CRR Inquiry: Why the Inquiry?

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

28th May 2021

Citizens Inquiry into Operational Deficiencies with CRR

Greetings,

RAIL Back On Track has closely followed and supported Cross River Rail since 2009 ( Long thread on Cross River Rail here > https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2034.0 ).  The initial concept for the project was sound and had strong support of Infrastructure Australia.  Since 2009 the project has undergone changes due to political interferences and bureaucratic bumbling, such that the current version of the project is seriously flawed and is no longer supported by Infrastructure Australia as a priority project.

*

... Infrastructure Australia has not included the current proposal for Cross River Rail as a Project on the Infrastructure
Priority List at this time. Infrastructure Australia considers that the benefits of the proposed project, as set out in the
business case, are significantly overstated, and that the costs of the project as currently presented are likely to
exceed its benefits. ...

* https://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/sites/default/files/2019-06/20170727-Cross-River-Rail-Summary.pdf page 1 Summary

We have been seeking the planned operational details for Cross River Rail now for a number of years. RTI (Right To Information) applications both administrative and under the legislation, Ministerial requests, requests to CRRDA have all been unsuccessful.  In other jurisdictions for similar scale projects this sort of information IS PUBLICLY available.  We are now of the view that the details are being withheld because it will confirm the poor outcomes for the current CRR version.  Operational details exist and are contained within the Concept of Operations Document for the project, copies of which are held by DTMR, CRRDA and Queensland Rail.  There is nothing stopping the operational concepts being released from that document, other than the Government's intent to hide them.

So in an attempt to get some transparency and possibly some changed improved outcomes for the project we will conduct our own Inquiry to document the operational weaknesses and suggest what can done to improve the outcomes. Feedback from citizens is welcome ( see https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=14278.0 ).

It is most regrettable, and a sad indictment on the Queensland State Government and the State Opposition that we must take these steps.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Reference: Citizens Inquiry into Operational Deficiencies with CRR https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=103.0

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https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1397984651352756226

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Citizens Inquiry into Operational Deficiencies with CRRhttps://t.co/9glTWaF3so#qldpol#CRRInquiry@QLDLabor @LNPQLD
"It is most regrettable, and a sad indictment on the Queensland State Government and the State Opposition that we must take these steps." pic.twitter.com/kE5LShiNbg

— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) May 30, 2021

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https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1399747014544355329

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