Last week, the state government announced that it would be compiling a business case to develop an expanded and improved southern rail network.
That includes more tracks between Kuraby and Beenleigh.
This project is a huge deal. It will cost state and federal taxpayers billions of dollars.
There will be casualties. Some people will lose their homes, which is often a sad consequence of progress.
It will however, re-shape the way our fast-growing suburbs engage with public transport, thereby easing traffic congestion and importantly restoring some confidence among commuters.
The government wants to double services from Beenleigh to the Gold Coast, it wants to speed up rail times, and it wants to put more frequent services in place to deal with a growing population.
None of this is possible without improved infrastructure.
Improved public transport changes the way we live as a community. Already, more people are working from home in virtual offices. Businesses are changing the way they operate to become more efficient.
This means people are working closer to home, travelling less, and looking at ways they can make their lives more convenient.
Public transport has been notoriously poor in the Logan region – rail in some suburbs non-existent, and frequency of services unreliable.
The business case that’s being prepared now by the government looks up to 20 years into the future. It is vital to our lifestyle.
It is perhaps one of the first signs that the government is keen to move fast in the lead-up to the 2032 Olympic Games.
Currently, Transport and Main Roads is asking for your view on the plans. There are interactive maps on their website which are helpful. Have a look, develop a view, and share it – this will impact all of us.
