Federal Budget 2021-2022

[verbatim9]

I hope there is something in this year's Budget for fast rail from Bne to OOL, MCY and WTB.

[ozbob]

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

[ozbob]

I hope there is something in this year's Budget for fast rail from Bne to OOL, MCY and WTB.

I would be very suprised if there is any real funding for #fastraildreaming.

The RACQ are on message.

Couriermail --> Qld's budget plea: Billions needed for roads as death toll skyrockets $

... The RACQ's budget wishlist includes increased and fast-tracked funding for the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Cairns,
funding for the proposed "Second Bruce" inland route and a dedicated program to upgrade level crossings across southeast Queensland.

Ms Michael said the level crossing upgrades and funding rail capacity improvements for the Kuraby to Beenleigh,
and Beerburrum to Nambour rail lines is needed in light of a possible 2032 Olympic Games being held in the state.  ...

" ... dedicated program to upgrade level crossings across southeast Queensland.

Ms Michael said the level crossing upgrades and funding rail capacity improvements for the Kuraby to Beenleigh,
and Beerburrum to Nambour rail lines is needed in light of a possible 2032 Olympic Games being held in the state.  ..."

^ spot on.  I think that is a reasonable expectation.  The fundamental issues have to be sorted. Particularly a dedicated program for LX removal.

Thanks for the support RACQ.

[ozbob]

^

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1388274887404318723

[Cazza]

The only way to make driving safe is to get people off roads and onto forms of public and active transport. It's as simple as that. When around 30% of all fatal crashes involves alcohol (https://www.sbs.com.au/language/english/too-high-30-of-fatal-crashes-in-australia-are-due-to-drink-driving), resurfacing a road or increasing the length of overtaking lanes simply will not achieve much in the scheme of things. Yes, these regional road upgrades are very important and I will not take away from that. But here in this SE corner, we need this regional rail, and we need it now.

I was on Google Maps yesterday afternoon and at around 3pm, the traffic down the M1 was pretty much bumper to bumper all the way from the Gateway Merge to Gaven. A stretch of motorway almost 50kms long that had traffic moving at slow or close to stand-still speeds already at that time of the afternoon. The Gateway Mwy was even more of a standstill with a red and maroon line running all the way from Southern Cross Dr to the Pine River Bridge (about 15kms).

Yes, I'm aware it's a QLD long weekend, but that should be more of a reason to invest in this rail infrastructure. There's no shortage of demand, and this yet again proves it. People simply won't take the train because it's too freaking slow and the public transport connections at either end (in most cases) close to non existent. We need to get serious about regional rail, because building more roads to fix congestion (I'm looking at you Coomera Connector) is just like loosening a belt to fix obesity.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Record $1.6 billion in road and rail budget bonanza $

Regional Queenslanders are set to get home faster and safer under a whopping $1.6 billion budget roads and rail bonanza from the Coast to Cairns, while Brisbane has missed out on the spending spree.

The record spend exceeds last year's $1.3 billion pandemic cash splash and is being spruiked as major employment booster, with 2800 jobs on the line.

[ozbob]

^ Sad joke .. particularly the Sunshine Coast line (Beerburrum to Nambour duplication study sham).   

Meanwhile ...

The Age  --> Victorian road and rail network in line for $3b budget boost

More than $3 billion will be pumped into Victoria's road and rail network in Tuesday's federal budget, including funds for a massive new freight terminal designed to remove thousands of trucks from Melbourne's clogged roads every day.

The Morrison government will target key transport routes across the city as part of its pandemic recovery package in efforts to ease peak-hour traffic and help businesses get products to domestic and internationa ...

====

Sydney Morning Herald --> NSW's roads to get $3b federal budget spend

A highway upgrade across the Blue Mountains will gain the bulk of a $3 billion outlay on NSW projects in the federal budget, backing a state plan for a better connection between Sydney and the Central West.

The budget will also include new funding for one of the busiest intersections on the M5 Motorway in Sydney, along with upgrades to the Pacific Highway near Taree. ...

====

The Advertiser --> Federal Budget splashes billions on South Australian road projects

SA projects in the budget

South Australian infrastructure project included in the Federal Government's 2021/22 budget, to be handed down on Tuesday.

$2.6bn – North-South Corridor project (Darlington to Anzac Highway). A non-stop 78km thoroughfare running between Gawler and Old Noarlunga, passing through the CBD.

$161.6m – Truro bypass. The overall $202m project will deliver a bypass of town of Truro on the Sturt Highway to improve road safety and productivity of the freight network. SA Government contribution would be $40m.

$148m – Augusta Highway duplication (stage two). Duplicating the Augusta Highway from Port Wakefield to Lochiel to improve safety and travel times. The project will include planning for future duplication between Port Pirie and Crystal Brook.

An extra $64m – Strzelecki Track. This brings the Federal Government's total funding for the resealing project to $164m.

Additional $60m – Gawler rail line electrification. This brings the Federal Government's total funding for the project to $280m.

$48m – Heysen Tunnel refit and upgrade (stage two).

Extra $27.6m – Overpass at Port Wakefield and township duplication. This brings the Federal Government total funding for the project to $99.6m.

$32m – Kangaroo Island road safety and bushfire resilience package for road safety upgrades to Hog Bay Road and the Playford Highway.

$22.5m – Marion Rd and Sir Donald Bradman Drive intersection upgrade to reduce congestion and improve access to the airport.

Ovingham Level Crossing upgrade

[ozbob]

Queensland (Government & DTMR) does not make a case for LX removal funding so they get none ...

Hopeless ...   

[ozbob]

Is this a good time to mention #fastraildreaming ...   

[ozbob]

 

https://twitter.com/camerondickqld/status/1391506716471140353

Mr Dick also made the point yesterday that Victoria and NSW get $5 billion each for airport railways and CRR gets ZERO Fed $.

[#Metro]

But didn't both VIC and NSW privatise large assets and use the asset recycling scheme to generate co funding?

Also, you can't fund things you don't apply for. QLD hasn't asked for any LX removal money.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/AnnastaciaMP/status/1391646335875522564

[Stillwater]

Methinks the lady protesteth too much. We don't hear NSW and Vic. complaining that they need the equivalent of half of the cost of the Olympic Games sent their way from Canberra. Let's not forget that the SEQ 'City Deal' is yet to be struck. But we do have the 'Statement of Intent' that Jackie Trad organised. That would fetch a bit at auction.

[ozbob]

ABC News --> Federal budget 2021: Winners and Losers

Good summary.

[ozbob]

ARA Media Release

https://ara.net.au/media-release/ara-welcomes-rail-funding-skills-and-training-investment-in-federal-budget/

11th May 2021

ARA welcomes rail funding, skills and training investment in Federal Budget

The Australasian Railway Association (ARA) has welcomed new rail funding in tonight's Federal Budget as the industry continues to support the nation's economic growth and recovery.

ARA Chief Executive Officer Caroline Wilkie said new rail funding and investment in skills and training would be welcomed by the industry.

The ARA also commended new innovation initiatives, which could deliver further benefits if extended to industries like rail as part of their implementation.

Ms Wilkie said the Government's $2 billion initial investment in the Melbourne Intermodal Terminal would deliver significant benefits to the freight sector.

"This is a key project that will support greater use of rail, take more trucks off the road and ensure we are ready to meet the nation's growing freight task," Ms Wilkie said.

"An intermodal terminal in Melbourne with the capacity to manage double stack containers was an important part of the business case for Inland Rail.

"This will realise that ambition and maximise the significant benefits of the Inland Rail project."

Additional funding for key rail projects such as WA's METRONET, Queensland's Gold Coast Light Rail, the Canberra Light Rail and SA's Gawler Rail Line Electrification project were welcome investments in the passenger rail network.

"While the past year has been a challenging one, people are returning to rail and the network needs to be ready to meet future demand," Ms Wilkie said.

"For many years, rail has suffered from historic underinvestment when compared to other modes and this trend must be reversed to support the sustainable development of our cities.

"It is important that governments keep supporting projects like these to avoid traffic gridlock and help reduce emissions as populations rise."

Additional funding for new apprenticeships and traineeships would be welcomed by the rail industry as new construction projects got underway.

"The rail industry is already facing skills shortages and is actively working to improve pathways into the industry to support future demand," she said.

"We welcome any initiative that encourages more people to consider a career in rail and supports greater diversity in the industry."

While the 'patent box' initiative to drive new innovation was to be commended, Ms Wilkie encouraged the Government to consider broadening its focus to include additional industries.

"The rail industry lags its international counterparts when it comes to technology and innovation, in part due to a lack of national research investment and focus," Ms Wilkie said.

"Initiatives like the 'patent box' could drive greater investment in rail innovation and maximise the significant investment in rail infrastructure to come over the next 15 years."

Ms Wilkie said it was pleasing to see employment rates improve following the challenges of 2020.

"The rail industry has maintained operations throughout the pandemic to keep people in jobs and make sure essential services were there when we needed them," she said.

"The collective effort of the wider community has allowed Australia to weather the challenges we are currently faced with."

Key rail funding announcements confirmed in the 2021-22 Federal Budget included:

Intermodal facilities and freight rail

$2 billion for initial investment in a new Melbourne Intermodal Terminal, VIC
$61.8 million for Melbourne Intermodal Terminal planning and development, VIC
$400 million for Inland Freight Route (Mungindi to Charters Towers) upgrades, QLD
$16.5 million to establish the National Freight Data Hub to enhance the collection and access to freight data across all modes, including rail.
$300,000 for proposed Tennant Creek Multimodal Facility and Rail Terminal development study, NT

Rail upgrades

$347.5 million for the METRONET Hamilton Street-Wharf Street grade separations and elevation of associated stations. Enhanced METRONET Byford Rail Extension, with a new grade separated rail crossing at Armadale Road and an elevated station at Armadale, WA
$178.1 million for the Gold Coast Rail Line Capacity Improvement preconstruction (Kuraby to Beenleigh), QLD
$132.5 million for the Canberra Light Rail – Stage 2A,ACT
$126.6 million for Gold Coast Light Rail – Stage 3, QLD
$92.8 million for commuter car park upgrades including Berwick, Frankston and Ringwood stations, VIC
$60 million for the Gawler Rail Line Electrification, SA
$24 million for the Tasmanian Freight Rail Revitalisation – Tranche 3 – Port of Burnie Shiploader Upgrade, TAS
$3.1 million for the Goodwood and Torrens Rail Junctions Project, SA

Signalling

$31.5 million towards the METRONET High-Capacity Signalling project, WA

Planning and business cases

$5 million for the Greater Adelaide Freight Bypass planning study, SA
$2 million for the Kalgoorlie Rail Realignment Business Case, WA

ENDS

[ozbob]

https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/92074

Morrison's rotten rip off twice as deep for Queensland
11th May 2021

Treasurer and Minister for Investment
The Honourable Cameron Dick

The Morrison Government's 2021-22 budget has revealed the Federal LNP's rotten rip off for Queensland is even worse than first feared, with half of the $1.6 billion for infrastructure not being delivered within the four years of the forward estimates.

Treasurer and Minister for Investment Cameron Dick said Prime Minister Scott Morrison had shown that once again, he was taking Queensland for granted and had failed to deliver the state its fair share of federal funding.

"The $1.6 billion the Federal Government claimed it would deliver for Queensland paled into insignificance against $3 billion each for New South Wales and Victoria and South Australia," the Treasurer said.

"Tonight, we have learned the truth – only $807.5 million of that supposed $1.6 billion, barely half of the amount promised, is in this budget.

"Scott Morrison is holding Queenslanders to ransom, saying they'd have to vote for him in at least two more elections before we'd see the money he promised.

"By comparison, the Liberal states of New South Wales and South Australia get $1.4 billion and $2 billion in this budget.

"Scott Morrison has also decided to underwrite energy saving measures at the American-owned Portland aluminium smelter in Victoria, but no investment in the long-term viability of the smelter run by Australian company Rio Tinto in Gladstone."

Other vital projects for regional Queensland have also been completely ignored in the Federal Budget, with no allocations for:

The Bundaberg East Flood Levee
Toowoomba's Wellcamp Entertainment Precinct
Sunshine Coast Stadium upgrade
Robina TAFE
Townsville projects from the $195 million set aside for the Haughton pipeline Stage 2, including the Lansdown Eco-industrial Precinct

The Treasurer said the budget made it clear the Federal Government's botched vaccine rollout would affect Australia's prosperity.

"A week after the Reserve Bank predicted economic growth of 3.25% by 2023, Scott Morrison and Josh Frydenberg have wiped three-quarters of a percentage point off that, predicting growth of only 2.5%," Treasurer Dick said.

"By 2023, Australia's population growth is forecast to have only crept back to a measly 0.8%.

"Despite that anaemic growth, it will be Queensland that is once again proving itself the place to be.

"Over the next four years, the Federal Treasury estimates Queensland will see net interstate migration gains of 84,600 new residents.

"At the same time, New South Wales will see a net loss 83,100 residents.

"New South Wales gets nearly twice as much infrastructure investment as Queensland, while a city the size of Rockhampton effectively moves north here across the border.

"Scott Morrison's failure to deliver for Queensland is written in black and white in the pages of this budget."

[#Metro]

It's all here. Queensland is asset rich, cash poor.

Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg has left the door open to spending more on infrastructure but will not urge Queensland to consider asset recycling.

https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/queensland/frydenberg-happy-to-let-queensland-make-own-mind-up-on-infrastructure-20190716-p527ri.html

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> 'Held to ransom': Just 1 per cent of roads, rail spend will happen before the federal election $

Just 1 per cent of the promised $1.6 billion in roads and rail funding for Queensland will start being spent before the next election, with state Treasurer Cameron Dick accusing the Morrison Government "holding Queenslanders to ransom". ...

... Meanwhile, of the 10 Queensland infrastructure projects announced in the budget worth $1.6 billion, just two projects will see the cash start flowing in the next 12 months.

Only $18 million is set to go out the door in the next financial year, while just half will have been spent within four years.

The two projects getting funding this year are the Gold Coast Light Rail stage 3 and Warrego Highway.

The Cairns Western Arterial Road upgrade and Beerburrum to Nambour duplication study are scheduled to start in mid- to-late 2022, while down for 2023 are the Bruce Highway upgrades at Gladstone and Mackay, as well as the Gold Coast rail line upgrade from Kuraby to Beenleigh and the Mooloolah River interchange. ...

Fudget2021 !