The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

[Fares_Fair]

The Sunshine Coast Case Report
Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

For:    Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Minister for Transport and Multicultural Affairs
Date:  Tuesday, 30th August 2011

Purpose of this meeting?

To make the Transport Minister aware of the significant issues surrounding passenger rail services and freight rail transport between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
This section is a part of the North Coast Line (NCL).

The NCL is a 1680km national north-south freight corridor from Brisbane to Cairns.
It is predominately a single line, 3' 6" narrow gauge track.

The Sunshine Coast section of this railway has a great potential for encouraging the use of public transport and easing congestion on the Bruce Highway between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
Rail travel times can be reduced, services can be increased and reliability can be improved.

After June 6 when the new timetable was implemented, Brisbane to Sunshine Coast journey times became longer (time-wise) than those pre June 6 - which already are the longest (both time-wise and distance) on the SEQ rail network.

There are significant cost savings to be made by moving freight off roads and onto rail and this also limits carbon emissions. Highway road maintenance can be reduced by a decrease in heavy vehicles. Road accident costs can be saved and road trauma reduced.

In its' present state the rail services are severely limited due to a single line congested track from Beerburrum north to Nambour/Gympie.
As a symptom of its congestion, 44% of total passenger weekday services from Caboolture to Nambour (Sunshine Coast) are rail buses in lieu of trains.
This 54km journey by car takes approx. ½ hour, but by rail bus it's up to 1½ hours.
This does not promote public transport use.

The need to upgrade this section of the NCL has been identified in several planning and
policy documents, including the SEQ Regional Plan 2005-2026, the SEQ Infrastructure Plan
and Program 2005-2026, the Draft TransLink Network Plan 2005, and the Rail Network
Strategy for Queensland 2001-2011.

What needs to occur?

The urgent duplication of the line from Beerburrum to Nambour to allow for real improvements, i.e. better transit times, more services and improved reliability to Sunshine Coast passenger and NCL freight rail services.


The Evidence:

Point 1.

Queensland Government Population Projections, 2011 Edition.
http://www.oesr.qld.gov.au/products/publications/qld-govt-pop-proj-qld-sd/index.php

The Sunshine Coast will grow by 60% in the next 20 years and is the
3rd highest growth area in Queensland.  It's 2nd highest in the south-east quarter.
The population today (2009) is 323,400 and is projected to be 508,200 in 2031.

Point 2.

A joint report produced by both State and Commonwealth Government departments,
the 2007 Brisbane-Cairns Corridor Strategy exposes the critical need for rail duplication to improve freight & passenger services and relieve congestion on the line.
http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/publications/files/Bris_Cairns_Corridor_Strategy.pdf

This strategy was developed by;
The Australian Government Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS); the Queensland Department of Main Roads (QDMR) and Queensland Transport (QT).

This 2007 Strategy identified 7 major strategic issues. First and foremost being:
"the efficiency and safety of passenger and freight movement in the section between Brisbane and Gympie;" and another:
"the competitiveness of the North Coast Railway Line and its capacity to handle long-term growth in freight;"

The 2007 Strategy, in its' analysis under Current Corridor Performance p7, states;
"a major current impediment to the corridor's overall performance" as
"rail congestion between Brisbane and Nambour."

TABLE 3 Summary of Transport Issues in Regional Centres, tells us on p13, with reference to Caboolture, Sunshine Coast and Gympie track sections;
"Poor rail track alignment impedes efficient transit times."

Under Short Term Priorities (to 2015) p19, it recommends;
"Continue the current programme of road and rail works ... aimed at addressing rapid growth on the corridor between Brisbane and Nambour/Gympie."
This is with reference to increasing rail freight capacity.


Most Likely Future Scenario, p14 predicts;
"up to four per cent a year growth for rail freight."

Under Rail, p15, it says;
"If freight transport growth was sustained at more than three per cent a year, there is concern that current NCL infrastructure may not enable rail freight to grow at the same rate, thereby resulting in the freight growth over three per cent a year 'spilling over' to road transport."
See Non-Bulk Freight Growth section at bottom of Page 5 of this report.

Unfortunately, all work ceased on the rail duplication work in April 2009, leaving a single line bottleneck from Beerburrum. It did not result in improvements to rail services, nor did it reduce travel times.

In fact, the latest timetable revisions resulted in increased (not reduced) travel times!

A Ministerial briefing note dated 15 July 2009, confirms that the benefits of increased capacity would not be fully realised until the rail duplication is completed to Landsborough.


Point 3.

This infrastructure construction work has been delayed until 2020 for duplication and realignment to Landsborough (originally promised by Hon. Paul Lucas by mid-2012). The Nambour duplication was originally proposed for completion by 2026, but now is delayed until at least 2031.
These works are a part of the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program (SEQIPP) for 2010-2031.

Point 4.

Caboolture to Landsborough Rail Upgrade Study: Needs Assessment
by Queensland Transport (2002),
http://www.arup.com.au/clrs/genfiles/needs_assessment_executive_summary.pdf

Conclusion p(iii), states;
"In summary, it has been concluded that the majority of the desired levels of service cannot be met with the existing rail infrastructure.
Hence, an upgrade of the Caboolture to Landsborough (my note: NOT Beerburrum) section of the main north coast rail line is needed."
   
The needs assessment found that an upgrade (my note: to Landsborough) will:
"improve the level of service for passenger and freight rail services in terms of service frequency, hours of service, seating capacity, freight capacity, reliability, and travel time; allow for a progressive increase in rail services throughout the day and a consequent decrease in Rail bus services in the corridor;"

44% of weekday trains are buses, there's no rapid rail service to the Sunshine Coast.

Point 5.

Landsborough to Nambour - Initial Advice Statement
by Arup Engineers (2007),
http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/docs/library/pdf/mp_landsborough_nambour_rail_IAS.pdf

The 'Initial Advice Statement' to the Queensland government for the Landsborough-Nambour rail corridor stated under:

Section 2.3.2.1 "Do nothing" Option;
"It is likely that the region would experience adverse socio-economic effects should the NCL between Landsborough and Nambour not be upgraded."

"Increases in demand are likely to significantly challenge the ability of the current infrastructure to support an acceptable level of rail service in the future."

Point 6.

Inner City Rail Capacity Study: MBP (2008),
http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/da0198b7-14c9-4603-98db-0bfa1ed65fe3/pdf_icrcs_stage_3_technical_pre_feasibility_appendix_a_3_passenger_demands.pdf

This study produced for Queensland Transport and jointly prepared by Maunsell |AECOM, Parsons Brinckerhoff, KPMG, Veitch Lister Consulting (vlc) & SYSTEMWIDE, states under;
Service Numbers – North  p20,
"The Caboolture and North Coast lines have the greatest forecast increase in patronage before 2026, whereas the Shorncliffe, Doomben and Airport lines are NOT expected to increase greatly."

Point 7.

Submission to Infrastructure Australia re: the Brisbane Cairns Corridor (2008 from 2006 paper) by Dr. Philip Laird, FCILT, Comp IE Aust, University of Wollongong
http://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/public_submissions/published/files/82_smasuniversityofwollongong_SUB.pdf

Reduction of total costs including external costs.  p2,
"Rail is three times more efficient than road in using fuel to move freight."

A special corridor. p5, Section 4B.
"The Caboolture - Nambour track is now probably the most congested section of single rail track in Australia. It was recognised as congested as long ago as 1994 in the BTCE report of the National Transport Planning Taskforce."

This congestion is shown by freight train curfews during peak hours, expanding the Brisbane Rockhampton electric tilt train transit time from 7 hours (pre-2003) to the
7 hours and 25 minutes it is today, and the ubiquitous (44% weekly services) rail bus.

Point 8.

The Sunshine Coast Regional Council Interim Roadmap 2010 (2010)
http://www.rdasunshinecoast.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/Sunshine-Coast-Interim-Regional-Roadmap-Final-20101125-v3_online1.pdf

Section 2.12 Transport, states;
... "transport demand has been growing strongly as well. There are signs that the currently (sic) infrastructure is having difficulty coping with the current demand."
"Visitors to the region ... are saying that congestion on the Bruce Highway is a deterrent."

"A number of initiatives are proposed to alleviate some of the demand and these include:
Major network additions
(e.g. the proposed CAMCOS public transport corridor, North Coast Rail duplication or the Multi Modal Transport Corridor)."

Section 2.12 Transport; goes on to state;
"However, even these would not adequately meet the projected demand under each population scenario and more would be required to meet the needs of a substantial population increase."

A reported 87,000 person increase in Sunshine Coast residents (SCD 26.8.2011) in Caloundra South, Palmview and other coast growth areas within 10 years will require infrastructure improvements between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.

Point 9.

National Transport Commision (sic) Rail Productivity Review Submission
by QR Limited (2008),
http://www.ntc.gov.au/rfcDocuments/QR%20Limited2008100614090277.pdf

It identified the major problem for freight on p11,
"The infrastructure for longer trains also needs to be provided. Train lengths on Queensland's North Coast Line are limited by the length of the smallest loop (currently 682 metres). The prospect of a doubling of average freight train length on a rapidly growing and potentially rail-friendly corridor represents one of rail's most significant national productivity opportunities."
This shortest passing loop on the NCL is located at Palmwoods (between Nambour/L'borough)

Point 10.

QR Submission to Productivity Commission
by QR Limited (5 July 2006),
Review of the Economic Costs of Freight Infrastructure and Efficient Approaches to Transport Pricing
http://www.pc.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/48577/sub053.pdf

North Coast Line Study, p94,
This analysis includes an estimate of the future transport task (based on underlying market growth rate estimates) in the corridor and identification of the economic benefits for government and society associated with investment in rail ...

Note: Figures below refer to North Coast Line from Brisbane to Cairns and are $2006.
An investment of circa. $300 million in a number of "below rail" projects on the NCL could result in: (note present value PV = 2006 dollars)

   Extraction of just over 850,000 tonnes of general freight / containerised traffic from road to rail on NCL markets.
   Road accident cost savings of Present Value $43 million over 20 years.
   Environmental gains valued at PV $23 million over 20 years.
   Road pavement / maintenance savings of PV $94 million over 20 years from reduced heavy truck movements.
   Benefits associated with better transit times, improved service reliability and improved service availability valued at PV $127 million over 20 years.
   Benefits to rail operators and customers valued at PV $143 million over 20 years.
   Potential reductions in rail freight costs in the range of 2% to 6% across NCL markets if gains to "above rail" operators are passed on to customers.
   An increase in GTKs (gross tonne kilometres) on the NCL associated with additional containerised traffic of 34% 'over and above' underlying growth.

The figures shown above total $430m (in 2006 dollars) in potential savings, for a $300m (in 2006 dollars) outlay.

Non-Bulk Freight Growth, p107,
From Table A.3 Rail and Road expected average annual growth rates, 1999 to 2025.

Corridor             By Rail   By Road
Sydney - Perth       4.4%    3.0%   HIGHEST FREIGHT GROWTH
Brisbane - Cairns      4.2%      4.0%     SECOND HIGHEST FREIGHT GROWTH

Original Source: BTRE (2006), Demand Projections for Auslink Non-Urban Corridors: Methodology and Projections, Working Paper 66, Table 2.16.

Summary:

The issues identified are:

1.   Significant population pressures on the Sunshine Coast. It has the 3rd highest growth in Queensland, after West Moreton and Mackay respectively. (Source Qld. Gov't statistics)
60% growth projected between 2009 and 2031.

2.   Congestion: The 2007 Brisbane-Cairns Corridor Strategy identifies "a major impediment to North Coast Line overall performance" as "rail congestion between Brisbane and Nambour."

3.   Rail congestion limits passenger services.
This is confirmed by the 26 buses that replace passenger trains every day.
44% of weekday services from Caboolture to Nambour are rail buses which take up to 3 times longer to travel 54km (car ½ hour, rail bus up to 1½ hours).

4.   Rail congestion limits freight services.
Freight curfews operate (limits on freight train movement during peak travel times).
1500m freight trains cannot operate here due to short passing loops (currently 682m).

5.   "Poor track alignment impedes efficient transit times" for passengers and freight.
Winding tracks and steep grades inhibit rail service speed and efficiency.

6.   Improvements from the $298m rail works between Caboolture and Beerburrum, completed in April 2009, will not be fully realised until the duplication is completed through to Landsborough. No gains were achieved by the early cessation of work. Beerburrum is now a bottleneck.

7.   Under the 'Do Nothing' scenario ...
"It is likely that the region would experience adverse socio-economic effects should the NCL between Landsborough and Nambour not be upgraded."
Arup Engineers (2007)

8.   "Increases in demand are likely to significantly challenge the ability of the current infrastructure to support an acceptable level of rail service in the future."
Arup Engineers (2007)


That future is here.



Objectives: What do I hope to achieve?

Construction of the duplication of the North Coast Line (NCL) from Beerburrum through to Landsborough ASAP with planning and funding for completion to Nambour by 2020.
Timeframe: Landsborough to Nambour - Initial Advice Statement by Arup Engineers (2007) p9.

The duplication of the line will benefit the national north-south freight corridor and enable improvements to world class standard for Brisbane to Sunshine Coast rail services.

Conclusion:

The evidence of the urgent need for the North Coast Line duplication from Beerburrum to Nambour is indeed overwhelming (and growing rapidly).

[Stillwater]

FF:  Did you get any written response to your presentation, or was a handshake and a thank you all you received, or could expect to receive?

[Fares_Fair]

Hi SW,
I was told that they (the government) would respond to my report.
I am unaware what form this response may take.
The Minister said that there were a couple of points worth looking into.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[O_128]

Hi SW,
I was told that they (the government) would respond to my report.
I am unaware what form this response may take.
The Minister said that there were a couple of points worth looking into.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

If there are only a couple of points then she really is an idiot.

Also FF considering once the SC is duplicated it will most likely be as busy as the GC line should it be made clear that when he duplication happens quad ing to north gate will be needed?

[Stillwater]

Thanks FF.  I would have thought that all your points were worth looking into.  Of course, the Minister's reply is the mirror response.  'I will look into it.'

[mufreight]

Hi SW,
I was told that they (the government) would respond to my report.
I am unaware what form this response may take.
The Minister said that there were a couple of points worth looking into.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

If there are only a couple of points then she really is an idiot.

Also FF considering once the SC is duplicated it will most likely be as busy as the GC line should it be made clear that when he duplication happens quad ing to north gate will be needed?

Not only will track amplification be needed Petrie to Bowen Hills but without CRR where do all these additional services go when they reach Bowen Hills with the lines through the CBD already bordering on capacity to operate reliably.

[Fares_Fair]

Hi SW,
I was told that they (the government) would respond to my report.
I am unaware what form this response may take.
The Minister said that there were a couple of points worth looking into.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

If there are only a couple of points then she really is an idiot.

Also FF considering once the SC is duplicated it will most likely be as busy as the GC line should it be made clear that when he duplication happens quad ing to north gate will be needed?

In all fairness to her, I wouldn't say that.
You do not get to be in such a position like that, AIUI she has a law degree.
Whilst I sensed that she didn't like what I had to say, (and maybe I am wrong) she did listen politely.
A response will be forthcoming and that is (hopefully) a good thing.

Regards,
Fares_fair.

[O_128]

Hi SW,
I was told that they (the government) would respond to my report.
I am unaware what form this response may take.
The Minister said that there were a couple of points worth looking into.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

If there are only a couple of points then she really is an idiot.

Also FF considering once the SC is duplicated it will most likely be as busy as the GC line should it be made clear that when he duplication happens quad ing to north gate will be needed?

In all fairness to her, I wouldn't say that.
You do not get to be in such a position like that, AIUI she has a law degree.
Whilst I sensed that she didn't like what I had to say, (and maybe I am wrong) she did listen politely.
A response will be forthcoming and that is (hopefully) a good thing.

Regards,
Fares_fair.

I know lots of people with law degrees and they are idiots as well. And in the labor party you actually do.

FF, is the business case/feasibility study/EIS and etc all done, or is everyone going to sit on there hands so even when the money is there it won't take another 2 years to get it all done.

[Fares_Fair]

Hello O_128,

AIUI, the works to Landsborough are ready to go, the design and documentation being completed back when the Caboolture to Beerburrum works occurred in 2009.
Since then however a landowner contatced me specifically and has told me that not all the land resumptions have been completed between Beerburrum and Landsborough.

Also, AIUI the EIS to Nambour was completed.

As for the business case (highly doubtful) or a feasibility study I honestly don't know.
Happy to have anyone correct me on the above.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[O_128]

Hello O_128,

AIUI, the works to Landsborough are ready to go, the design and documentation being completed back when the Caboolture to Beerburrum works occurred in 2009.
Since then however a landowner contatced me specifically and has told me that not all the land resumptions have been completed between Beerburrum and Landsborough.

Also, AIUI the EIS to Nambour was completed.

As for the business case (highly doubtful) or a feasibility study I honestly don't know.
Happy to have anyone correct me on the above.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

So its basically ready to go, Considering this is LNP stronghold this has the potential to be an election issue. Surely the duplication to lands borough cannot be that much especially considering the gains over say GC line duplication.

An Idea that might be a good idea to push is the intermodal transfer brought up, SC needs jobs why not build it with the duplication there must be a massive space suitable for it near lands borough or another station.

[Stillwater]

Have you yet got a response to your presentation to the minister, FF?

[Fares_Fair]

Nothing as yet, SW.
It's been 7 and 1/2 weeks.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Have you yet got a response to your presentation to the minister, FF?

It has been 9 weeks today since the Minister's office received my report and said that they would respond.
sigh ...


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[O_128]

Have you yet got a response to your presentation to the minister, FF?

It has been 9 weeks today since the Minister's office received my report and said that they would respond.
sigh ...


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

From personal experience the only way to get a reply is if you call them every single day, send emails and go into the office.

[Fares_Fair]

Today I have written to the Minister's office.

The Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk MP
Member for Inala
Minister for Transport and Multicultural Affairs

Dear Minister,

I met with you on 30 August, 2011 and presented you with a copy of my 'Sunshine Coast Case' report.
You said the you would respond to the report and that there were some things 'worth looking into' within it.

It has been 9 weeks today since our meeting.
May I ask when a response may be forth coming please?

Thank you.

Kind regards,

(Name removed).
Sunshine Coast Commuter Advocate
Member (not spokesman) Rail - Back on Track

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[colinw]

Dear Minister,

Please pull your finger out!

Sincerely,
The Long Suffering Commuters of the Sunshine Coast.

[Fares_Fair]

Today I have written to the Minister's office.

The Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk MP
Member for Inala
Minister for Transport and Multicultural Affairs

Dear Minister,

I met with you on 30 August, 2011 and presented you with a copy of my 'Sunshine Coast Case' report.
You said the you would respond to the report and that there were some things 'worth looking into' within it.

It has been 9 weeks today since our meeting.
May I ask when a response may be forth coming please?

Thank you.

Kind regards,

(Name removed).
Sunshine Coast Commuter Advocate
Member (not spokesman) Rail - Back on Track

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

The initial (automatic?) response:

Thank you for your email to the Hon. Annastacia Palaszczuk MP, Minister for Transport and Multicultural Affairs.
We confirm receipt of your message and advise your correspondence is receiving attention.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

It could be that you put such a compelling case that they are having difficulty constructing the rebuttal.   

[p858snake]

It could be that you put such a compelling case that they are having difficulty constructing the rebuttal.   

Wouldn't the rebuttal be "Opps, its appears we have lost that correspendance, can you send it again?"

[Stillwater]

FF gained a very rare boon -- a face to face meeting with the Minister.  It would be almost like having a one-on-one with Her Maj.

[Set in train]

Again, great work on your efforts in securing a meeting. Keep the pressure up for a reply.

This might be a rookie question, but is a track duplication all that's needed or is that simply being grateful? Would three tracks better position the line for future growth?

Along with residential body corporates, public transport is an area of news not focussed on enough by the news media.

[Fares_Fair]

Hello SiT,

The construction plan is for dual track duplication, however the corridor width allows for 4 tracks in the future.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Set in train]

Hello SiT,

The construction plan is for dual track duplication, however the corridor width allows for 4 tracks in the future.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Thanks, a sound plan if it ever were to be constructed.

[Stillwater]

I will ask my usual question, FF.  Have you yet received a reply the the issues you raised in your meeting with the Transport Minister on 30 August 2011?

[Fares_Fair]

I will ask my usual question, FF.  Have you yet received a reply the the issues you raised in your meeting with the Transport Minister on 30 August 2011?

I have received no reply whatsoever to my original report delivered 13 weeks ago today,
nor have I received an answer to my correspondence of 4 weeks ago today, asking when I may receive a reply.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[colinw]

Transport Minister figures that if she waits long enough, she will no longer be the Transport Minister and it will not be her problem any more.

[Set in train]

I will ask my usual question, FF.  Have you yet received a reply the the issues you raised in your meeting with the Transport Minister on 30 August 2011?

I have received no reply whatsoever to my original report delivered 13 weeks ago today,
nor have I received an answer to my correspondence of 4 weeks ago today, asking when I may receive a reply.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Send out a media release to the local news rooms about this lack of reply on such an important issue.

Highlight the broken promises.

Question whether the LNP will do any better.

[Fares_Fair]

Twitter today at 3:00pm

@AnnastaciaMP
Disappointed no response to my Sunshine Coast Case report on the rail line to the Sunny Coast 13 weeks ago.
Is it coming?

[Stillwater]

At a glance, there may not be much of a connection between the state government's refusal to duplicate the Sunshine Coast Line in a decent timeframe and its management of the burgeoning coal seam gas industry in Queensland.

The connection is this – the arrogant disregard of professional and sound advice from those the government pays to deliver it.

Today's Australian newspaper carries a report of the Senate inquiry into the coal gas industry.  It urges extreme caution around the possible pollution effects from this industry and the ramifications of drilling on the integrity of the Great Artesian Basin, one of this country's natural wonders.

The report also threw light on the fact that Mr Geoff Edwards, in 1996 principal policy advisor to the state Department of Mines and Energy, warned then of the potential impact the mining would have on underground water reserves and the disposal of heavily salted water produced as a by product of gas extraction.  The government knew five years ago of the problems surrounding this emerging industry, yet did not act.  Mr Edwards is no longer a public servant, but now an academic, and can speak freely.  Today, Anna Bligh is discrediting the Senate report and the chair of the committee that produced it, again playing the politics rather than examining what the report actually says.

Turning to the Sunshine Coast Line and its deficiencies, numerous official reports – most commissioned by the government – document its failings and are almost unanimous in their recommended solutions.  While they tackle the problem from slightly different angles, there is a strong and overwhelming consensus that supports the case for duplication to Nambour.

Among the findings are that continuation of the single track until 2031, and most probably beyond, will make rail freight more inefficient and make transport logistics in Queensland uncompetitively expensive.  It is shifting freight to an inadequate Bruce Highway and will lead to social disadvantage by having large nodes of population with inadequate public transport.

Remember, this is not the ramblings of tree huggers, but the advice of competent experts to government.  The government chooses to ignore their advice, or pretend that they hear while proposing solutions that will come about decades after they are needed.  All the while, the state government touts a 'rail revolution'.  It is nothing of the sort.  It is a 'rail skirmish' at best, given the unfunded promises.

When governments ignore competent and professional advice, particularly when that advice is overwhelming and supports an obvious solution, then governments are demonstrating that political expediency is overriding good policy.  In that respect, the contempt it shows for the electorate deserves to be reciprocated when people head to the polling booths next year.

[ozbob]

Thanks for the eloquent description of some of the issues ...

[Stillwater]

Today's Sunshine Coast Daily reports that the ALP has targetted three seats to win on the Sunshine Coast -- Glass House, Kawana and Noosa.  The ALP has said it will be a 'tough call', which is somewhat of an understatement, as all three are held by hard-working LNP members.  The ALP is expected to plug its local record on health and education, but if it wants to win Glass House (incorporating most of the SCL earmarked for duplication), electors would be highly dubious of any promises about duplication to Nambour; particularly based on past performance.  The ALP virtually would have to pay up front and place the money in trust with a third party, say the Sunshine Coast Regional Council, before people would accept the government was fair-dinkim about any duplication promise.  It is hard to understand that the ALP believes it has any chance of winning the seat of Noosa.

[Stillwater]

FF, has the Minister replied to your representations yet?  It is over three and a half months since the meeting at which she promised a response.

[Fares_Fair]

FF, has the Minister replied to your representations yet?  It is over three and a half months since the meeting at which she promised a response.

I have received no reply whatsoever to my original report delivered 14 & 1/2 weeks ago,
nor have I received an answer to my correspondence of 5 & 1/2 weeks ago today, asking when I may receive a reply.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Silence from a government that hopes to win 3 Sunshine Coast seats at the next election.  Maybe the government is too busy chasing down a missing $16 million, on top of the millions they have overpaid health staff; not to mention the millions needed to replace the failed Health Department pays computer system, and the Traveston Crossing Dam missing millions.  Yet, as they say, FF, there's no money for duplication to Nambour.

[#Metro]

It is amazing how much cash simply flies out the window with Queensland Health!
Payroll blew up cash, frauds, etc.

[Stillwater]

Think of the poor buggers in the back of an ambulance forced to 'ramp up' outside emergency departments that can't handle the numbers of patients, or those awaiting what's termed 'non-urgent' surgery.  And, when they finally get wheeled into the operating theatre, the guy holding the scalpel is a Dr Patel!  Ahh yes, its a 'world clarse' health system, just like transport.

[ozbob]

I don't comment on health, and the f%k up, multiple.  I made a decision a number of years ago that I would battle on for the punters on the trains, buses, ferries, trams, bicycles, and footpaths.

If I did I get into health I  would never sleep ...

[Fares_Fair]

I notice that one of the candidates for the Sunshine Coast is Mr Barber,
I recall him from 20 years ago when his party brought in toll roads onto the Sunshine Coast, onto an existing road none the less.

It created a huge outcry on the Sunshine Coast at the time.
He was very promptly removed at the following election.
That will surely come back to bite him.

A certain SC hospital was promised for that seat of Kawana, and then Chris Cummins lost the seat, and then it was delayed - but finally given the go ahead after an outcry.
Similar story to the Beerburrum to Landsborough rail duplication, only it and the $240 million proposed to construct it, vanished in April 2009 without a word said.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Arnz]

I remember Noosa, Kawana and Glasshouse under LABOR control back in 1998 when the Beattie-led ALP first got into power in Queensland.  Cummins and that controversial lady that was married to a USC Politics lecturer up in Noosa lost their seats 4 years later. Caloundra and Maroochydore however are traditionally conservative (Liberal/LNP) territory.

[Stillwater]

There may be something to dig up about the cancelled Beerburrum-Landsborough project.  An Alliance contract was awarded for a number of works, of which this was the last to be completed.  The project did not proceed.  Did the government have to pay some compensation for cancelling the Beerburrum-Landsborough project, given the contractor would have been geared up to build it and had every expectation it would proceed?