RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Quote from: RowBro on March 23, 2023, 11:04:12 AM

Quote from: achiruel on March 23, 2023, 10:32:33 AMI didn't ask if they could, I asked for examples. How about answering the question instead of being irrelevant. Are you a politician?

From my search, albeit brief so it's possible I missed something, BCC is the only council to own toll roads. These being the Clem7, GoBetween Bridge, and the Legacy Way all operated by Transurban.

Regardless of the legality of it, realistically I don't think the council should be operating toll roads since, by the nature of toll roads, they are often major transport projects which you would think would be more under the purview of the state. I don't think the Council should have any financial input into major roads (especially toll roads) under the same principle underpinning my belief that they shouldn't have financial input into public transport. The councils in Queensland are too large for their own good. Instead of focusing on what the local government should focus on, they get bogged down in political fights with the State government which is not productive for anyone involved. I have no issues with them suggesting things to the state, but actively having a financial say in these projects which effect people both within and outside the LGA boundaries is a step too far IMO.

Having a broader perspective for large road and transport is particularly important because you need that connection between LGA's. You need a seamless network of busses, trains, and roads. Having LGA's involved financially completely contradicts this principle because all they care about is their local area. BCC doesn't give too flying hoots about the poor standards of bus connections outside of their borders.

Council owns a lot of infrastructure but they also lease out a sh%t load of it. Take the ICB. BCC owns it yet it's been leased out to Transurban who then built on-ramps/extra lanes and now have an asset that connects to their other toll roads. From my understanding should transurban wish to toll the icb they can do so. Probably offering some kind of incentive if you use multiple tollways aswell.

Couriermail --> Feds cap Queensland Olympic and Paralympic Games spending $

QuoteThe high-level Olympics and Paralympics infrastructure deal between the federal and Queensland government includes a "cap" on the financial contribution from the Albanese government documents show.

The intergovernmental agreement on the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, published by the federal government, shows the Commonwealth will provide a "total capped financial" contribution to Queensland of $3.435bn to put toward building venues.

This includes "up to $2.5bn" for Brisbane Arena and "up to $935m" for the suite of smaller venues.

It also written that Queensland cannot sell, commercially redevelop, or grant a long-term lease on a federally-funded Games venue for 25 years from the moment the site is completed without approval from the Commonwealth. ...

My point about Council needing to care about public transport isn't about running it or even funding it necessarily but doing everything they can to maximize it rather than dismiss it as "a State responsibility" with little they can do to help and in fact focus on undermining it!!

Well, if a council isn't responsible for something, they can't be held accountable for it. 

A council is well within its rights to do bus stop upgrades and nothing else in the PT space.

The same Council could then put together a local roads plan or local arterial upgrade project and spend rates money on that because local roads are their responsibility.

They could hypothetically do a toll road too, and it would all be above board.

Don't be surprised if council or state puts up a motorway proposal "for the Olympics".

"....These being the Clem7, GoBetween Bridge, and the Legacy Way all operated by Transurban...."

I'm reasonably confident BCC own Legacy....but the other two, I think may be owned by Transurban/others.  No "legal reason" why BCC cannot own a toll road at all.

Quote from: ozbob on March 23, 2023, 03:40:46 AMThis 2032 Legacy stuff is overdone.  As far as transport goes it will be nothing new just the projects that should have been progressed years ago is my bet.  There is nothing new on the radar by the looks of it.

If you go back through this thread, fast rail was to be part of the Olympics but it has been done away with as things started to get real. We will be fortunate if the half-baked Sunshine Line track amplification is done by 2032, let alone much else. The Olympics bid was predicated on a lot of transport bullsh%t.  And there is a lot of meaningless babble and spin going on now as well. 

Quote from: Otto on July 27, 2016, 01:21:40 AMFast rail linking Gold and Sunshine coasts a legacy if southeast hosts 2028 Olympics
Tom Snowdon, The Courier-Mail
July 26, 2016 8:16pm

A HIGH speed train linking both the Sunshine and Gold Coast to Brisbane in under 45 minutes – would likely be one of the legacies from hosting the 2028 Olympic Games.

A new or revamped entertainment and sports precinct in Brisbane would be another lasting benefit for the region, a pre-feasibility study has found.

more,
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/fast-rail-linking-gold-and-sunshine-coasts-a-legacy-if-southeast-hosts-2028-olympics/news-story/ca8e8bf8c30fe9fe9254c77b5f77dbda

2032 is one expectations vs reality nightmare! 

I cannot believe the "wagon wheel" of linking Brisbane/Gold Coast/Sunshine Coast/Toowoomba by high quality inter-urban RAIL is not the state's #1 Project NOW....the value-adding is off the scales!

As but one example, opening key parts of the Darling Downs (ie, Toowoomba), to more dwellings, can help take real pressure OFF the SEQ coastal fringe and is a huge opportunity!  The Queensland Minister for Transport & the 1970's, is totally out of his depth.

Making the wagon wheel a reality would set SEQ alight as THE growth powerhouse of Australia...even more so than now, but help do it, in a much more sustainable way.

Quote from: #Metro on March 23, 2023, 18:11:13 PMWell, if a council isn't responsible for something, they can't be held accountable for it. 

A council is well within its rights to do bus stop upgrades and nothing else in the PT space.

The same Council could then put together a local roads plan or local arterial upgrade project and spend rates money on that because local roads are their responsibility.

They could hypothetically do a toll road too, and it would all be above board.

Don't be surprised if council or state puts up a motorway proposal "for the Olympics".

You are a politician!!! I am not accountable so I'll do the exact opposite of helping!! It's BS

Jonno, the argument you're making is essentially this:

- that LGAs should do less about something they have explicit responsibility for (more/better roads), and

- do more about something that they have zero responsibility for.

Under the current setup, it's not their problem, literally. It's 100% for Translink to plan fund, and deliver.

Let's fast track Toowoomba Fast Rail.

Quote from: #Metro on March 23, 2023, 21:10:09 PMUnder the current setup, it's not their problem, literally. It's 100% for Translink to plan fund, and deliver.

As it should be.  Councils don't have the revenue raising powers States do in other parts of the world (fuel taxes, sales taxes etc) so shouldn't be expected to fund ongoing operating expenses. 

BCC is an outlier because it has an enormous rates budget which benefits from a much higher proportion of commercial properties than residential properties, and its large population.  There's still no reason it should be involved in my view.  The State should just raise a public transport levy through LG rates notices to replace the hodge podge of existing LGA specific transport levies (eg on the SC and GC) and to allow BCC to reduce its own rates budget by an equivalent amount.  Already happens for emergency services which are heavily location specific unlike things such as health and education which are (notionally anyway) meant to provide for the same outcomes everywhere in the State, so why should funding bus services be any different?

But at the same time Translink needs teeth, money and power. Otherwise there will still be this pointless bickering that we see between state and local governments/bcc. Something that it's never going to get while it's a tmr department.

Labour needs to change legislation back to what it was before Newman's hack job. Along with making it a statutory body again. The minister for selfies, photographs and blaming everyone else doesn't help this at all.

QuoteBCC is an outlier because it has an enormous rates budget which benefits from a much higher proportion of commercial properties than residential properties, and its large population.

Well, if MBRC could find $108 million to fund heavy rail construction (totally not their domain of responsibility!), and Gold Coast found $91.5 million for Stage 3 of LRT (and has found money to contribute to each stage of LRT over the last ~10 years), why would we then believe that there is no capacity for a much smaller but ongoing contribution to PT operations?

If these councils really had no financial capacity to contribute, we would expect no capacity to contribute across the board. Their contributions to the above mentioned projects would thus be observed to be Zero.

The fact that they have contributed to these projects very large sums of cash is prima facie evidence that they DO have capacity.

Not exactly true. MBRC allocated funding that went mostly towards road modifications, overpasses and reconfigurations. Kinsellas road was to be removed all together even though there weren't many other alternatives at the time. When. Reman got in there wasn't too much that could be touched due to agreements with the council which is why at was easily dropped as it was within the state scope.

Quote from: #Metro on March 23, 2023, 21:10:09 PMJonno, the argument you're making is essentially this:

- that LGAs should do less about something they have explicit responsibility for (more/better roads), and

- do more about something that they have zero responsibility for.

Under the current setup, it's not their problem, literally. It's 100% for Translink to plan fund, and deliver.

That's such a narrow perspective!

The local Council can have massive role in active and public transport! The integration of cycling and public transport is massive!

Reducing trips by car through good land use planning/urban design is massive!

Build 15min Neighborhoods is massive.

Not focusing on widening roads is massive!!

Not campaigning to keep individual rockets or the wandering/lost 232 is massive.

The mind set needs to be local Council's play a major role in active/public transport it's just not in the provision of the service. Finding should be a thing as they fund the alternative but it's not a deal breaker especially if it used as an excuse to interfere in Translink planning, branding, service boundaries  and operations!!

QuoteThat's such a narrow perspective!

The local Council can have massive role in active and public transport! The integration of cycling and public transport is massive!

It is a narrow perspective, but it is also how the current responsibilities are divided. I'm not being prescriptive here, just describing the current arrangements as they are.

Active Transport =/= Public Transport even if they are related or connected. They are separable.

QuoteNot focusing on widening roads is massive!!

A council cannot sit on its hands a limit itself to just renewing asphalt on existing roads and maintaining lighting/signals. It has a roads budget which is going to get spent and probably increase too as council revenues increase. You may not agree with this perspective - totally fine - but the RACQ will of course be there lobbying LGAs to spend more and do more.

See here with their 'Red Spot' congestion survey ---> https://www.racq.com.au/about-us/news-and-media/media-release/2023/3/010323-daily-commute-doing-your-head-in-have-your-say

QuoteThe Club has launched its biennial Red Spot Congestion Survey and wants motorists to identify congestion hotspots in a bid to help get them fixed.

RACQ Traffic and Safety Engineering Manager Gregory Miszkowycz said the survey results would be provided to authorities to prioritise and lobby for infrastructure improvements.

Voters also expect Councils to do something about roads as it is their explicit responsibility and ~ 80% of voters in an LGA either own car or drive.

Quote from: #Metro on March 24, 2023, 10:25:59 AM

QuoteThat's such a narrow perspective!

The local Council can have massive role in active and public transport! The integration of cycling and public transport is massive!

It is a narrow perspective, but it is also how the current responsibilities are divided. I'm not being prescriptive here, just describing the current arrangements as they are.

Active Transport =/= Public Transport even if they are related or connected. They are separable.

QuoteNot focusing on widening roads is massive!!

A council cannot sit on its hands a limit itself to just renewing asphalt on existing roads and maintaining lighting/signals. It has a roads budget which is going to get spent and probably increase too as council revenues increase. You may not agree with this perspective - totally fine - but the RACQ will of course be there lobbying LGAs to spend more and do more.

See here with their 'Red Spot' congestion survey ---> https://www.racq.com.au/about-us/news-and-media/media-release/2023/3/010323-daily-commute-doing-your-head-in-have-your-say

QuoteThe Club has launched its biennial Red Spot Congestion Survey and wants motorists to identify congestion hotspots in a bid to help get them fixed.

RACQ Traffic and Safety Engineering Manager Gregory Miszkowycz said the survey results would be provided to authorities to prioritise and lobby for infrastructure improvements.

Voters also expect Councils to do something about roads as it is their explicit responsibility and ~ 80% of voters in an LGA either own car or drive.

Here's the thing. The LGA has financial benefit to encourage PT and active transport, even if they are not directly involved. Urban sprawl costs money. A lot of money. Currently the LGA's are doing fine. The increase in population is offsetting the increased money spent, however as soon as the population growth slows, this Ponzi scheme will fall and the growing cost of road maintenance and renewal will not be affordable. For BCC maybe it will be, but not every council has a huge CBD.

The problem is, the LGA's dont have the foresight to understand this fact. They think in the short term, to hell with the long term. Hopefully the lesson's from America sink in sometime soon.

QuoteThe problem is, the LGA's dont have the foresight to understand this fact.

If a SEQ Council's allocates 0% (or close to) of its transport budget for PT, that is not unexpected as it's a TransLink responsibility. That leaves the remaining 100% of LGA transport budget funds to be spent on roads, footpaths and cycleways. You can immediately guess where the majority of those funds are going to go then... 🚗 🚗 🚗

It would be an interesting excercise to see what $ and % of council budgets were dedicated to LGA roads for each SEQ Council over the last 5 years or so.

Quote, why would we then believe that there is no capacity for a much smaller but ongoing contribution to PT operations?

BCC funds PT north of $130m per year. So that's $1.3b per decade.

Whereas something like MBRL is $108m (so lets say $21.6m per year over a 5 year planning and construction period)

And now the railway is built, there is no further annual need to contribute.


This is the challenge when comparing once off capital spends versus ongoing running costs.

I think councils can borrow to fund a bit of infrastructure, but probably cant borrow for operational expenditures of a similar magnitude. (Generally if a government is having to borrow for recurrent expenditure, that's a bad sign)

Perhaps the broader view I take is why are we forcing LGAs into this position?

I don't think they should have to fund PT operations, or major infastructure!

Like, you have these areas that the State Government designates as growth areas. Mango Hill and North Lakes for example, piles the people in, and then decides not to build a railway for years.
Getting the right infrastructure and services shouldn't be contingent on some minor contribution from the council.


Having two levels of government gives the state a way of shying away from worlds best practice.

But if the buck stops with the state, then I think you get better outcomes, which is why WA, NSW and VIC have really got their act together more recently IMHO.

Vic wouldnt have removed 85 Level Crossings if they continually deferred to local councils to fund it. No in this case having a strong state level authority clearly got the job done.

I dont also agree with the idea that "Qld LGAs have more people so therefore that means they are more powerful"

No as far as I'm concerned, a bigger LGA should just mean they have a bigger fleet of rubbish trucks, a larger number of parks, etc.

I feel that BCCs contributions are misdirected anyway.

Here is what the 2022-23 budget says and my comments:

Activities in this service include:
•    supporting the operating costs of Transport for Brisbane's bus services. This funding is in addition to funding received from Translink for operating services
ROCKETS TO EVERYWHERE
• provision of a dedicated cleaning and maintenance service program
• operating the free City Loop and Spring Hill Loop services
THE EXISTENCE OF THIS IS BECAUSE OF CONCENTRATED CBD RATES REVENUE
•    partnering with the Queensland Government to subsidise the Blue CityGlider
•    provision of the majority of funding for the Maroon CityGlider
IN OTHER WORDS THE MAROON GLIDER DUPLICATED OTHER HF ROUTES AND WAS IMPLEMENTED TO APPEASE DEVELOPERS IN THAT CORRIDOR, STATE HAD NO INTEREST IN FURTHER SUBSIDY
•    funding for free off-peak travel for seniors on buses
VOTE BUYING
•    provision of personalised public transport services to support transport hubs in areas with limited or no Translink
services.
AREAS BCC ZONED TOO LOW TO SUPPORT VIABLE PT

Couriermail --> Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's big call on Brisbane 2032 Olympics name change $

QuotePremier Annastacia Palaszczuk has defended the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games being named after just Brisbane, despite other Queensland locations hosting the world's biggest sporting event.

She dismissed a suggestion to call the games "Southeast Queensland 2032" during the organising committee board's two-day visit across the Gold Coast.

"The way the Olympics have operated in the past, it has always been the centre is given to the name which is hosting the most number of events," the premier said.

"Under the new norm you will hear me say Brisbane 2023 Queensland - it's inclusive of all of Queensland." ...

https://twitter.com/10NewsFirstQLD/status/1639110098839830530

Couriermail --> Olympics expert urges premier to ditch the secrecy $

QuoteSir David Higgins warns public support for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics will evaporate if politicians fail to deliver on promises they made to get the Games.

And he debunked the idea that the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games would deliver high-speed rail links between Sunshine Coast, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

Higgins speaks with authority as former chief executive of Great Britain's Network Rail, a job he took after he successfully delivered the 2012 London Olympics ahead of schedule and under budget.

Higgins, who was knighted by Prince Charles, said talk of fast rail links was a ruse often used by Olympic bidders to impress the International Olympic Committee. ...

... The State Government has not released its Olympic transport blueprint, and time may be running out. ...

  We know ...

Quote from: ozbob on March 23, 2023, 03:40:46 AMThis 2032 Legacy stuff is overdone.  As far as transport goes it will be nothing new just the projects that should have been progressed years ago is my bet.  There is nothing new on the radar by the looks of it.

If you go back through this thread, fast rail was to be part of the Olympics but it has been done away with as things started to get real. We will be fortunate if the half-baked Sunshine Line track amplification is done by 2032, let alone much else. The Olympics bid was predicated on a lot of transport bullsh%t.  And there is a lot of meaningless babble and spin going on now as well. 

Quote from: Otto on July 27, 2016, 01:21:40 AMFast rail linking Gold and Sunshine coasts a legacy if southeast hosts 2028 Olympics
Tom Snowdon, The Courier-Mail
July 26, 2016 8:16pm

A HIGH speed train linking both the Sunshine and Gold Coast to Brisbane in under 45 minutes – would likely be one of the legacies from hosting the 2028 Olympic Games.

A new or revamped entertainment and sports precinct in Brisbane would be another lasting benefit for the region, a pre-feasibility study has found.

more,
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/fast-rail-linking-gold-and-sunshine-coasts-a-legacy-if-southeast-hosts-2028-olympics/news-story/ca8e8bf8c30fe9fe9254c77b5f77dbda

Sent to all outlets:

Where is the 2032 Brisbane Olympics Transport Blueprint?

25th March 2023

Good Morning,

There appears to be a lack of transport planning and consequent actions for the 2032 Brisbane Olympics.

Yet another timely warning by Sir David Higgins in the Couriermail today:  Olympics expert urges premier to ditch the secrecy https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/opinion/olympics-expert-urges-premier-to-ditch-the-secrecy/news-story/7886794090d2b8a68fce3cde50d57468

In the early days of the Brisbane Olympic bid, fast rail to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts was touted as a benefit: Fast rail linking Gold and Sunshine coasts a legacy if southeast hosts 2028 Olympics July 26, 2016
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/fast-rail-linking-gold-and-sunshine-coasts-a-legacy-if-southeast-hosts-2028-olympics/news-story/ca8e8bf8c30fe9fe9254c77b5f77dbda

Fast rail for SEQ has long been relegated to fantasy for the Olympics.  As commented by Higgins " ...said talk of fast rail links was a ruse often used by Olympic bidders to impress the International Olympic Committee. ... ". This is what has happened in Queensland.    As far as transport goes it will be nothing new just the projects that should have been progressed years ago is our bet.  There is nothing really new on the radar by the looks of it.

If you go back through this thread at RAIL Back On Track Forum ( https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11297.0 ), fast rail was to be part of the Olympics but it has been done away with as things started to get real. We will be fortunate if the half-baked Sunshine Coast Line track amplification is done by 2032, let alone much else. The Olympics bid was predicated on a lot of transport hype.  And there is a lot of meaningless babble and spin going on now as well.

We call on the Premier of Queensland to fast track the Olympic Transport Blueprint.  Construction of the Sunshine Coast line duplication is now 11 years behind.  Will the quadruplication of the Gold Coast line between Kuraby and Beenleigh be done by 2032?  On past form unlikely.

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

Facebook ...

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1639368861790388234

QuoteThis 2032 Legacy stuff is overdone.  As far as transport goes it will be nothing new just the projects that should have been progressed years ago is my bet.  There is nothing new on the radar by the looks of it.

We still have a good chance to get bus reform for Brisbane. That is very low cost.

It can be done in increments.

It would require putting on just a touch more than 1 BUZ routes per year up to 2032.

Might be able to get more Brisbane Metro lines as well. And bikeways!

All the other big projects etc - I would not bet on any of those being delivered other than Gold Coast LRT and maybe rail to Gold Coast Airport.

We have a long infrastructure wishlist. The determining factor here is how many projects within a 10 year period is the Queensland Government capable of delivering?

I would say the Queensland Government can handle about 3-4 large transport projects in that timeframe.

The number of big infrastructure projects the government can handle within a specified time period cannot take on any value.

Things need to be prioritised, timed & staged and put in a pipeline.

It is going to be constrained by:

- the department's ability to supervise projects (staff limits)
- financial budgets (not infinite)
- slowed by any consultation process or planning that needs to be carried out
- limited by labour availability (worker shortages & rising costs) etc.
- the inflation rate, which changes the key financial metrics to be much more difficult.

For these reasons, I think there is only so much room in the Inn.

The Olympics are a 2-week event.

In The Age today as well, you can see the Victorian Government is now having issues with debt load and is now looking at shedding staff in response. A rising amount of money is now going to pay loan interest and not into services. Essentially, that is going to put a big brake on what that state can do in terms of large infra projects going forward.

We need more than bus reform Lols

Quote from: Verbatim9We need more than bus reform Lols

We do. We need stadiums and venues etc.

That said, the Federal Government have been very clever in making the funding grant a fixed figure.

This means any cost variance has to be borne by the Queensland Government.

The Gabba redevelopment is clearly Priority #1, and I expect funds to be diverted from other potential projects in favour of achieving that.

It is going to host the opening ceremony after all.

There are other Federal  funding streams other than the Olympic funding for transport.

Therefore, I am hopeful that other public transport infrastructure projects will get off the ground.

QuoteThere are other Federal  funding streams other than the Olympic funding for transport.

Therefore, I am hopeful that other public transport infrastructure projects will get off the ground.

Has the funding deal been concluded? I was under the impression that was the whole package, and nothing further.

Here is a list of the main projects at DTMR, I expect some Federal funding for some of these if they ever progress.

Toowoomba to Brisbane Passenger Rail Strategic Business Case
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/toowoomba-to-brisbane-passenger-rail-strategic-business-case

Salisbury to Beaudesert Rail Business Case
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/salisbury-to-beaudesert-rail-business-case

Ipswich to Springfield Public Transport Corridor Study
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/ipswich-to-springfield-public-transport-corridor-study

Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line, planning
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/direct-sunshine-coast-rail-line-planning

Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade (Stage 1)
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/beerburrum-to-nambour-rail-upgrade-stage-1

Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/logan-and-gold-coast-faster-rail

Gold Coast Heavy Rail Extension – Varsity Lakes to Gold Coast Airport
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/gold-coast-heavy-rail-extension-varsity-lakes-to-gold-coast-airport

Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 4
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/gold-coast-light-rail-stage-4

SEQ Rail Connect
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/About-us/Corporate-information/Publications/SEQ-Rail-Connect

Beams Road (Carseldine and Fitzgibbon), rail level crossing
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/beams-road-carseldine-and-fitzgibbon-rail-level-crossing

Boundary Road (Coopers Plains), rail level crossing, funding commitment
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/boundary-road-coopers-plains-rail-level-crossing-funding-commitment

ETCS L2 - there is some basic stuff on this eg. https://crossriverrail.qld.gov.au/about/rail-network-improvements/

But I cannot find a detailed description of the project. For more on ETCS L2 > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?msg=260351

The funding deal and federal limit on contributions indicated that this exclusively related to olympic venues and not to other infrastructure (be it social, cultural, or transport).
Of course there is always room for politicians to claim at a later point that they meant a limit on all contributions.

I think if infrastructure is designed for the broader community it shouldn't be considered a cost of the olympics. The cost of the olympics is mainly these overpriced and ill considered stadiums.

Couriermail --> Sunshine Coast rail go-slow shows need for independent body to oversee Games infrastructure $

QuoteThe ongoing political blue over the Sunshine Coast rail extension is a perfect example of why an independent body is needed to oversee Olympics-related infrastructure.

Debate over extending the rail line from Beerwah to Maroochydore has been going on for more than 20 years, but the opportunity of the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games made it look like the vital infrastructure was finally going ahead.

In March last year a whopping $1.6bn was committed by the then-Morrison government towards what it expected to be a $3.2bn project, all tied up with the Games.

But very quickly any bipartisanship evaporated with an election on the horizon, and it descended into accusations of "fake funding" or more reasonable questions over details of the planning documents it was based on.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson warns in The Courier-Mail today that the vital project is running out of time to be able to be delivered before the Games. ...

Couriermail --> Labor shortages could threaten Queensland's infrastructure plans $

QuoteLabor shortages could threaten Queensland's upcoming Olympic and Paralympic infrastructure plans, with industry experts warning the clash of renewable energy projects with the Games would place the sector under enormous pressure.

Tens of billions of dollars of projects have been flagged by the Palaszczuk government to be completed over the next decade, but years of dwindling apprentice numbers and a lack of migration to fill the void mean construction giants face an ongoing lack of workers.

Construction Skills Queensland general manager Sean Cummiskey said with the grand scale of infrastructure plans committed across the state, the next ten years of heightened activity would test the depth of the sector's workforce.

"Skills shortages are a real threat to Queensland being able to realise the full potential presented by major works such as renewables projects and the Olympics," he said. ...

Sent to all outlets:

Transport "Perfect Storm" Building for Olympics

29th March 2023

RAIL Back On Track is forecasting a 'Perfect Storm' in transport not just for the 2032 Olympics, but for the Queensland economy and communities.

Everywhere RAIL Back On Track members look there are signs of building storm cells, just like the natural ones, that will wreak havoc on business, communities and the lives of people across the state.

The list of 'storms' grows by the day, some examples:

.  delays and procrastination on the Sunshine Coast Line Duplication and rail line to Maroochydore;
.  poor rail frequency particularly off-peak and weekends - embarrassingly the recent Sydney Trains disrupted services still had better frequency than SEQ;
.  the Bus Driver Shortage Crisis, impacting across SEQ and urban bus throughout Queensland;
.  an overdue and desperately needed bus network redesign for Brisbane & SEQ to remove duplication and inefficient, indirect, confusing routes plus integrate with rail rather than compete with it;
.  little investment in safe and segregated cycling infrastructure in our suburbs and on our street and roads;
.  buses stuck in ever worsening congestion in SEQ;
.  a Gold Coast rail line only kilometres short of an international airport;
.  infrequent or non-existent regional rail to major regional centres;
.  a billion dollar BCC led electric bus project being called a 'Metro' that offers little increase in overall busway capacity;
.  brand new CRR railway stations connected by 300m walks instead direct links between platforms;
.  highly value land for affordable housing and mixed-use development being used for park n rides;
.  more and more freeway construction/road widening that is well known to create more congestion not "bust" it;
.  sky-taxis being promoted as public transport;
.  Council City Plans still enforcing car-dependant, low density development.

RAIL Back On Track and other active/public transport groups appear to be the only ones aware that SEQ is headed for a very bleak future of ever congested roads, higher costs of living and worse health outcomes for the public.  All which is costing the rate and tax payers more and more every year.

Is there no one willing to stand up publicly and say "STOP!! DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER EXPECTING A DIFFERENT OUTCOME IS INSANITY"

All there seems to be is Twitter fights from the major political parties - each defending their positions so much so they're blind to the pending storm.  They're certainly oblivious to the fact that they are making things worse!

Planning Institute of Australia, Engineers Australia, Australian Medical Association, Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland will you join RAIL Back On Track and other active/public transport groups calling for:

1.  Prioritisation of active and public transport investment instead of widening roads and building more freeways.
2.  Redesigning the SEQ bus network based on a core set of BRT routes running in their own lanes along major roads.
3.  Increase rail frequencies as far as the Queensland Rail fleet and network permits including hiring the necessary drivers and guards. Increases in train frequency is one of the key things that will activate the public transport network.

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

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https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1641503435123232768

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1641677479462203392

Yep, I reckon the Premier and Transport Minister were wishing the Morrison Government had remained in power.

1. they could blame them perennially for a lack of funding and even for not building state owned railroads.

2. they were guaranteed 50-50 splits on infrastructure.
Now the current federal government 'cheques' just don't cut it.

3. they now can't blame the Feds for all of the above.

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1641913535432388608