain safely and eff iciently connected to job opportunities, to each other and to essential services such as health and education,” Mr Wallace said.
“By completing a broader road network assessment, we will be able to identify priority upgrade needs that aren’t already being addressed by the signifi cant Australian Government investment all over the Sunshine Coast.
“This includes upgrades to the Bruce Highway from Caloundra Road to the Sunshine Motorway, the Mooloolah River Interchange and the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail.”
Community feedback will be encouraged during the business case phase of planning, which is expected to be completed in 2023.
To read more about the projects, go to https://cutt.ly/tQO5h6f (Bells Creek arterial road) or https://cutt.ly/0QO5xZy (Kawana Motorway).
MEMBER for Longman Terry Young has thrown his support behind a Beerwah strawberry farmer who may be forced to leave Australia aft er his visa application was rejected.
Sangrae Kim, who lives in Morayfi eld and is known locally as Ray Kim, came to Australia in 2009 as a backpacker on a working holiday from South Korea.
In 2014 he accepted an off er to run his own strawberry farm, which trades as Oz Strawberry.
His farm in Beerwah employs 50-100 workers, depending on seasonal fl uctuations.
In 2017 Mr Kim applied to stay in Australia permanently under the Regional Sponsored Migration Scheme but his application has been rejected. He has since lodged an appeal through the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
Mr Young met with Mr Kim and the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Aff airs Alex Hawke to see if a solution could be found.
“Mr Kim has found a home here in Morayfi eld and is widely respected in the farming community,” Mr Young said.
“Good people like Mr Kim are an asset to our country and local community, employing locals and contributing to our economy.
“I am working with the department and the minister to ensure common sense prevails in this matter.”
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