Federal Budget 2020-21

[ozbob]

Cash splash for ' transport infrastructure ' some rail related projects in NSW and Vic.  Essentially roads only in Qld

Couriermail --> Federal Budget to deliver $1.3bn for Queensland road projects

... The Project New Funds Jobs*

Second M1 stage 1 $750m 700

Second M1 business case $5.3m -

Centenary Bridge $112m 670

Bruce Hwy Caloundra Rd to Sunshine Motorway $95.2m 680

Riverway Drive Stage 2 Townsville $76m 280

Beams Rd open level crossing $50m 740

Mt Lindesay Hwy Johanna St to South St $42.4m 150

Cooktown to Weipa corridor upgrade $38m 140

Bruce Hwy Burdekin Bridge upgrade $38m 27

Bruce Hwy Rockhampton Northern Access upgrade $29.6m 225

Bruce Hwy upgrade strategy $20m -

Cairns to NT border upgrade $17.2m 60

Bruce Hwy - Cairns southern access corridor $15.7m 113

M1 Pacific Mwy exit 45 $10m 60

Townsville to Roma corridor upgrade $4.8m 10

Bruce Hwy - Babinda Intersection upgrade $2.6m 11

Cunningham Hwy - Eight Mile intersection upgrade $2.4m 50

Currumbin Creek Rd - Bienvenue Drv intersection upgrade $2m 16

Total $1311.2m 3932 ...

Sunshine Coast line should have been included here.  Can only assume our failing bumbling Government and associated bureaucracy missed the train yet again.

[ozbob]

Victoria

Herald Sun ---> Almost 4000 jobs to be created by $1.1 billion deal to boost roads, rail lines

NEW PROJECTS

Arthurs Seat pedestrian improvements $0.3m

Barwon Heads Rd upgrade $292m

Hall Rd upgrade $84.5m

Business case for improving connectivity to Port of Melbourne $7.5m

Improving passenger rail services from northern Victoria to Melbourne $7.5m

Narre Warren North Rd upgrade $31m

Shepparton rail line upgrade (stage three) $320m

South Rd upgrade $22.5m

Warrnambool rail line upgrade (stage two) $208m

Western Port Hwy upgrade $27.2m

Western rail plan $30m

ADDITIONAL FUNDING

Bonang Rd upgrade $7m

McKoy St-Hume Fwy intersection upgrade $104m

[ozbob]

NSW

Daily Telegraph --> Budget 2020: Major upgrades to Sydney roads, regional highways and rail links tipped

NSW will chart a course out of the coronavirus recession with a $2.7 billion spend on shovel-ready road and infrastructure projects tipped to create more than 8,000 jobs across the state.

The federal government will pour millions of dollars into major NSW roads over the next four years, including $560m for the Singleton Bypass on the New England Highway, $360m for the Newcastle Inner City Bypass and $120m for the Prospect Highway upgrade, under its plan to boost employment in the wake of the pandemic.

The huge infrastructure spend will underpin a locally lead recovery strategy, in the hopes driving down unemployment will fuel consumer confidence and boost demand in service sectors hit hard by restrictions including tourism, hospitality and retail.

In Sydney commuters will benefit from a $60m upgrade to the M1 North Smart Motorway between ANZAC Bridget and Warringah and $94m for the Heathcote Rd upgrade between Hammondville and Voyager Point.

Regional NSW has also received a boost, with $4.6m to upgrade Pooncarie Rd in the state's far south west, $7.8m for the Northern NSW Inland Port at Narrabri and $3m to improve Coffs Harbour Airport freight access on Hogbin Dr.

Various sections of the Newell Highway have been green-lit for new funding, with $149.7m for the Parkes Bypass, $176.2m for the Dubbo Bridge, $205.7m to go toward heavy duty pavement upgrades along the highway and $60m for more overtaking lanes.

The government has also earmarked $15m for "planning" of faster rail between Sydney and Newcastle.

In addition to the new projects, about $732.3m will be provided to ongoing builds, including $490.6m for the Coffs Harbour Bypass.

Funding top ups for other road projects include $43m for Bolivia Hill on the New England Hwy, $46.4m for Mulgoa Rd, $63.5m for Dunheved Rd at Penrith and $16.7m for the Central Coast Roads Package.

The federal government will also tip $13.8m into a commuter car park upgrade at St Marys along on the T1 North Shore, Northern and Western Line, as well as $7.1m at Campbelltown, $3m at Revesby and $1m at Riverwood on the T8 East Hills Line.

[ozbob]

Budget

https://budget.gov.au/index.htm

On 6 October 2020, the Treasurer Josh Frydenberg will hand down the 2020-21 Federal Budget.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/3AW693/status/1312886329697591298

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Major Queensland road projects get funding in Tuesday's federal budget

[ozbob]

Herald Sun --> Shepparton rail upgrade: Federal Government sets date on faster and more frequent trains to Melbourne

The Federal Government has announced a whopping $320 million to fund stage three of the Shepparton Rail Line upgrade as part of Tuesday's budget.

The funding will join the $356 million invested by the state government in the project, which has seen completion of stage one of the upgrade, with stage two about to start.

The Victorian Government will also contribute an additional $7.5 million for the business case, and $80 into the stage three upgrade.

But the big question remains: when will Shepparton commuters get their speedy trip to Melbourne?

The Federal Government indicates it could be late-2023 when stage three is completed.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR
Stage one has been completed, which saw an extra 10 train services run a week, as well as extra coach services to Seymour.

Stage two – which is said to start soon – will allow VLocity trains to run on the line through platform extensions at Mooroopna, Murchison East and Nagambie, 59 level crossing upgrades and a "business case" to figure out the costs of delivering nine return services to Shepparton each day.

This stage is said to be completed in late-2022.

Stage three will see signalling and "additional upgrades" to allow nine services a day to run to and from Shepparton at a max speed of 130km/h.

Stage two will see the introduction of VLocity trains, which Rail Futures president John Hearsch said are "better, newer and more comfortable".

It has been a while coming for Shepparton, as Ballarat got them in 2005, Geelong in 2009 and Bendigo in 2018.

But Mr Hearsch said train times would not be increased until the track was upgraded to allow the trains to travel at higher speeds.

"They might be a few minutes faster after stage two, but track speeds are not being increased until stage three."

WHEN WILL TRIPS BE FASTER?

The Federal Government has indicated stage three would start in late-2021 and finish late-2023, which would mean it would overlap with stage two works, essentially fast-tracking the project.

It means Shepparton could see under two hour trips to Melbourne in three years time.

The Goulburn Valley News understands the $320 million was calculated from a Victorian Government preliminary business case, but we won't know more about the specific works until the business case is finalised.

WHAT EVERYONE IS SAYING

Independent Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed hailed the funding as "absolutely transformational" for the region.

"The Shepparton rail project will play an important role both at a national and state level to lead recovery and support employment in the region," she said.

Federal Minister for Nicholls, Damian Drum and Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell also welcomed the funding was welcomed and the 990 jobs the project would create in the region.

But Mr Drum said it was an example of the commonwealth "bailing" the state government out.

"Looks like it's only going to progress because the federal government is going to pay for the vast majority of it," he said.

Mr Hearsch said joint commonwealth and state funding on rail projects was "not unusual", and was looking forward to future discussions about fast rail, which would see 200km/hr trains from regional cities to Melbourne.

[ozbob]

Gold Coast Bulletin --> Coomera Connector: Construction to begin in 2021 after federal and state governments match funding

TRANSPORT Minister Mark Bailey has vowed construction of the $2.4 billion Coomera Connector will begin next year hell or high water after coming under fire from the Opposition.

The Federal Government will set aside $750 million for the first stage of the arterial road between Nerang and Coomera, matching funds put forward by the State Government in September.

But the Opposition insists the State Government won't be able to deliver the entire project during the 2020-2024 parliamentary term, despite Mr Bailey saying construction would take more than three years.

Coomera MP Michael Crandon said the LNP's alternative proposal would be shorter, narrower and cheaper than that put forward by the government.

"With Mark Bailey it is always smoke and mirrors and nowhere has he said he would built anything in the next four years," he said.

"How much of stage one will he be able to build in the next term of government for this funding?

"The LNP would build two-lanes each way to build our stage one which would cost only $550 million."

The LNP's plans are at odds with those of the state and federal governments which have both tipped in $750 million for the six-lane, 16.6km first stage of the arterial road between Carrara and the Coomera Marine Precinct.

Mr Bailey laughed off Mr Crandon's comments and categorically rule out any delay in the project.

"Construction will begin by the middle of next year, which is just nine months away," he said.

"The Coomera River bridge will be just the first piece of the project and I look forward to the sod turning.

"We were very happy to see the federal funding and we have been working hard to get to this point for five years."

It was revealed on Monday that more than $762 million will be poured into Gold Coast road upgrades in Tuesday's federal budget in a major boost for the city's economy.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack will announce $750 million for the first stage of the $2 billion Coomera Connector, allowing construction to begin in mid-2021.

It matches the $755 million put forward last month by the State Government to fund the 16.6km first stage of the arterial road between Carrara and the Coomera Marine Precinct.

Mr Morrison said this week's budget would be focused on job creation to drive the recovery from the COVID-19 downturn.

"The substantial injection of funding delivered in this year's Budget shows the Government is serious about laying the foundations for an infrastructure-led recovery from the economic shock of the global pandemic," he said.

"We have been working closely with state and territory governments to invest in the infrastructure that is ready to go and can help rebuild our economy and create more jobs."

Tuesday's budget will also contain $10 million for the upgrade of the southbound section of Exit 45 on the M1 and $2 million to upgrade the intersection of the Currumbin Creek Road and Bienvenue Drive.

Both projects also received matching funding from the State Government last month.

The three projects will create a combined 776 jobs.

"Infrastructure means jobs, it means livelihoods, it means stronger local communities and it means building a better and more secure future for our nation," Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack said.

"We will draw on local businesses to stimulate local economies through these projects."

Tuesday's budget is expected to be focused almost entirely on economic recovery measures to boost the economy following the first recession in 29 years.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg is expected to announce the largest budget deficit since World War II.

The Gold Coast road funding announcements comes weeks after the State Government formally filed its funding request with Canberra.

Construction of the Coomera Connector will begin in mid-2021 and run for more than three years.

The six-lane Coomera Connector will eventually stretch 45km from Nerang to Logan.

It is expected to take up to 60,000 vehicles off the M1 and was fully gazetted by the State Government last year.

The road, formerly known as the intra-regional transport corridor (IRTC), has long been part of the State Government's future plans to reduce congestion but was dumped by the former Newman government in 2013, against the wishes of the Gold Coast City Council.

The project was restored in 2015, with early scoping works and a $20 million business case having already been completed.

[ozbob]

Other states are doing rather well in promised funding for rail, nothing in Queensland.  I have no doubt because the incompetent Government and its failing bureaucrats were unable to put together a case.  One only has to consider the absolute farce and failure with the Cross River Rail business case.  The longer rail remains buried in DTMR with its demonstrable anti-rail bias, the worse the outcomes will be.

[verbatim9]

Looks like there is a huge emphasis on roads in Qld. No mention of fast rail, or other new rail upgrades here in Qld

[ozbob]

Federal Budget

https://budget.gov.au/index.htm

[ozbob]

Queensland missed out majorly.   Fuking useless State Government and its failed DTMR.

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https://ara.net.au/content/budget-confirms-rail-help-drive-infrastructure-led-recovery

Budget confirms rail to help drive infrastructure-led recovery
2020 October 06 | 09:45pm

Rail will be an essential part of Australia's infrastructure-led recovery after the Federal Budget confirmed key rail projects would be funded as part of stimulus measures.

$528 million for regional rail upgrades in Victoria and $102.3 million for METRONET high capacity signalling in WA were among the new funding commitments in the 2020-21 budget.

Australasian Railway Association (ARA) Chief Executive Officer Caroline Wilkie said the measures confirmed the essential role rail would play in creating jobs and getting the economy back on its feet again.

"We are pleased to see rail projects across the country funded or fast tracked in this year's budget," Ms Wilkie said.

"The flow on benefits of rail investment will be significant as new projects bring more jobs and sustainable infrastructure that will deliver community benefits for years to come.

"The investment in regional rail upgrades will be a huge boost for the regions, with the promise of new jobs and improved access to city centres.

"New funding for high capacity signalling will help drive efficiency and safety gains in WA as the METRONET project is rolled out."

The transformational impact of Inland Rail was also recognised with key funding for grade separating for additional road interfaces in New South Wales, the Inland Port in Narrabri and Ettamogah Rail Hub.

Ms Wilkie also welcomed funding for further planning for faster rail from Sydney to Newcastle in NSW and Perth to Bunbury in WA, while the Gold Coast faster rail business case was brought forward.

"The future of rail in Australia will rely first on improvements to existing infrastructure, followed by the development of new, faster rail connections," she said.

"We must get the planning for faster rail right to help realise the potential growth for regional centres if commuters can make the most of more flexible work in a post pandemic world."

The ARA also welcomed new funding for apprenticeships, which would be a welcome boost for the rail industry as projects entered construction and maintenance phases.

Ms Wilkie said it was important apprenticeships focused on both traditional roles and those focused on digital skills to meet the needs of a modern rail network.

The ARA will pursue opportunities to include the transport sector in new funding for Australian manufacturing.

"We have significant capability in the rail manufacturing sector, and we must ensure we have the right policy settings to support greater technology and innovation adoption in the rail industry," she said.

Highlights: New funding commitments in 2020-21

Rail upgrades:

$320 million for stage three of the Shepparton rail line upgrade in Victoria
$208 million for stage two of the Warrnambool rail line upgrade in Victoria
$13.24 million for Goodwood and Torrens junctions in South Australia
$9 million for North East rail line supporting infrastructure in Victoria
$7.5 million for improving passenger rail services from Northern Victoria to Melbourne

Signalling:

$102.3 million for METRONET high capacity signalling and Morley-Ellenbrook line in WA

Inland Rail

Additional equity investment in the Australia Rail Track Corporation to deliver the Inland Rail
$150 million for Inland Rail grade separating for additional road interfaces in NSW
$7.75 million for the Northern NSW Inland Port in Narrabri, NSW
$2.6 million for the Ettamogah Rail Hub in NSW

Faster rail:
$15 million for Sydney to Newcastle faster rail planning
$4 million for Perth to Bunbury faster rail corridor investigation in WA

Business cases and planning:

$30 million for Western Rail Plan planning in Victoria
$7.5 million for improving connectivity to the Port of Melbourne business case
$5 million for Kenwick Intermodal Terminal planning in WA

Rail funding brought forward:

$605 million for Geelong-Warun Ponds Stages 2 and 3 upgrade
$4.2 million for Gold Coast faster rail business case
$10 million for Port of Brisbane further planning

ENDS

[ozbob]

Queensland is an embarrassment.

Victoria, even with the problems between the State and Feds gets a motza of funding.  Why?   Because they can get their act together and put in proper arguments.  Remember Queensland couldn't even get a business case for Cross River Rail right.

Similarly WA does OK as well.  NSW has already been promised billions for rail projects from the Feds, even without proper business cases!

Token funding for rail in Queensland.  Clearly better cases for funding should have been made for Sunshine Coast, grade separations, upgrades of the Gold Coast and Cleveland lines for example. 

[Stillwater]

Could we hope for something coming out of the SEQ City Deal to be finalised early next year?

[ozbob]

Could we hope for something coming out of the SEQ City Deal to be finalised early next year?

The Federal Minister for City Deals might be in irons at Port Arthur by then ...   

I have little confidence anything sensible will eventuate.

[ozbob]

Rail Express --> Infrastructure spend misses rail projects in Queensland, South Australia

In a pre-budget infrastructure announcement, the federal government has committed funding to rail projects in NSW, Victoria and Western Australia, but only provided funding for roads in other states, with Queensland's only rail project a level crossing removal.

As part of a $7.5 billion spend on infrastructure, new federal funding alongside state contributions has been committed for further regional rail upgrades in Victoria, high capacity signalling in Western Australia, and planning for faster rail between Sydney and Newcastle. The funding announcement covers those projects put forward by state governments and not projects solely funded by the federal government.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Michael McCormack said that local businesses would benefit.

"We will draw on local businesses to stimulate local economies through these projects," he said.

In Victoria, rail projects received the bulk of the funding allocated to that state, with funding for new projects including stage three of the Shepparton Line upgrade and stage two of the Warrnambool line upgrade. Further planning for the Western Rail Plan, improving passenger rail services from northern Victoria, and a business case for improving connectivity to the Port of Melbourne also scored funding.

In NSW, rail projects to receive funding included $15 million for planning for Sydney to Newcastle Faster Rail. A faster rail business case has already been completed for the line and is being reviewed by the National Faster Rail Agency.

$150 million has been allocated for grade separating road interfaces with Inland Rail, along with a number of intermodal hubs, including at Ettamogah, near Albury, and the Northern NSW Inland Port at Narrabri. Commuter carparks in Sydney also received additional funding.

In Western Australia, federal funding of $102.3 million has been allocated for the High Capacity Signalling element of the Metronet project. Infrastructure Australia has added the project to its Infrastructure Priority List as a Priority Project, signalling its national significance.

The funding for WA also includes the first investigation into faster rail in the state, with $4m for an investigation of the Perth to Bunbury corridor.

$5m has also been allocated to the Kenwick Intermodal Terminal. WA Transport Minister Rita Saffioti said the funding would grow the amount of work in the state.

"We already have a pipeline of $6.5 billion of major road and rail works underway across Western Australia over the next two years – this will extend the pipeline of work and will continue to help the State economy through and past COVID-19."

Besides the $50m in funding for the Beams Road overpass, the $1.3bn allocated to Queensland will be spent on roads. No funding will be spent on rail in South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT, and the Northern Territory.

Administrator of Queensland-based rail group Rail Back on Track Robert Dow listed 11 rail projects needing funding in the state, including improvements to the Sunshine Coast line, Ipswich rail extensions, and Salisbury to Beaudesert commuter rail.

"This is simply not sustainable," said Dow. "We need a proper balance between rail and roads."

Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development Catherine King said that funding must follow through on the announcement.

"It is essential that these latest funding promises are delivered now, not years down the line."

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