Presentations and Papers
Maroochydore's (QLD) Major TOD - Aligning Rail and Road Town Centre Plans
Presenter: Mark Bachels
Two separate recent studies conducted by PB for Maroochy Shire Council (now Sunshine Coast Regional Council) and for Queensland Transport, in Maroochydore, Queensland have led to recommendations for major revitalising of the Principle Activity Centre on the Sunshine Coast with a key element an integrated rail connection. A CBD master planning study for the Maroochy Shire Council led to recommendations for realigning the proposed passenger rail into the town centre, increases in mixed use development and improved transport permeability. A follow-up rail re-alignment study for Queensland Transport confirmed that re-alignment of the rail corridor would improve public transport delivery, improve central city vitality, and generally meet overall objectives of the intention for the future major activity centre for future 450,000 people on the Sunshine Coast. There were significant design challenges encountered in aligning a 2 track heavy rail network into a future planned major city centre. Numerous detailed horizontal alignments were considered as well as elevated, at grade and underground vertical alignments for various locations. The two projects included extensive options development, integrated planning, workshops to meet competing stakeholders requirements, and detailed planning and engineering assessments to produce desirable and achievable results. Detailed Transit Oriented Development (TOD) planning, master planning and placemaking, rail and public transport planning, and rail engineering was required in a complex exercise aimed to revitalise this major centre in one of the fastest growing regions in Australia.
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