RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Quote from: ozbob on June 14, 2023, 12:40:36 PM

Quote from: ozbob on June 13, 2023, 14:33:30 PMhttps://budget.qld.gov.au/?s=Direct+Sunshine+Coast+Rail+Line

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Is in QTRIP

https://www.publications.qld.gov.au/ckan-publications-attachments-prod/resources/e2f11e9c-f59c-4292-a5cf-f35716d083dc/qtrip-2023-24-to-2026-27_accessible.pdf?ETag=2bf3fb8c2f49ba289b9877e887d7e89f

Page 65

Estimated expenditure to 30 June 2023 $5,000,000
2023-24 $5,588,000
2024-25 $3,412,000

qtrip_p65.jpg

Interestingly, this $14 million (from 2023 out to 2025) is not to be found in the budget papers capital statement.
Could it be federal money perhaps?
There is a reference to this note 16 in QTRIP, for the $14 million.


(16) The Queensland Government acknowledges the Australian Government's additional funding commitment towards the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line project and will consider its position on construction funding for project once the investment planning and cost estimates are further developed.

I have sent a tweet to the Minister asking if that is the case.

There is no mention of any Federal funding in the QTRIP entry for that $14 million.  The entry says it is Queensland Government contributions.

These studies end up being nothing more than motherhood statements that just says "we doing a great job no need to change a thing"

Quote from: ozbob on June 14, 2023, 18:05:56 PMThere is no mention of any Federal funding in the QTRIP entry for that $14 million.  The entry says it is Queensland Government contributions.

Thank you Robert.
It does indeed.
Yet the endnote 16 attached to the Investment ID 2474924 ⁽¹⁶⁾ DSCL entry suggests an Australian Govt additional funding commitment, that the Qld Govt acknowledge in the note.

If so, why isn't the $14 million listed in the budget?
This is strange.


Further, there is an Investment ID 1236359 for a QTRIP Sunshine Coast public transport, business case that is for $15 million, on p66, in an equal three way split between Federal, State and Local Govt.
The Light Rail (mass transit) plan I assume, from Maroochydore to Birtinya.
Curiously, it also ends in the 2024-25 financial year, same as the rail business case.

See https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/94482
"As part of our partnership, the Palaszczuk Government have commenced a $15 million, jointly funded detailed business case for the first stage of Sunshine Coast Mass Transit.

Couriermail --> 'Best in the country': Opposition Leader David Crisafulli promises reborn public service $

QuoteIn his budget reply speech, the Opposition Leader will outline his plan to completely overhaul Queensland's public service.

Queensland's "obsessive" reliance on costly consultants would be scrapped and the state's public service reborn as the "best in the country" under a landmark policy put forward by Opposition Leader David Crisafulli.

Mr Crisafulli will use his budget reply speech today to draw "a line in the sand" on Queensland's use of consultants on major projects and services, and claim the Palaszczuk government has spent $423m on contracts with the "big four" consulting firms in the past five years – about $234,000 a day.

"This is not sustainable. This is not the trait of an open and honest government," he said.

"This is not the way to value and empower the Queensland Public Service." ...

^ I agree with the Opposition on this.  The overuse of ' Consultants ' is costly and not necessary.  There is a need for some (e.g specialised technical advice) but seriously things like the management of the Olympics is a State Government responsibility.   

I'm shocked. 

An actual policy from Blue team released well before election week.

https://twitter.com/7NewsSC/status/1668893410613248000

https://twitter.com/DavidCrisafulli/status/1669150880103538689

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/1669174025397108737

The use of consultants by governments creates a false economy. Governments love to tout that the are 'reigning in public service spending' (whose wages and super + costs are on the the books). Consultants, on the other hand, charge up to 'operational costs', so their use is hidden in individual project budgets.

Public servants are required to give 'frank, fearless and accountable advice', while consultants deliver the product whoever is paying them, as directed by the payee.

There are legitimate reasons for using paid consultants in government (i.e. hiring a nuclear physicist to advise on building and operating a nuclear power plant or to measure the workload in a particular operational area through a temporary deployment). However, generally speaking, the public service is highly talented and are a group of straight shooters.

Couriermail --> Editor's view: Budget reply is a missed opportunity for David Crisafulli $

QuoteIt is hard to see Opposition Leader David Crisafulli's budget reply speech as anything but a missed opportunity – a timid tinkering around the edges of what needs to be done, writes the editor. What Queenslanders need is real leadership. ...

 

Ipswich City Council - submission to the State pre budget

https://www.ipswichtribune.com.au/news-politics/council-plea-for-infrastructure-funds

QuoteCouncil's 2023-24 State Budget Submission outlined seven key priorities requiring investment and support from the Queensland Government, including:

· Ipswich to Springfield Central Public Transport Corridor;

· Ipswich Central Second River Crossing: Council is seeking a $4 million investment towards the Detailed Business Case;

· Council is calling for the funding of critical upgrades to strategic highway network: Warrego Highway, Cunningham Highway, Centenary Highway and to support the growth of the Ripley Valley Priority Development Area;

· North Ipswich Sport and Entertainment Precinct: Council is seeking a $10 million investment towards Stage 1 project delivery. This will complement the $20 million secured from the Federal Government;

· Ebenezer Regional Industrial Area: Council seeks the delivery of catalytic infrastructure for the ERIA, to support the Inland Rail project and deliver the Ebenezer Intermodal Terminal;

· Better Bus Network: Council seeks an annual commitment of $5 million towards two new bus services for Ipswich: a trunk bus route between Ipswich Central and Springfield Central and the expansion of bus services within Redbank Plains; and

Waste and Circular Economy Transformation: Council is calling for a comprehensive review and reform of the waste sector.

https://budget.qld.gov.au/files/Budget_2023-24_BP3_Capital_outlays_by_entity.pdf
page 95




 

Sunshine Valley Gazette 21st June 2023 page 21

'Rail revolution' just keeps going 'round and 'round

INQLD: Brissie or the bush: The delicate task of carving up Qld's infrastructure riches

QuoteStill winning the annual scramble for their share of Budget largesse, Queensland's regions continue to hold sway at the ballot box, writes Greg Hallam ...

Ipswich is really being shafted, as is the Sunshine Coast.

I don't get the regional areas that just call for spending to be in their area and not SEQ but don't call out that the spending in SEQ is actually just making things worse!!!

Is it just collective ignorance?

Quote from: verbatim9 on August 21, 2023, 18:48:41 PMIncredible cost blowouts relating to the Northern Transit Way, level crossings and more

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1693536857672364346

Couriermail --> 'Secret' funding cuts: State punts $780m for transport, roads projects $

QuoteMore than $780m of state funding for Queensland transport and roads projects was punted beyond the forward estimates ahead of the June budget to limit the impact of rising cost pressures, it can be revealed.

A leaked decision brief on the Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program sent to Transport Minister Mark Bailey ahead of the June 13 budget states it had occurred following decisions made by the Cabinet Budget Review Committee – and concedes it "presents some optics risks".

The LNP was set to seize on the brief during Wednesday's Question Time, and accuse the state government of ordering "secret infrastructure cuts" in the wake of ongoing project blowouts. ...

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1693898155278913668

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2023/2023_08_23_DAILY.pdf

Questions without notice were particularly shambolic today, even for the Queensland Parliament.

Read only if you have plenty of patience.

Brisbanetimes --> Queensland public transport fares frozen for 2024 in budget update $

QuotePublic transport fares will be frozen for Queenslanders using Translink services in 2024, and this is expected to save the average two-zone commuters up to $65 over the year.

The saving is expected to be up to $210 for a Gold Coast to Brisbane traveller, with fares usually indexed to inflation at the start of each calendar year. ...

Couriermail --> Qld Budget: Deficit to shrink but build blowouts, government expenses continue $

QuoteQueensland's budget deficit will shrink to $138m this financial year following a $3.8bn boost in coal royalty revenue, but infrastructure blowouts and rising government expenses persist.

Treasurer Cameron Dick has announced a new cost of living measure, with public transport fare increases frozen from January 1 – saving people travelling in the inner city about $65 per year.

Commuters between the Gold Coast and Brisbane will save about $210 per year.

The $30,000 First Home Owner Grant announced by Annastacia Palaszczuk last month will continue until June 2025 ...

Government Media Statement

Queensland's 2023-24 Budget Update

13th December 2023

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/99349

Queensland Parliament Questions on Notice

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2024/173-2024.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 173
Asked on 6 March 2024

MR R STEVENS ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS AND MINISTER
FOR DIGITAL SERVICES (HON B MELLISH)

QUESTION:

Will the Minister provide an update on the predicted 2023–24 and 2024–25 spend for
(a) Queensland Train Manufacturing Program, (b) Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail,
(c) Coomera Connector (Stage 1), (d) Gold Coast Light Rail (Stage 3) and (e) Inland Freight
Route?

ANSWER:

> https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2024/173-2024.pdf

Queensland Parliament Questions on Notice

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/tableOffice/questionsAnswers/2024/235-2024.pdf

Question on Notice
No. 235
Asked on 7 March 2024

MR M BERKMAN ASKED MINISTER FOR TRANSPORT AND MAIN ROADS AND MINISTER
FOR DIGITAL SERVICES (HON B MELLISH)

QUESTION:

With reference to 'Rail Network and Infrastructure Funding in 2023–-24 Budget Paper 2, page
218'—
Will the Minister advise (a) what proportion of that funding is spent in SEQ compared to the rest
of Queensland and (b) what proportion supports SEQ passenger services compared to freight or
long-distance passenger services?

ANSWER:

I thank the Member for Maiwar for the question.

(a) Of the $867.3 million estimate identified for Rail Network and Infrastructure Funding in
2023–24, $547.5 million (approximately 63.1 per cent) is to be spent in South East
Queensland (SEQ), with $319.8 million (approximately 36.9 per cent) to be spent in the rest
of Queensland.

(b) It is not possible to separate all associated investment on the basis of specific transport
tasks. The identified investment in Rail Network and Infrastructure Funding in 2023–24
collectively supports and benefits a range of passenger (Citytrain and long-distance) and
freight services across the State, noting these services utilise the same rail systems and
share key corridors.

Queensland Rail owns and operates a single rail network that supports both passenger and
freight services. For example, while Citytrain services operate in SEQ, there are a number
of long-distance passenger and freight services that operate on the regional rail network
which have an origin and destination in SEQ.