In the midst of a housing crisis, the bid to deliver a major railway upgrade set to bulldoze 300 Logan homes has begun.
The Queensland government is in the final stages of choosing contactors to deliver the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail, which will double the number of tracks between Beenleigh and Kuraby.
The controversial project, which late last year blew out costings by more than 100 per cent, will be delivered in three packages: rail package, level crossing removal package; and Loganlea station relocation package.
Over the next six months, shortlisted contractors will put forward their proposals, including designs and costs, for the individual project packages.
Successful applicants will be announced later in the year, with construction expected to begin in 2025.
The project will see almost 20km of track doubled from two to four, five level-crossings removed, stations and park ‘n’ rides upgraded, new car parks installed, and stations relocated.
Initially, 300 properties were earmarked for resumption to make way for the upgrades.
As of Thursday last week, 135 properties had been bought by the state government – all through voluntary acquisition.
“Of the 135 properties acquired through voluntary purchase, 112 are residential,” a Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) spokesperson said.
“An additional 60 applications have been approved to progress through the purchase process – 40 of which are residential.
“While no properties have been formally resumed to date, TMR commenced the compulsory acquisition process in November 2023 following community feedback and the release of a refined reference design.
“This will be undertaken in a staged approach, due to the size of the project corridor.”
Development of the Faster Rail has been a bumpy ride so far, with major cost blowouts and design reworks haunting the project.
Originally set to cost $2.6 billion, with the federal and state governments each paying half, the estimated cost of the project has more than doubled to $5.75 billion.
A federal government evaluation reported while there was need for improved rail transport in the area, the Faster Rail promised little return on investment.
“Noting the cost of the project significantly exceeds the quantifiable benefits, it is possible that the scope is beyond what is required to address the service need,” the report said.
Last year the project fell under a federal audit of infrastructure spending nation-wide, which saw several major projects axed.
But the Faster Rail was not one; rather, the government increased its funding.
The project previously included plans to build an underground rail tunnel beneath Beenleigh Town Square, which recently underwent a $5 million council-led beautification project.
But these plans were abandoned after two years of advocacy from Logan City council and the local community.
Further backlash also saw the proposed new location of Beenleigh station changed to minimise impacts on local business.
