Nambour rail fight on track, but wobbly

Federal and state MPs have pledged to keep full rail duplication to Nambour on the agenda as construction continues on the first stage of the Beerburrum to Nambour upgrade.

Nambour Chamber board member Jenny McKay asked Fairfax MP Ted O’Brien whether work on the line to Nambour would remain a priority as governments invested in The Wave coastal rail project.

“Rail continues to be one of the greatest advantages here,” Mr O’Brien told the Nambour Chamber of Commerce Coffee Catch-up on August 6. He said rail duplication to Beerwah was the immediate priority, but extending duplication north to Nambour should remain the long-term goal.

“We haven’t lost the fight for that,” he said.

Nicklin MP Marty Hunt said previous LNP commitments had not reached the budget after the party lost the 2017 and 2020 state elections and other priorities later emerged.

“I’m not giving up on the project,” he said. “It does need revisiting to look at the project again into the future.”

Despite its name, Beerwah to Nambour (B2N) Stage 1 construction centres on Beerburrum to Beerwah. Main works are due for completion in 2027, subject to conditions, with testing and operational readiness expected by early 2028.

A separate duplication study is considering long-term infrastructure between Beerwah and Nambour as well as services between Nambour and Gympie North.

Nicklin MP Marty Hunt say full rail duplication to Nambour must remain on the transport agenda.