E-Petition: Rail upgrade from Beerburrum to Nambour - response

[ozbob]

Dear Mr Dow,

Re: Rail upgrade from Beerburrum to Nambour

The above E-Petition you signed on the Queensland Parliament web site on 21/11/2010
has been responded to. To view the Ministers response please click on the hyperlink below.

In accordance with the E-Petitions privacy statement your details have been removed from
the E-Petitions database.

Click here for Ministers Response

Yours faithfully,

Queensland Parliament

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_qld/Responses/1565-10.pdf

[ozbob]

 

[Fares_Fair]

Hello All,

Please refer to the link below for the Queensland State Government's response to the
Rail upgrade from Beerburrum to Nambour e-Petition no. 1565-10, lodged 16 February, 2011
by Andrew Powell MP, Member for Glass House.

http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_QLD/responses/1565-10.pdf


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[ozbob]

LOL  2031,  there will be no petrol left by then ...  what a mob of fools ...  we might have to form the Sustainable transport party and take over!

[Fares_Fair]

well done Bob, pipped me by a minute  ... lol

We have a long, long wait ahead of us.
The timing is simply appalling.
to Landsborough by somewhere between 2014-2020 !!
and Nambour by 2031 !!

Paul Lucas, August 14, 2006:
http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=47844
Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said today that plans had been approved for a new rail corridor between Beerburrum and Landsborough.
Mr Lucas said that commuters were now a step closer to a high speed rail service between Brisbane, Caloundra and Maroochydore.
"Construction of the $550 million rail corridor is expected to start in early 2009 and be completed by mid-2012," the Minister told State Parliament today.



The response states that "the project delivered additional Rail capacity on the North Coast line ..."
The revised Sunshine Coast timetable will show exactly what extra capacity it has or can deliver.

If our journeys are shorter than they are now, and more peak hour services are provided at useful arrival and departure times - then it could be seen to be a successful expenditure of $300m from Caboolture to Beerburrum.

In the meantime, can someone please tell the State Government what our rate of growth is on the Sunshine Coast, compare it to the south-west (Inala/Springfield) region and ask them what they are doing about it now - not in 20 years time ?

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Added Paul Lucas media statements from 2006. Judge for yourselves. and thanks to colinw.

[#Metro]

LOL  2031,  there will be no petrol left by then ...  what a mob of fools ...  we might have to form the Sustainable transport party and take over!

We might have to incorporate and become RAILBOT Transport Planning, Consultancy and Competent Policy Inc.

[ozbob]

The pressure on the NCL from freight and passengers will be increasing significantly. 

The NCL has strategic and significant economic importance, particularly as peak oil starts to bite.   I think a staged progressive upgrade starting tomorrow is the way to go.

[colinw]

Oh dear, this is just laughable, or at least it would be if it wasn't so darn serious. 

When this thread came up, it just so happened that I was reading the Salisbury to Beaudesert study documents while waiting for a lengthy system build to complete. Yet another study into something to be delivered by 2031 - 53km of new double track electric rail to be precise.

The thing is, if the Government can't even commit to upgrading the nationally important NCL within a sensible time frame, why should we believe they will ever proceed with kite-flying like trains to Flagstone & Beaudesert, or Ripley?

I'd suggest that the chance of this Government being around to ever implement any of their much promised and then delayed schemes is nil.

Maybe it is time to give some air time to the promises Paul Lucas made about proceeding with Beerburrum - Landsborough immediately.  Remember that it was supposed to be under construction by now, with completion to Landsborough by 2012.

Paul Lucas, April 21, 2006:
http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=45627

The SEQIP RAIL Alliance will deliver four major projects over the next six years including:

* Caboolture to Beerburrum Duplication ($240 million)
* Robina to Reedy Creek Extension ($75 million)
* Corinda to Darra Third Track ($110 million)
* Beerburrum to Landsborough Duplication ($240 million)

Paul Lucas, August 14, 2006:
http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=47844

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said today that plans had been approved for a new rail corridor between Beerburrum and Landsborough.

Mr Lucas said that commuters were now a step closer to a high speed rail service between Brisbane, Caloundra and Maroochydore.

"Construction of the $550 million rail corridor is expected to start in early 2009 and be completed by mid-2012," the Minister told State Parliament today.

Paul Lucas, August 29, 2006:
http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=42417

"Mr Lucas also released for public comment the government's preferred rail corridor - an upgrade of a further 17 kilometres from Beerburrum to Landsborough.

To deliver both these important projects, the Beattie Government has made a total commitment of $480 million.

"The upgrade of the entire section between Caboolture and Landsborough seals the Beattie Government's promise to build a $1 billion fast passenger rail service along the CAMCOS corridor," he said.

"We will establish the line from Beerwah to Caloundra by 2015, and up the coast to Maroochydore by 2020, bringing rail to the Sunshine Coast."

Paul Lucas, December 21, 2006:
http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=49759

""Currently, a single winding rail track runs between Caboolture and Beerburrum stations," Mr Lucas said.

"This upgrade of 13.7km of rail line between Caboolture and Beerburrum will service both passenger and freight customers.

"Work should be completed in 2009 and will include a second rail line, realignment of some local roads and an upgrade of Elimbah and Beerburrum stations."

"We're also planning to realign and duplicate the 17km of track between Beerburrum and Landsborough, which is expected to be completed by 2012."

[Stillwater]

In 2028-2029, I am going to start buying as many shares as I can afford in large construction companies.  They are going to be raking in the money in financial year 2030-2031 building all that transport infrastructure the government's been promising.   

[Jonno]

This is appalling and shows the State And Federal Governments have absolutely no idea about the real issues of traffic congestion, cost of road trauma and peak oil.  Transport problems? What transport problems? If you are that blind to the realities of transport planning then get out of politics all together as you have not right claiming you are representing the people!!

[Stillwater]

These letters are written to say nothing.  You can almost predict the outcome.

Dear Sir/Madam

Thank you for your letter to the Minister for Climate Change expressing your concerns about peak oil and the impact on the economy and on society of continued use of fossil fuels.  Your letter was never read by the Minister, but has been intercepted by myself, as political adviser, so when the media queries the Minister about the issue, he can truthfully say that he is unaware of the issue, or no-one brought this matter to his attention.  The Minister has asked that I should 'just take care of those wretched protest letters' so I am responding on his behalf.

The Government understands your concerns about climate change.  That is why it has done far more than our predecessors about this issue.  We set up the Climate Change Monitoring Unit, in fulfilment of an election promise, and ordered a review into the use of fossil fuels.  The review panel is due to respond on the day after the next election, so we can continue to go on saying that the government has this issue under active review, without really doing anything. 

I have referred your inquiry to the Climate Change Monitoring Unit, which advises that all petrol stations within 10 kilometres of your home had fuel available on all days last week.  So, the Government doesn't believe there is a problem, but the unit will continue its active monitoring.  As to the issue of more efficient use of fossil fuels, I refer you to the Government glossy brochure "Action for Climate Change – 2031".  In it, we outline our comprehensive activity program for 2025-2031, way beyond the period any Minister will still be in the Parliament to be held accountable for not implementing what was promised.

Rest assured, the Government is having a real hard look at this situation.  We always appreciate feedback of this nature.  Thank you for writing to the Minister about these important matters.

Yours faithfully

[Stillwater]

Ms Palaszczuk's response to the e-petitioners is a contradiction.

First, she creates the impression that the DRAFT Connecting SEQ 2031: An Integrated Regional Transport Plan for South-east Queensland spells out "a long-term commitment to capital infrastructure works in SEQ."  It is a draft document.  It contains commitments about CRR that won't be met, so it already is a flawed document.  One would have assumed that a FINAL draft would have refinements incorporated, at the very least in respect of CRR.  So, is the Minister saying that the DRAFT Connecting SEQ 2031 is, in fact, the FINAL document?

Next, she says that the South-east Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2010-2031 "identifies a range of upgrades to the North Coast Line over the next 20 years."  The next line says "the first of these upgrades was completed in 2009."  The year 2009 lies outside the 2010-2031 timeframe and therefore can't be said to be a future upgrade.  Emphasis on the Caboolture-Beerburrum duplication is made to disguise inaction in the period 2010-2014.  On past performance, what is there to say that a start on Beerburrum-Landsborough will proceed in 2014, when Mr Lucas' definite promises re CAMCOS have failed to eventuate?  Paragraph 3 of the Minister's letter is verbal padding, but it serves to indicate the Minister's office thinking is about bridges, realignments and new stations rather than travel time efficiencies and level of service -- the strategic objectives.  These have more relevance, but the letter is silent in this regard.

We then have some unfortunate government language - "the rail upgrade from Beerburrum to Landsborough is currently programmed to commence in the delivery time period 2014-15 to 2019-20." Currently programmed.  A new program can be produced that changes the start date to a point beyond 2014-15 and that becomes the new "programmed" start date.  Note that the Minister does not say "I give a guarantee that work will start in 2014-15."  Then again, Mr Lucas' statements re CAMCOS gave guarantees, but they have not been honoured.  As for duplicating to Nambour being '"on the government's long-term planning horizon" -- that's meaningless.

The second last paragraph hypes up the planning side of things.  If the government stretches out the planning long enough, it becomes a plan to not construct.  Where there is a long delay between the end of planning and the start of construction, the planning becomes less responsive to whatever circumstances exist when the new construction takes place.  The government must then defend why its construction response is so inadequate for the needs of people in 2031, or whenever.  This is sometimes referred to as the government playing 'catch-up'.  An example of this is how the Petrie-Redcliffe line stops short of the major shopping centre at Kippa-Ring.

Ms Palaszczuk's letter could be summed up in two simple sentences: "The government has no plans to resume duplicating the Sunshine Coast Line before 2014, and can't guarantee even that date due to budgetary considerations and limitations that prevent funding being committed from one financial year to the next.  Completion to Nambour by 2031 remains indicative only."   That's the truth of the matter.

[ozbob]

Media Release 22 March 2011

SEQ:  Sunshine Coast line crisis

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has called for the urgent reassessment of the time lines for the upgrade of the railway line from Beerburrum to Landsborough, and then on to Nambour.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"A response to an E-petition calling for a Rail upgrade from Beerburrum to Nambour has been received (1). In our view the advice given to the Minister for Transport in compiling the response is seriously flawed.  The response says in effect, in our words, 'the government has no plans to resume duplicating the Sunshine Coast Line before 2014, and can't guarantee even that date due to budgetary considerations and limitations that prevent funding being committed from one financial year to the next.  Completion to Nambour by 2031 remains indicative only.' This is contrary to previous commitments made by the then Minister for Transport in 2006 (2 - 5)."

"The Sunshine Coast Line has strategic and significant economic importance, particularly as peak oil starts to bite.  A staged progressive upgrade can be achieved."

"The line north of Beerburrum, particularly between Landsborough and on to Nambour already is causing delays and limitations to passenger and freight trains. To not proceed immediately with infrastructure upgrades is alarming to say the least.  In view of looming peak oil crises, and the projected population growth and developments on the Sunshine Coast it is essential that an urgent reassessment of the time lines for the upgrades be carried out."

"The importance of these upgrades was recognised by previous Governments (2-5 ). If anything, the priority now for the Sunshine Coast Line is more acute, why the back-burner?"

"In our view this is appalling situation  and shows that the present State And Federal Governments and their advisors have absolutely no idea about the real issues of traffic congestion, cost of road trauma and peak oil."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

References:

1. http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/view/EPetitions_qld/Responses/1565-10.pdf

2. Minister Lucas, April 21, 2006:
http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=45627

The SEQIP RAIL Alliance will deliver four major projects over the next six years including:

* Caboolture to Beerburrum Duplication ($240 million)
* Robina to Reedy Creek Extension ($75 million)
* Corinda to Darra Third Track ($110 million)
* Beerburrum to Landsborough Duplication ($240 million)

3. Minister Lucas, August 14, 2006:
http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=47844

Minister for Transport and Main Roads Paul Lucas said today that plans had been approved for a new rail corridor between Beerburrum and Landsborough.

Mr Lucas said that commuters were now a step closer to a high speed rail service between Brisbane, Caloundra and Maroochydore.

"Construction of the $550 million rail corridor is expected to start in early 2009 and be completed by mid-2012," the Minister told State Parliament today.

4. Minister Lucas, August 29, 2006:
http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=42417

"Mr Lucas also released for public comment the government's preferred rail corridor - an upgrade of a further 17 kilometres from Beerburrum to Landsborough.

To deliver both these important projects, the Beattie Government has made a total commitment of $480 million.

"The upgrade of the entire section between Caboolture and Landsborough seals the Beattie Government's promise to build a $1 billion fast passenger rail service along the CAMCOS corridor," he said.

"We will establish the line from Beerwah to Caloundra by 2015, and up the coast to Maroochydore by 2020, bringing rail to the Sunshine Coast."

5. Minister Lucas, December 21, 2006:
http://statements.cabinet.qld.gov.au/MMS/StatementDisplaySingle.aspx?id=49759

""Currently, a single winding rail track runs between Caboolture and Beerburrum stations," Mr Lucas said.

"This upgrade of 13.7km of rail line between Caboolture and Beerburrum will service both passenger and freight customers.

"Work should be completed in 2009 and will include a second rail line, realignment of some local roads and an upgrade of Elimbah and Beerburrum stations."

"We're also planning to realign and duplicate the 17km of track between Beerburrum and Landsborough, which is expected to be completed by 2012."

[somebody]

I wonder if we should try a Beerburrum-Glass House duplication + a duplicated section north of Landsborough, more or less as outlined by mufreight.

[ozbob]

I wonder if we should try a Beerburrum-Glass House duplication + a duplicated section north of Landsborough, more or less as outlined by mufreight.

Yes, next release on this will outline the staged upgrades as we see it?

[Fares_Fair]

 

[colinw]

That release sums it up rather well I think. 

[#Metro]

First, she creates the impression that the DRAFT Connecting SEQ 2031: An Integrated Regional Transport Plan for South-east Queensland spells out "a long-term commitment to capital infrastructure works in SEQ." It is a draft document.  It contains commitments about CRR that won't be met, so it already is a flawed document.  One would have assumed that a FINAL draft would have refinements incorporated, at the very least in respect of CRR.  So, is the Minister saying that the DRAFT Connecting SEQ 2031 is, in fact, the FINAL document?

Right. So if someone proposes marriage to you "subject to financial considerations and somewhere between 2014-2031" is that commitment? This is just word puffery. A response like that would get the other person slapped in the face.

Next, she says that the South-east Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2010-2031 "identifies a range of upgrades to the North Coast Line over the next 20 years."  The next line says "the first of these upgrades was completed in 2009."  The year 2009 lies outside the 2010-2031 timeframe and therefore can't be said to be a future upgrade.  Emphasis on the Caboolture-Beerburrum duplication is made to disguise inaction in the period 2010-2014.  On past performance, what is there to say that a start on Beerburrum-Landsborough will proceed in 2014, when Mr Lucas' definite promises re CAMCOS have failed to eventuate?  Paragraph 3 of the Minister's letter is verbal padding, but it serves to indicate the Minister's office thinking is about bridges, realignments and new stations rather than travel time efficiencies and level of service -- the strategic objectives.  These have more relevance, but the letter is silent in this regard.

Queensland is 20 years behind. 2009 IS in the future. 

We then have some unfortunate government language - "the rail upgrade from Beerburrum to Landsborough is currently programmed to commence in the delivery time period 2014-15 to 2019-20." Currently programmed.  A new program can be produced that changes the start date to a point beyond 2014-15 and that becomes the new "programmed" start date.  Note that the Minister does not say "I give a guarantee that work will start in 2014-15."  Then again, Mr Lucas' statements re CAMCOS gave guarantees, but they have not been honoured.  As for duplicating to Nambour being '"on the government's long-term planning horizon" -- that's meaningless.

Translation: "someone made a gantt chart in Microsoft Excel and printed it."

[colinw]

I think you mean Microsoft Project.    (Suppressing urge to pull out a shotgun on mention of the dreaded Gantt Chart).

[Stillwater]

The Minister has stated clearly the Government's policy for the Sunshine Coast Line:

- no action on duplication in the remaining term of government
- no action in the next term of government either, assuming Labor gets in in 2012, until just before the following election
- photo opportunity in 2014-15 turning the sod on future 'programmed works' to Landsborough only, as part of 2015 re-election strategy.

The SCL is turning into a Petrie-Redcliffe saga of a railway line on the never-never.

The 'Blue Hills' script writers would have a field day!

[mufreight]

How many seats does the current Government hold on the North Coast south of Marybrough, they are obviously going to lose three in the West Moreton region so they will spend or promise to spend in those areas where they think there is political advantage and spend nothing in those areas where they either think that they are safe or that they have no chance despite anything that they might do or promise to do.
Not looking real good for any major public transport infrastructure.

[colinw]

I think you're on the money there.  The Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication fell off the radar as soon as the ALP lost the electorate of Glasshouse in the 2009 state election.