Sunshine Coast rail proposal heads onto short track

<p>The second phase of an investigation into an alternative rail corridor at southern Caloundra on the Sunshine Coast has begun.</p> <p>Queensland transport minister Paul Lucas said the draft results of the environmental impact study (EIS) would be presented to the community for feedback mid-year.</p> <p>&#8220This alternative rail corridor has clear advantages over the previous proposal and runs east of the Bruce Highway, north of Beerwah to Sugarbag Road in Caloundra,&#8221 he said.</p> <p>&#8220It’s a shorter route and initial studies suggest it would have less environmental impact.&#8221</p> <p>Mr Lucas said the alternative corridor had already passed a review of environmental factors study, with the steering committee recommending this as the preferred option for Queensland Transport.</p> <p>The proposal is part of the Caboolture-Maroochydore corridor study rail project &#8211 a proposed extension of the main north coast railway line at Beerwah to Caloundra by 2015 and Maroochydore by 2020.</p> <br />