Olympic Rail Upgrades to Turbocharge Sunshine Coast Property

A new wave of infrastructure announcements is set to reshape the Sunshine Coast ahead of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, starting with a new public transport solution for the southern growth corridor.

This week, the Queensland Government confirmed a revised approach to the much-anticipated Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line. While the original plan promised heavy rail all the way to Maroochydore, the updated strategy includes a new dual-track rail line from Beerwah to Birtinya alongside a fast, frequent metro-style bus service dubbed The Wave, which will link Birtinya to Maroochydore and the Sunshine Coast Airport.

It’s a practical solution designed to get Olympic visitors and locals moving efficiently across the region, and it’s great news for property investors already eyeing the southside suburbs.

Beerwah, Aura and Birtinya in the Spotlight

The inclusion of Beerwah and Aura in Stage 1 of the rail rollout cements their place as key future lifestyle and investment hubs. These stations will offer faster access to jobs, beaches, education and entertainment, cutting commute times and boosting local amenity.

Birtinya, already home to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and a growing health precinct, will become a major interchange, positioning it as the central point for Olympic transport and long-term economic growth.

This shift in infrastructure planning reflects both the challenge of delivering heavy rail across a growing region and the opportunity to embrace innovative, flexible transit options ahead of the 2032 Games..

What It Means for Property

For property owners and investors in these key nodes, the upgrades are expected to deliver immediate and long-term value. Improved transport links increase livability and reduce congestion – factors that traditionally translate to stronger capital growth and rising rental demand.

Aura, already one of Australia’s largest master-planned communities, will become even more attractive to families, professionals, and tenants alike. And Beerwah, often seen as a sleepy hinterland town, is now firmly on the map for those looking to combine affordability with future-focused infrastructure.

More Than Just Trains

The rail announcements form part of a broader $7.1 billion infrastructure investment revealed by the Queensland Government, covering venue upgrades, housing, roads and transport for the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.

Crucially, this announcement builds on existing and budgeted projects already underway, firmly securing the Sunshine Coast’s place as the highest infrastructure investment per capita of Australia’s 20 largest cities. When you combine that with one of the country’s most extreme housing undersupplies and serious planning impediments to new stock, it adds even more fuel to a market already experiencing rising demand, increasing purchasing capacity, and a chronic lack of available homes. It’s the perfect mix for continued upward pressure on prices and long-term growth.

A Timely Move for Astute Investors

With strong population growth, low vacancy rates, and limited new supply in key corridors, the Sunshine Coast remains a prime prospect for residential investment.

The recent infrastructure announcements offer further validation of long-term predictions outlined in the 2024 Sunshine Coast Property Market Update, reinforcing that the right kind of property in the right areas, backed by transport and amenity remains one of the smartest investments for the decade ahead – talk to our team today to get your property strategy cemented to benefit from the growth that’s to come.

Psst… if you liked our 2024 SCPMU, and more importantly our decade of accurate property predictions, then get excited about our 2025 edition that’s in the works now. More data, more insights, more predictions to act upon!