RAIL - Back On Track Forum

Looking through all the cut projects, it's clear the current feds do not see value in carpark upgrades. This is something which we seem to be in agreeance with since the cost per carpark added is exorbitant. Perhaps this could form part of a media release?

Interview 16 November 2023 ABC Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast Mornings host Sarah Howells with Jeff Addison RBoT

Topic Federal Government Infrastructure Review regarding DSCRL Sunshine Coast line.

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcsc/abcsc_sh_ja_16nov23.mp3 MP3 5.4MB

Interview commences with some audio from Minister King's Press Conference.

Here is the Queensland section of the Infrastructure Review Summary
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/independent-strategic-review-iip-project-changes-summary.pdf

--> https://backontrack.org/docs/ifreview/ifr_qld.pdf PDF 0.6MB

Car park/P&R funding are low hanging fruit on the 'cut' list. It would strengthen the case to improve bus services/feeders at those locations.

https://backontrack.org/docs/ifreview/ifr_qld.pdf PDF 0.6MB

Main rail/PT projects:

DSCRL   pending business case outcome

Coopers Plains Boundary Road LX removal 

Beams Road Open Level Crossing removal 

GCLFR (Kuraby - Beenleigh upgrade)  Additional funding too

Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade 

Brisbane Metro - Woolloongabba Station 

Gold Coast Light Rail - Stage 3 

Lindum Rail Crossing Upgrade 

Quote from: ozbob on November 16, 2023, 10:03:08 AMInterview 16 November 2023 ABC Sunshine Coast/Gold Coast Mornings host Sarah Howells with Jeff Addison RBoT

Topic Federal Government Infrastructure Review regarding DSCRL Sunshine Coast line.

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcsc/abcsc_sh_ja_16nov23.mp3 MP3 5.4MB

Interview commences with some audio from Minister King's Press Conference.

Excellent interview FF, thank you! 

https://x.com/railbotforum/status/1724944738263191955?s=20

Quote from: RowBro on November 16, 2023, 09:44:03 AMNo rail projects scrapped! In even better news, the monstrosity of the Mooloolah River Interchange is being dropped!

AND 2 commuter car parks. Turn them in Housing!!!!

Quote from: RowBro on November 16, 2023, 09:59:49 AMLooking through all the cut projects, it's clear the current feds do not see value in carpark upgrades. This is something which we seem to be in agreeance with since the cost per carpark added is exorbitant. Perhaps this could form part of a media release?

pick me!!!

Noting as well that the M1 upgrade Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway is still in there. While on the surface that's a road project, that includes the busway extension to Cornubia so that's also a big win for Public Transport.

Overall it looks like this was not as dire of a circumstance as we originally thought. This review has actually seen MORE money going towards PT infrastructure and LESS towards roads/highways. I see this as a bit of a win tbh.

Quote from: timh on November 16, 2023, 11:10:52 AMNoting as well that the M1 upgrade Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway is still in there. While on the surface that's a road project, that includes the busway extension to Cornubia so that's also a big win for Public Transport.

Overall it looks like this was not as dire of a circumstance as we originally thought. This review has actually seen MORE money going towards PT infrastructure and LESS towards roads/highways. I see this as a bit of a win tbh.

Big win but even the road projects should/can ensure active/public transport is prioritised.

Facebook ...

So what are the state government complaining about? Looks like we kept all the good stuff and lost some carparks. I guess they need to feign indignance so those electorates that got funding cuts vote for them?

Couriermail --> Billions in roads, rail to be cut – but some QLD projects given lifeline $

QuoteMajor Queensland projects worth billions of dollars have been delayed while nine worth $360m have been axed by the Albanese government.
The Sunshine Coast rail extension and upgrades to the M1 at Logan will be delayed, commuter car parks, Emu Swamp Creek and some regional roads have been axed and question marks remain over the Bruce Highway, as part of the Albanese Government's infrastructure audit.

Some of the key projects to be saved or received increased cash to deal with cost blowouts include the Rockhampton Ring Road, the M1 upgrade between Varsity and Tugun, the Centenary Bridge, Coomera Connector and Gold Coast light rail stage 3.

There were nine Queensland projects worth $363m in total which have been cut; the Beenleigh and Loganlea commuter car parks, Emu Swamp Dam, High Road and Easterly upgrade at Waterford, Kenmore Roundabout upgrade, Mooloolah River Interchange, New England Highway at Cabarlah, Nicklin Way-Third Avenue Connection at Caloundra and Tennant Creek to Townsville Corridor upgrade at Dingo Park Road.

A further five projects worth $3.15bn in Qld have been delayed pending further planning and rescoping.

These are the Sunshine Coast Rail extension to Maroochydore – which was pitched as an upgrade as part of the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games, the Inland Freight Route (Mungindi to Charters Towers), M1 Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway, the Cairns Arterial Road duplication and the Bribie Island Road upgrade at Caboolture between Hickey Road and King John Creek.

Funding for these delayed projects will be set aside to be used for that project in future. ...

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/brisbane-news-live-tough-new-laws-for-dangerous-dogs-qld-project-spared-amid-major-infrastructure-axing-brisbane-christmas-lunch-ideas-20231115-p5ekap.html

QuoteHighways, car parks, and fast rail among 50 projects axed

Fifty road projects across the country have been axed by the federal government with question marks over many more as it overhauls the way infrastructure is funded.

Infrastructure Minister Catherine King this morning released the independent review of the 10-year, $120 billion pipeline of major works which found without changes it could not be delivered.

Spending may have to increase with King warning there were ongoing cost pressures that would be included in the upcoming mid-year budget update.

King said the government's changes would put the federal's infrastructure program back on track.

"As part of responding to the findings of the review, the government has made necessary decisions to no longer provide funding at this time to some projects," she said.

"This includes projects that were not realistically going to be delivered with the funding available, have made little to no progress over a significant amount of time, and projects that do not align with Commonwealth or state and territory priorities." ...

Brisbanetimes --> Canberra cuts Qld projects but finds almost $2b for faster rail to coast $

QuoteThe Australian government will pour $1.75 billion more into faster rail between Brisbane and the Gold Coast and lift spending on other key south-east road projects as part of its long-awaited infrastructure pipeline review. ...

As you can see there is a lot of diverse interpretations of what is actually going on with these reviews.

I think from a rail/PT perspective we have come out of it better than we hoped. 

DSCRL has not really been delayed, it was always contingent on the business case, now due end of 2024.  It was accelerated actually (the business case).  There is a fair chance though that I think it might be staged.

But the Queensland Premier and Queensland Treasurer are not happy campers.  Lets see what Hansard has later when published.

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/qld-politics/parliament-live-anthony-albaneses-infrastructure-cuts-to-dominate-parliament/live-coverage/0f1376e5580c27942307e152b1e94151

QuotePremier Annastacia Palaszczuk labelled the federal government's infrastructure cuts "outrageous".

She said the Commonwealth collected 80 per cent of taxes and insisted Queensland would not accept cuts to projects including upgrades on the Bruce Highway.

"Our officials have been engaging to make that position clear," she said.

Ms Palaszczuk also took aim at Ms King's claim there were no surprises for states in the cash cut.

"This Infrastructure Review does not have our cooperation, to say otherwise is dishonest," the Premier said.

Deputy Premier Steven Miles said Queensland needed major new infrastructure ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games, but said federal Labor's plan "could put all this at risk".

Treasurer Cameron Dick called the cuts a "body blow to Queensland". ..

 

https://x.com/MurrayWatt/status/1724963772337733769?s=20

The total number of dollars flowing to Queensland from Canberra has not fallen. What the states seem to be arguing about is 'phantom dollars' for future projects that will overshoot their original cost estimate because of underpricing at the time the original project announcement was made.

Dr Miles is taking a busload of Qld Mayors to Canberra to complain. This might backfire.

Minister King said she will announce the conditions surrounding federal transport funding going to councils from the federal government. The word is that the feds will bolster the Roads to Recovery Program spend (federal money spent by councils). The Qld Mayors will be told how much more each of their councils will get from R2R ... and they will be ecstatic. Dr Miles will be fuming.

Hansard

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2023/2023_11_16_DAILY.pdf

Ministerial Statements

Federal Labor Government, Infrastructure Funding

Hon. A PALASZCZUK (Inala—ALP) (Premier and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic
Games) (10.03 am): The funding cuts announced by the federal government to Queensland
infrastructure projects are outrageous. The federal government collects 80 per cent of taxes. It is only
fair to ask that Queenslanders' taxes be reinvested in the infrastructure needed for a growing state. I
made our position clear back in May this year that Queensland would not accept cuts to existing
projects. Since that time our officials have been engaging to make that position clear over and over
again.

On Tuesday I again wrote to the Prime Minister making it clear that we would not accept cuts to
existing projects and a move away from the 80-20 funding on the Bruce Highway. That followed a final
position being provided by the federal government on the infrastructure review to Minister Bailey's
office. I want to make it very clear again for Minister King that this infrastructure review does not have
our cooperation. We do not agree with this plan.

Opposition members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Members to my left will cease their interjections.

Ms PALASZCZUK: To say otherwise is dishonest. We do not accept funding cuts on the Bruce
Highway, including the Gateway Motorway to Dohles Rocks Road upgrade, upgrades at Mackay or
upgrades near Cairns. We expect the federal government to honour their commitments on the
Rockhampton Ring Road. I know how important regional road projects are in Queensland. Queensland
has the longest road network in the nation. We are the most decentralised state in the nation. We are
the fastest growing state. Just last night I was talking about this with the Queensland Farmers'
Federation, who will be joining the 'Team Queensland' delegation to Canberra. The Queensland
Trucking Association have also advised us that they will be joining 'Team Queensland'.

Opposition members interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Order!

Ms PALASZCZUK: Grow up.

Mr SPEAKER: That is unhelpful, Premier. Members to my left, this is a ministerial statement. I
do not believe there is any antagonising going on in the statement. I would ask you to listen to the
statement, as I am.

Ms PALASZCZUK: We understand that the cost of freight is critical to inflation and the cost of
living. We will continue to fight for funding for the inland freight route, the Cairns Western Arterial Road and the direct Sunshine Coast rail line—just to name a few examples. I will always fight for
Queensland's fair share, I will always fight for Queensland jobs and I will never stop fighting for
Queensland regions.

Hansard

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2023/2023_11_16_DAILY.pdf

Ministerial Statements

Federal Labor Government, Infrastructure Funding

Hon. CR DICK (Woodridge—ALP) (Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment)
(10.15 am): The infrastructure cuts announced this morning by the federal infrastructure minister are a
body blow to Queensland. The federal infrastructure minister is proposing cuts to projects across the
state.

Mr Mander interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Everton, you are warned under the standing orders.

Mr DICK: These cuts will mean Queenslanders will be forced to wait longer in traffic, drive on
more dangerous roads and suffer from a higher cost of living. Overnight the minister was reported as
saying that these cuts were being made with the 'cooperation of the states and territories'. This is false.

Queensland has not and will not cooperate with the federal infrastructure minister's cuts. Despite the
federal minister's request, we have steadfastly refused to recommend, suggest or agree to any project
being cancelled. My message to the federal minister is simple: do not try to rope us into your bad
decisions.

Earlier this week, the federal infrastructure minister said that a $10 billion federal spend, currently
matched by $2 billion in state funding, would somehow become $20 billion under a fifty-fifty funding
split. Under this logic, somehow the state government would magic up $8 billion in new expenditure.
This is absurd. We already put every spare dollar that we can into the Bruce Highway.
The federal government cuts mean exactly that—cuts to spending that will hurt Queenslanders.
When costs go up and you do not increase expenditure to match those increased costs, then you are
making cuts. The states and the territories are not going to save the federal minister from her bad
decision to cut. We simply cannot afford to do so.

Queenslanders are reasonable, practical people. We understand that undeliverable Morrison
government election boondoggles have to be removed. We have already paid a heavy price in
Queensland when the federal government cut $5.7 billion and cancelled the Hells Gate Dam and the
Emu Swamp Dam. Our population is growing, with more interstate migrants than all the other states.

Opposition members interjected.

Mr DICK: Let me repeat that again for people in this House who do not want to listen. Our
population is growing with more interstate migrants than all the states combined. That means
Queensland needs more infrastructure funding and not less.

In conclusion, I will make this concession to the federal minister: it is possible that she could get
agreement on those cuts, but that will only happen if the LNP wins the next state election.

Hansard

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2023/2023_11_16_DAILY.pdf

Ministerial Statements

Bruce Highway Upgrade Program

Hon. MC BAILEY (Miller—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads and Minister for Digital
Services) (10.18 am): The safety of Queenslanders on our roads is paramount. That is why we have
our $13 billion, 15-year program to deliver upgrades right across the length and the breadth of the Bruce
at 80-20. These projects improve reliability, flood resilience, deliver upgraded intersections, lane
separations and add overtaking lanes to make driving safer and to save lives.

The Palaszczuk government has delivered 466 projects under the Bruce Highway Upgrade
Program, with 80 currently in delivery, broken down to 31 in construction, 28 in design, 21 in planning—
a pipeline. Some 120 of these projects have been completed since January 2019, including 110
construction projects and 10 in the planning and design phase. The Palaszczuk government
commitment to safety is underpinned by our $1.6 billion investment in road safety and our commitment
to work with the federal government to develop a national road safety data collection and reporting
framework.

The answer to the need to continue upgrading the Bruce Highway is obvious: do not cut funding.
As advised yesterday, over the past decade there has been a 24½ per cent decrease in crashes on the
Bruce Highway and a 26 per cent decrease in fatalities per vehicle kilometres travelled.

Mr O'Connor interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Bonney, you are warned under the standing orders.

Mr BAILEY: This can be attributed to ongoing programmed investment by this government.

Mr Bleijie interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Kawana, you are warned under the standing orders. Direct your
comments through the chair. That goes for other members today.

Mr BAILEY: For the federal government—for any government or opposition—to consider cutting
funding to the Bruce Highway is totally unacceptable. Queensland has the largest road network of any
state. We are the most decentralised state in the nation, with more regional towns and cities than any
other state in Australia. The Palaszczuk government has proven its ability to deliver a sustained rolling
program of improvements along the Bruce Highway—466.

Investment in the Bruce Highway now saves money in the medium and the long term through
improved flood resilience that allows freight to get through to regional communities during extreme
weather events and through reducing the cost and impact of road crashes. There is no more important
investment in this state. We know that our work to improve safety on the Bruce Highway has saved
lives. We will fight every single day to ensure we get the funding our state needs to keep upgrading the
Bruce Highway and to continue the upgrades that we have been delivering.

Opposition members interjected.

Mr BAILEY: I will not hear it from those opposite, who neglected the Bruce Highway for the three
years they were in power. They have announced billions of cuts in infrastructure. That is what they have
said. Believe them. We will always fight for the Bruce Highway—not dump it, like the pretenders on the
other side of the House.

Mr Minnikin interjected.

Mr Janetzki interjected.

Mr SPEAKER: Member for Chatsworth, that is fantastic advice. Direct your comments through
the chair. You are warned under the standing orders, as is the member for Toowoomba South.

Hansard

https://documents.parliament.qld.gov.au/events/han/2023/2023_11_16_DAILY.pdf

Questions Without Notice

Federal Labor Government, Infrastructure Funding

Mr SMITH: My question is of the Premier and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.
As Queensland is the fastest growing state in Australia, what is the Premier's response to the federal
government's plans to curb infrastructure investment in our state?

Ms PALASZCZUK: I thank the member for Bundaberg for the question. Of course, the member
for Bundaberg is a very strong supporter of upgrades to the Bruce Highway and the second inland
freight route, which is so vital for freight transfers across Queensland.

We are outraged at the infrastructure cuts that have been handed down by the federal
government. It is unbelievable. Members on this side of the House know how important the Bruce
Highway is for commuters. As Queensland is a very decentralised state, the Bruce Highway is used by
many to commute as well as for the transfer of freight. There is no way that this government will accept
a fifty-fifty share of funding when the 80-20 split has been there for decades. I make that absolutely
clear. Obviously the Victorian minister does not understand Queensland, so Queensland will make the
Victorian minister understand Queensland.

Last night I had a wonderful dinner with members of the Queensland Farmers' Federation. I thank
them very much for coming in and meeting with Minister Linard and me. They asked me if they could
come on board and support the convoy that will be going to Canberra. I said, 'Of course. We would love
to have representatives of the QFF join the Deputy Premier to make our message very clear.' Today,
the Queensland Trucking Association has also come on board to support that.

I urge other interested businesses, as well as the mayors, to also show their support for the Bruce
Highway, because those funding cuts to Queensland are not acceptable. They are not acceptable
because Queensland is the fastest growing state in the nation, and what the Victorian minister does not
understand is that Queensland is the most decentralised state in the nation. Right across the length
and breadth of our state we have large communities and cities that rely on funding for infrastructure so
that they can stay connected.

Does the opposition support our position? We know that under the opposition there would be
even further cuts because they have their secret cuts list and we know what they love doing. On this
side of the House we will always stand up for Queensland. The Victorian federal minister needs to be
aware of our position.
(Time expired)

Quote from: timh on November 16, 2023, 11:10:52 AMNoting as well that the M1 upgrade Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway is still in there. While on the surface that's a road project, that includes the busway extension to Cornubia so that's also a big win for Public Transport.

Overall it looks like this was not as dire of a circumstance as we originally thought. This review has actually seen MORE money going towards PT infrastructure and LESS towards roads/highways. I see this as a bit of a win tbh.

Tim, is the extension to Cornubia correct?  I can't see that on the map at
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/pacific-motorway-m1-daisy-hill-to-logan-motorway

The $1.6 billion Direct Sunshine Coast Line remains in the Federal budget.
$160m allocated for planning with the remaining $1.44 billion allocated for construction.

The Hon Minister's statement [transcript]:

the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail, which we know will be an important piece of infrastructure going forward for South East Queensland but also for the Olympics but, frankly, which there has not been confidence or assurance in the costs of this project;

CATHERINE KING: I think, [name removed], you would be very right to criticise me if I started a project without knowing how much it was going to cost or what the route was going to be or how much we could deliver. So, the first thing on Sunshine Coast Rail, I'll say. The Queensland government has currently not, I think it's committed a small amount to planning, but there is no construction money from the Queensland Government on the table for that project.There is $1.6 billion that is in the Commonwealth Budget, which we have retained for that project. But the estimates that we have got so far is, in order to take that project to Maroochydore is three times higher, billions of dollars higher than has been previously stated. So, what I am saying is, if we are to deliver this project and not repeat the mistakes of the past, what we need to do is plan this properly, get a handle on the cost and then move forward to deliver it. We've kept that money in the budget.

I think State Red Team will be taken down electorally by metaphorical 'friendly fire'. It's Red Team on Red Team, can't sheet this one to Blue Team this time.

If the cost is much higher, restage the project to get one or two stations to Caloundra, then run BRT off it. Its not ideal, but it's at least something.

What the federal government has done is forced the Queensland Government to focus in on a smaller number of significant project and plan, cost and construct them.

The days of pollies (at both levels) reaching into the boot of their car for a shovel, turning a sod for the media and saying: "Upon this molehill I will build a freeway." ... are over. Statements along the lines of "My government will commit to this project, and that's what we are announcing today, subject to Infrastructure Australia giving it the green light" will no longer be possible. (Giving IA a lot of illogical projects to assess, taking resources away from more important stuff.)

If states want to stitch up the feds by devising transport infrastructure solutions that may not be the most elegant or appropriate but which make the grade because 80 per cent of the cost is met by the commonwealth, they now need to rethink because they will be paying half.

If DSCL project now 'three times more than first envisaged' how much extra padding been packed into the project that now can be extracted? (i.e. bike paths, slip lanes, commuter car parks, linear parks, duck ponds etc) These civic works should not be funded from federal transport infrastructure programs.)

Tony Woodford would be smiling -- a rare win.

Quote from: ozbob on November 16, 2023, 15:09:15 PM

Quote from: timh on November 16, 2023, 11:10:52 AMNoting as well that the M1 upgrade Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway is still in there. While on the surface that's a road project, that includes the busway extension to Cornubia so that's also a big win for Public Transport.

Overall it looks like this was not as dire of a circumstance as we originally thought. This review has actually seen MORE money going towards PT infrastructure and LESS towards roads/highways. I see this as a bit of a win tbh.

Tim, is the extension to Cornubia correct?  I can't see that on the map at
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/pacific-motorway-m1-daisy-hill-to-logan-motorway

It's a busway extension almost to the Loganholme Bus Station (it stops just short, probably because there was no easy way to route it around the Hyperdome), with an additional bus station situated further south at Beenleigh Redland Bay Road (along with the new stations at Chatswood Hills and Loganlea Road/Winnetts Road).

Quote from: nathandavid88 on November 16, 2023, 17:48:56 PM

Quote from: ozbob on November 16, 2023, 15:09:15 PM

Quote from: timh on November 16, 2023, 11:10:52 AMNoting as well that the M1 upgrade Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway is still in there. While on the surface that's a road project, that includes the busway extension to Cornubia so that's also a big win for Public Transport.

Overall it looks like this was not as dire of a circumstance as we originally thought. This review has actually seen MORE money going towards PT infrastructure and LESS towards roads/highways. I see this as a bit of a win tbh.

Tim, is the extension to Cornubia correct?  I can't see that on the map at
https://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/projects/pacific-motorway-m1-daisy-hill-to-logan-motorway

It's a busway extension almost to the Loganholme Bus Station (it stops just short, probably because there was no easy way to route it around the Hyperdome), with an additional bus station situated further south at Beenleigh Redland Bay Road (along with the new stations at Chatswood Hills and Loganlea Road/Winnetts Road).

Thanks mate. Yeah what nathananddavid88 said. Class A ROW busway to just short of the hyperdome, plus additional busway station at Beenleigh-Redland bay road. Sorry I called that area Cornubia coz thats where I associate it with but technically thats probably still Loganholme.

I can't remember when but at some point we quizzed some TMR/translink folks about why the Class A ROW doesn't extend all the way to that final stop. From memory they said that it was depending on if the Hyperdome gets redeveloped and they can justify moving the current bus station to the western side closer to the M1. If they did that they could continue the busway much further.

Map is on the link you posted Bob showing this

Catherine King Press Conference

Interview ABC Gold Coast 16 Nov 2023 Drive with Host Julie Clift and Robert Dow RBoT re Infrastructure Review and the Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail project. Background then the interview.

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcgc/abcgc_jc_rd_16nov23.mp3 MP3 6.9MB

https://x.com/ozbob13/status/1725169291677335854?s=20

https://twitter.com/urbanizationist/status/1725092614016466946?t=NvCSqIXU5TQqIHBH-NaBwg&s=19

https://x.com/CatherineKingMP/status/1725081876686364732?s=20

https://twitter.com/9NewsQueensland/status/1725063046513537037?t=i6XrmD6-aoAo2d8RxbUZUA&s=19

https://x.com/MarkBaileyMP/status/1725257722583801934?s=20

Interview 17 November 2023 ABC Sunshine Coast Breakfast with Host Alex Easton & Minister Mark Bailey

Topic Infrastructure review and the Sunshine Coast

Interview --> https://backontrack.org/docs/abcsc/abcsc_mb_ae_17nov23.mp3 MP3 9.3MB

Sent to all outlets:

Final Report of the Independent Review of the National Partnership Agreement on Land Transport Infrastructure Projects,  and
Independent Review of the Infrastructure Investment Program - some comments

19th November 2023

Have now been published at https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/department/media/publications

Media release: Nation-building infrastructure for a better Australia
Hon Catherine King MP  16th November 2023
https://minister.infrastructure.gov.au/c-king/media-release/nation-building-infrastructure-better-australia

The good news is Queensland has done reasonably well in the review when it comes to rail and public transport.  There was some concern that projects might have been cut outright.

Here is the Queensland section of the Infrastructure Review Summary for your convenience:
--> https://backontrack.org/docs/ifreview/ifr_qld.pdf PDF 0.6MB

Main rail/PT projects that survived the review:

Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line (DSCRL) - pending business case outcome
Coopers Plains Boundary Road Level Crossing removal
Beams Road Open Level Crossing removal
GCLFR (Kuraby - Beenleigh upgrade) additional funding
Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade
Brisbane Metro - Woolloongabba Station
Gold Coast Light Rail - Stage 3
Lindum Rail Crossing Upgrade
M1 upgrade Daisy Hill to Logan Motorway. While on the surface that's a road project, that includes the busway extension to Loganholme.

Overall it looks like this review was not as dire as originally thought from a public transport perspective. The review has actually seen MORE money going towards PT infrastructure and LESS towards roads/highways.

We note that funding was cut for Beenleigh Station and Loganlea Station commuter car parks. The situation with park 'n' rides in SEQ needs review.  It is simply not sustainable in the present format.  Much better to restrict park 'n' ride in the inner suburbs to disability parking only, and introduce a nominal parking fee for commuters similar to the $2 charge for parking at a Transperth station (Parking https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/parking ). We need to put in place better feeder bus networks and improved support for active transport.

RAIL Back On Track recognises that the review focused on affordability but the political mudslinging from the major parties over the funding cuts to many road projects fly in the face of Engineering Australia observations about Australia's Transport Planning:

"This makes attempting to "bust traffic congestion" through road construction, self-defeating. In this context, Australia's past transport investment strategy may be seen as questionable." (1)

and

"The need for change is evidenced by the failure of past transport policies to address the challenge of climate change, deaths, and serious illness from vehicles emissions"

So all the political brawling is over self-defeating road projects that also fail on many other levels!

The Federal Review compels the Palaszczuk Government to re-prioritise the Queensland Transport Investment to ensure the:

"emphasis is on reducing growth of traffic on the network...and increasing the capacity and level of service of other modes of transport such as public transport, cycling, micro mobility, and walking". (1)

When "The Engineers" are calling for change you know it REALLY is time to change.

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


Reference:

1. https://www.engineersaustralia.org.au/sites/default/files/2022-01/Urban-Transport-Systems-TAS-Discussion-Paper-December-2021-revised.pdf

QuoteMuch better to restrict park 'n' ride in the inner suburbs to disability parking only, and introduce a nominal parking fee for commuters similar to the $2 charge for parking at a Transperth station (Parking https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/parking )

 

Quote from: #Metro on November 19, 2023, 07:34:40 AM

QuoteMuch better to restrict park 'n' ride in the inner suburbs to disability parking only, and introduce a nominal parking fee for commuters similar to the $2 charge for parking at a Transperth station (Parking https://www.transperth.wa.gov.au/parking )

 

I'll let those sleeping in the street know that car parking is a higher priority than homes for them but at least it's no longer free!!! 

Well, Jonno, I've actually messaged you before offering to work with you to identify and compile a list of stations on the rail/busway network that ARE reasonably good TOD prospects.

That offer remains open.