RAIL - Back On Track Forum

https://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/business/gold-coast-business/federal-budget-2022-gold-coast-everything-you-need-to-know/news-story/ca89a2e1ba9a0e5f05a0b1ab194dbdf4

Quote... The budget contains already committed funds, including the Commonwealth's $1bn cut of the Coomera Connector's first stage, with the new road project running from Nerang to Coomera, and $395.6m for Stage 3 of light rail between Broadbeach and Burleigh Heads.

The tram extension broke ground last week.

However, there was no funding for critical 2032 Olympic Games transport projects including Stage 4 of the light rail between Burleigh Heads and the border, or the heavy rail extension from Varsity Lakes to Gold Coast Airport. ...

Couriermail --> Federal Budget 2022: Blow to Queensland mega projects $

QuoteMega projects once slated for Queensland including dams, roads and rail have been ditched or delayed amid the federal government's brutal redirection of billions of infrastructure dollars in the budget.

And the future of other critical infrastructure hangs in the air, with no clarity provided within the budget or by bureaucrats.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King was scheduled to write to her state and territory counterparts on Tuesday night outlining which projects had been felled by Labor's razor gang, which had been deferred indefinitely, and which were safe. ...

Quote... Two major rail projects — the $1.6bn Sunshine Coast rail extension and the $1.1bn Kuraby- Beenleigh Faster Rail upgrade — were not mentioned in the budget.

But Treasury bureaucrats on Tuesday said the project to connect Beerwah to Maroochydore remained in the budget, though no further detail has been provided. ...

^ This seems very much bullsh%t, if it is not in the budget it is NOT in the budget.

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1584930826529406976

Will Minister Mark Bailey go so far as to call his federal Labor colleagues 'nongs' for saying the Beerwah-Maroochydore project is 'in the Budget' while not actually including any money that would begin to fund it ... a la his tit-for-tat spat with Ted O'Brien MP.

RACQ Federal Budget reaction:

https://www.racq.com.au/about-us/news-and-media/media-release/2022/10/mr251022-racq-welcomes-labor-governments-first-budget

Sent to all outlets:

Federal Budget is a flop for rail in Queensland

26th October 2022

Good Morning,

The 2022-23 Federal Government's Budget ( https://budget.gov.au/index.htm ) leaves heavy rail, and particularly the Sunshine Coast out of the picture in Queensland.

There were hopes of a real commitment to heavy rail from Beerwah to Maroochydore.  Some confused commentary suggesting it is in the budget, but it is not in the budget.

It would be good if the Hon. Catherine King MP Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government would clarify the situation.

Time is ticking by, unless things start to occur to address the significant infrastructure deficit with rail and public transport in Queensland ( 2032 Olympics & Public Transport - No, there is not plenty of time ...  https://railbotforum.org/yourls/21 ), the Olympic Games will be a flop as we grind to a halt in SEQ.

Farce!

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

Facebook ...

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1584974535597907968

Quote from: ozbob on October 25, 2022, 23:56:40 PMHow in the f**** does Victoria get billions for the suburban rail loop that doesn't have a business case nor a cohesive case.  It is arguable that the route of SRL East is not optimal for efficiency or cost.  Why?  It hasn't really been critically analysed. 

Heavy rail to Maroochydore has been studied since 2006.

FUK Y'ALL !

To help dictator Dans election is the honest and only answer. Australia has been sold a dud in Albo, and only now will people realise.

Strap yourselves in for a s&@t show for the next two and a half years!!

Quote from: Stillwater on October 26, 2022, 03:30:25 AMWill Minister Mark Bailey go so far as to call his federal Labor colleagues 'nongs' for saying the Beerwah-Maroochydore project is 'in the Budget' while not actually including any money that would begin to fund it ... a la his tit-for-tat spat with Ted O'Brien MP.

 

https://twitter.com/CatherineKingMP/status/1584997881127514112

Sunshine Coast is blue team territory so zero political payoff for red team funding it there.

Sent to all outlets:

Re: Federal Budget is a flop for rail in Queensland

26th October 2022

Update: 

Minister King has responded to a query from RBoT Member.

With respect to the heavy rail Beerwah to Maroochydore:

" The money remains in the budget. First appears in last year of forwards as realistically it will take time to do. We will work with the QLD a state Government on business case and actual costs of the project. "

https://twitter.com/CatherineKingMP/status/1584997881127514112

Quote from: ozbob on October 26, 2022, 04:05:34 AMSent to all outlets:

Federal Budget is a flop for rail in Queensland

26th October 2022

Good Morning,

The 2022-23 Federal Government's Budget ( https://budget.gov.au/index.htm ) leaves heavy rail, and particularly the Sunshine Coast out of the picture in Queensland.

There were hopes of a real commitment to heavy rail from Beerwah to Maroochydore.  Some confused commentary suggesting it is in the budget, but it is not in the budget.

It would be good if the Hon. Catherine King MP Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government would clarify the situation.

Time is ticking by, unless things start to occur to address the significant infrastructure deficit with rail and public transport in Queensland ( 2032 Olympics & Public Transport - No, there is not plenty of time ...  https://railbotforum.org/yourls/21 ), the Olympic Games will be a flop as we grind to a halt in SEQ.

Farce!

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1585010769862983680

Catherine King, interviewed by Owen Jacques on ABC Sunshine Coast Morning Radio this morning (around 7.15am), said that rail to Maroochydore is still in the Federal Budget.

A shorter version of her interview appeared in the local news bulletin:

https://www.abc.net.au/sunshine/programs/abc-sunshine-local-news/abc-sunshine-coast-local-news/14090032

Story from 1min:27secs

Quote from: Stillwater on October 26, 2022, 07:24:06 AMCatherine King, interviewed by Owen Jacques on ABC Sunshine Coast Morning Radio this morning (around 7.15am), said that rail to Maroochydore is still in the Federal Budget.

It is the Minister for Roads...oh that's right and Active and Public Transport...that is dragging the chain...or dropping the ball. The Feds are funding what they have been asked to fund.

I don't think Minister Bailey is a roads activist. If anything, he's a MAMIL 

Quote from: #Metro on October 26, 2022, 10:07:12 AMI don't think Minister Bailey is a roads activist. If anything, he's a MAMIL 

His budget says he is.  Only measure that counts

Quote from: Jonno on October 26, 2022, 11:26:10 AM

Quote from: #Metro on October 26, 2022, 10:07:12 AMI don't think Minister Bailey is a roads activist. If anything, he's a MAMIL 

His budget says he is.  Only measure that counts

I think Bailey, and most of the State government, are too scared of the political backlash that could arise if they stop funding roads as much. Road projects get votes in outer suburban and regional QLD by the seems of it. Whilst the cities mentality is seemingly changing with the Greens getting more and more support in suburban and inner city seats, it seems that it'll take more of a landslide in votes to get the road first mentality of the state government to change.

That is to say, even if Bailey and other state members genuinely believe in PT, they have to go along the party line because that is what seemingly gets votes.

Hopefully Bailey is open to meeting with us one on one so we can understand his point of view and beliefs better. Perhaps we can suggest a meeting in confidence (Bob?) so he feels more comfortable discussing things not necessarily along the party line.

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1585281250184396800

Brisbanetimes --> Budget to bring Brisbane cancer centre to life but SEQ City Deal unclear

" ... On the Sunshine Coast, $6 million will allow detailed planning of the spur rail line from the main Sunshine Coast rail line out to Maroochydore from Beerwah.

"The study is already under way, which when completed next year will provide us with a more accurate cost estimate for a direct Sunshine Coast line," Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey said.

This rail corridor - which needs to take in future Fast Rail capability - will be finalised in 2023. ... "

" ... Two Brisbane rail crossings - one in Acacia Ridge and one in Coorparoo - will be removed after $233 million was set aside to match Queensland government and Brisbane City Council funding. ... "

 

Quote from: ozbob on October 27, 2022, 08:39:51 AM"The study is already under way, which when completed next year will provide us with a more accurate cost estimate for a direct Sunshine Coast line," Queensland Transport Minister Mark Bailey said.

This rail corridor - which needs to take in future Fast Rail capability - will be finalised in 2023. ... "

At least it's good to hear confirmation that the study is still underway and that they are planning to incorporate fast rail. Could have happened years ago though but alas.

Queensland Parliament Hansard

Ministerial Statements

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2022/2022_10_26_DAILY.pdf

Federal Budget, Road and Transport Infrastructure

Hon. MC BAILEY (Miller—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (10.00 am): Mr Speaker, with your indulgence, I acknowledge the birthday today of my mother, Beryl Bailey, who is 93 years old today. I need to get her into Hansard otherwise I get in trouble. I welcome the Albanese Labor government's federal budget and its commitment to tackling a trillion dollars worth of debt and the soaring inflation left by the Morrison LNP government. It is a federal government tackling the cost of living for Queenslanders and Australians after the inflation mess left bythe defeated Morrison government. Importantly, unlike the fake March Morrison government budget,this budget will actually be voted on by the federal parliament. There is funding in there that Queensland can depend upon. Queensland and the nation will not be left hanging, as we were in March when the previous government had the numbers to pass and vote upon the budget and chose not to.

This budget delivers more than $5 billion in new funding towards road and transport infrastructure projects across Queensland, including: $586 million towards the $733 million upgrade of the Bruce Highway between Anzac Avenue and Uhlmann Road; $400 million towards Queensland beef corridors to keep Queensland industries moving; $210 million towards safety upgrades in Far North Queensland on Kuranda Range Road as we continue to roll out the intelligent transport system there; $200 million towards the widening of the Bruce Highway between Anzac Avenue and Dohles Rocks Road; $200 million towards the $250 million upgrade of the Bruce Highway between Rockhampton and Gladstone; a confirmed $1.6 billion initial funding allocation on the Sunshine Coast direct line and $1.1 billion towards the Kuraby to Beenleigh rail upgrade, which is a really important project for our growth; $133 million towards the Boundary Road, Coopers Plains level crossing removal, which was matched by the Palaszczuk government in this year's record state budget—our seventh record QTRIP; $100 million towards the Cavendish Road level crossing removal; $22 million towards the upgrade of Loganlea Road; more than half a billion dollars for the Gympie bypass; continuing funding for the Cairns Southern Access Corridor; Riverway Drive in Townsville; $5 million towards the $10 million Gympie Road planning study; $4 million towards the Charters Towers industrial precinct; and $3.4 million for the Ipswich to Springfield rail extension business case as we plan for better connectivity between the growing regions of Ipswich and Springfield. In fact, of new priority rail and road projects across the nation, Queensland is getting more than 25 per cent of national funding—finally our fair share from a federal government.

With the budget papers in hand, the Palaszczuk Labor government can now get on with delivering our record program of road and transport infrastructure across Queensland—our seventh record QTRIP in eight budgets— supporting more than 25,000 good jobs, delivering better services and protecting Queensland's great lifestyle.

Bailey must be dizzy with this much spin.

If the LNP left out a million bucks, Anna and Bailey would be screaming Queenslanders were robbed!!

There has been no confirmation on the $1.12 billion Beenleigh to Kuraby rail upgrade, has there?
It was listed as MIA by the Courier-mail yesterday.

Mr Bailey must be internally seething given they received over $1 billion less by Federal Labor, than under the Coalition government.
It shows the severe weakness apparent in Queensland on any negotiation level with any Federal Government.
They need to arrange lessons from Victoria.

I believe that the faster rail agency was not funded and there has been rumours it has been killed off.

It has been subsumed into the new Labor brand Fast Rail Authority called..

High-Speed Rail Authority

Written before the Federal Labor Budget was brought down, but is a very good summary of the knuckle-dragging politics that blights joint state-federal investment in Sunshine Coast heavy rail to Maroochydore.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-10/three-lnp-mayor-labor-spat-sunshine-coast-rail/101517780

Interesting angle ...

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1585696917904035841

Rail Express --> Rail manufacturing a highlight of Federal Budget

Quote... Investment in NSW includes:
• $300 million for the Western Sydney Roads Package
• $5.25 billion for the Sydney Metro – Western Sydney Airport

Investment in Victoria includes:
• $2.2b for the Suburban Rail Loop
• $5b to the Melbourne Airport Rail Link
• $447.7m to the Gippsland Rail Line Upgrade

Investment in Queensland includes:
• $395.6m for Gold Coast Light Rail – Stage 3

Investment in Western Australia includes:
• $3.7b for the Perth METRONET

Investment in the ACT:
• $218.4m for Canberra Light Rail – Stage 2A

The Budget also delivers $500m for the corridor acquisition, planning and early works of a Sydney to Central Coast and Newcastle High Speed Rail project following the introduction of legislation to establish the High Speed Rail Authority. ...

^ What is wrong with Queensland?  If WA Metronet can get $3.7billion why can't Queensland get similar?

It is because they are incompetent and don't really try is my hunch.

=====

Sent to all outlets:

Queensland - a rail failure

18th October 2022

Good Morning,

Why is it Queensland continues to miss out on the large funding for rail projects?

Other states gain many billions of dollars for rail projects, often without proper consideration of business cases by Infrastructure Australia, as politics is often the priority.

A factor in the poor performance of Queensland in gaining federal rail funding is the quality of project submissions in Queensland is obviously not up to the task.

Until we set up a proper Public Transport Authority, with heavy rail as a division within that Authority, mediocrity will continue to dominate.

Translink and rail is not properly supported in a roads obsessed organisation.  It is time to get public transport and rail out of DTMR. 
An organisation based on the record that has failed.

Let's get real Queensland.  A state that hopes to deliver the 2032 Olympics!  It  will be an utter shambles unless steps are taken now to sort out the transport failure.

Best wishes,
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org

Quote from: ozbob on October 16, 2022, 03:55:57 AMSent to all outlets:

Car's reign as king has SEQ liveability on life support

16th October 2022

Brisbanetimes recently published an article highlighting just how woeful the transport and city planning is in South East Queensland.
(1. Billions spent on public transport, but car is still king in Brisbane https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/billions-spent-on-public-transport-but-car-is-still-king-in-brisbane-20221012-p5bp88.html ).

The transport nightmare across Brisbane and SEQ is damaging not only our reputation as a "Great City" but the public's health and well-being, the cost to live, the availability/affordability of our housing, the strength of our economy and the ability to enjoy living in the region.  There is a real risk our potential Olympic visitors will return home warning family, friends and colleagues to skip Brisbane altogether. A failure to properly invest in public and active transport adds to the cost of health care, massively.

Our governments at all levels have created this mess. They have not failed to plan for it or invest enough in right infrastructure.  A fact the planning and engineering professions have known for decades. Yet our governments thought they knew better.  Every day is a reminder that they have got it horribly wrong.  Even the 'big ticket' public transport projects like Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro will by themselves simply not make a big difference.  Poor planning and prioritising "congestion busting" freeways, tunnels and ever wider and faster roads has made the transport mess damaging the liveability of the region.

Figures from the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program 2022-23 to 2025-26. 
Bulk of rail investment is Cross River Rail.  Rail, bus and active transport are grossly underfunded.



https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/QTRIPonline/Fast-facts

Our governments and major parties need to urgently accept that this mess is of their making and it is way past time to listen to the experts like Brent Toderian, the former City Planner of Vancouver, when he advises (2):

"Successful multimodal cities aren't just about what your city starts doing — i.e., funding transit — it's what you stop doing — i.e., widening roads."

and

"... everybody asks, "Why aren't more people using transit?" It is because you're still inducing car traffic."

Our governments need to immediately:

* explain to the people of South East Queensland why more of the same can never fix the transport problems because it is actually creating them;
* halt all "congestion busting/upgrade" road projects and redirect the money towards active/public transport;
* increase densities/housing mix around our railway/busway stations and commercial/employment centres;
* build separated bike/bus lanes on major roads - especially where the bike lane is just paint today or in a "door zone";
* implement 30km/hr speed limits on all residential streets and school zones;
* turn our confusing, low frequency, non-integrated bus network into one that is centred around Bus Rapid Transport routes along our major roads and works with the rail network not compete against it;
* review the Brisbane Metro buses to confirm if they are fit for purpose and able to scale up to do the heavy lifting of passengers on the busway; and
* remove parking minimums.

It is time to act before the "Crash Cart" is needed to resuscitate the region.

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track https://backontrack.org


References:

1. Billions spent on public transport, but car is still king in Brisbane
https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/billions-spent-on-public-transport-but-car-is-still-king-in-brisbane-20221012-p5bp88.html

2. Brent Toderian: Don't "Balance" Modes — Prioritize Walking, Biking, and Transit
https://denver.streetsblog.org/2017/02/09/brent-toderian-dont-balance-modes-prioritize-walking-biking-and-transit/

WA is very detailed and methodical with their planning. They keep costs down and very few things go wrong. They do the business case.

In Queensland, the business cases have question marks on them.

Even with something like CRR, that had to be done three separate times and really dragged on. I believe the current project was first studied in 2008? So 17 years to deliver that.

When Perth did their tunnels under the CBD in 2007, that seemed pretty straightfoward.

Case Study: Forrestfield-Airport Link PDP
https://www.pta.wa.gov.au/portals/0/annualreports/2014/content/operational/performance-report/spotlight-forrestfield-airport-link.asp

QuoteThe PDP was completed on time and submitted to the State Government. It included a well-defined scope of work which formed the basis of a cost estimate. The preparation and conduct of the PDP drew heavily on the PTA's considerable experience in planning and constructing major projects, including the New MetroRail Project, the recently-completed Perth City Link Rail Project, and the soon-to-be completed Butler Extension Project.

QuoteThe Forrestfield-Airport Link PDP included a rigorous assessment of patronage demand, train operations to service the patronage, route options, geotechnical conditions along the route(s), engineering requirements, optimal station locations and requirements, integration with airport infrastructure and associated engineering, the preparation of detailed concept designs of railway alignments and stations precincts, assessment of risks, and liaison with key stakeholders.

https://www.sunshinevalleygazette.com.au/read-paper-online

Sunshine Valley Gazette  30th November 2022 page 20

It's time to up the infrastructure spending




====

Australian Infrastructure Budget Monitor 2022-23

https://infrastructure.org.au/australian-infrastructure-budget-monitor-2022-23/




 

Queensland Parliament

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2022/1160-2022.pdf

Question On Notice
No. 1160
Asked on 26 October 2022

MR D CRISAFULLI ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS (HON M BAILEY)

QUESTION:

Will the Minister list the projects in the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program
2022–23 to 2025–26 that have had any funding changes (including the funding profile) due to the
recent Federal Budget (listing changes to funding per project reported separately by financial
year)?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Broadwater for the question.

The Premier has written to the Prime Minister seeking to ensure that both levels of government
work together to better understand how relevant transport projects can be best sequenced and
put in place collaborative working arrangements to deliver the road and rail infrastructure that
Queenslanders need.

I am advised that this process and related adjustments to cash flows based on delivery
sequencing is not yet finalised, and as such, the data requested is unable to be provided to the
Member at this time.

The Queensland Government produces a State Budget annually in June and, with this, the
Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program (QTRIP) publication is updated with the
State Budget process.

The 2023 QTRIP Publication will include new and increased Australian Government
commitments and projects that have had funding changes as a result of the October 2022–23
Federal Budget for Queensland, as well as any updates resulting from the May 2023-24 Federal
Budget.

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1597692683992334336