Ministerial Statement: More than $4.9 billion to boost transport for Queensland

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
16/06/2009

More than $4.9 billion to boost transport for Queenslanders

More trains, more tracks and more services make up the Bligh Government's $4.9 billion investment in transport, Treasurer Andrew Fraser said.

Handing down the 2009-10 State Budget, Mr Fraser said $3.6 billion in transport infrastructure was a key part of the Bligh Government's $18.2 billion building program.

"Despite the current economic climate, the Bligh Government won't stop building a better Queensland," Mr Fraser said.

"We are committed to maintaining our infrastructure spend because it means jobs."

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said in addition to the $3.6 billion in capital works, the Queensland Government would be investing a further $1.2 billion into TransLink for public transport in South East Queensland.

"This investment comes as patronage continues to climb on South East Queensland's public transport network, which has seen growth of almost 50 per cent since 2004," she said.

Ms Nolan said $162.7 million had been allocated for public transport in regional areas.

"This $162.7 million for regional areas includes allocations for long distance rail and coach services, and aviation, to enhance services for regional areas."

Ms Nolan said today's Budget allocation of $367 million to the Queensland Government's innovative busway program would ensure the busway network continued to grow to meet Brisbane's increasing population.

"The Bligh Government is tackling traffic congestion in Brisbane head-on with its world-class busway projects," Ms Nolan said.

Budget allocations to the busway projects include:

?$171.8 million towards construction of the Northern Busway between Enoggera Creek and Kedron

?$138.2 million for construction of the Eastern Busway connection between Buranda and Main Avenue at Coorparoo, and

?$37.8 million towards construction of the Eastern Busway: Princess Alexandra Hospital to Buranda. Construction will include an elevated busway station within the Princess Alexandra Hospital and will be a key link in the regional busway network.

"Three key busway projects will be completed by August this year," Ms Nolan said.

"The $219 million Boggo Road Busway and stage one of the Eastern Busway are expected to cut up to ten minutes off some trips from the southern and eastern suburbs to the University of Queensland.

"These busways are expected to take up to 600 buses, or 13,000 passengers, off the road every day.

"On Brisbane's north side, the $734.7 million Northern Busway project will provide a vital link for the northern suburbs to the city. The $198 million first section from Royal Children's Hospital to Windsor will open in August, also ahead of schedule."

Ms Nolan said a budget allocation of $135 million to the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project was another boost to the project's momentum, following the $365 million allocation in last month's Federal Budget.

"The light-rail system will operate 24 hours a day, with services arriving every 7-8 minutes in peak times, taking at least 40,000 cars off the road and reducing local greenhouse gas emissions by up to 114,000 tonnes over the next 10 years," Ms Nolan said.

"Not only will the project get more people out of cars and onto public transport, it will generate 6,300 direct and indirect jobs during construction."

Ms Nolan said $13.2 million has also been confirmed to complete the future transit-oriented development (TOD) known as Varsity Station Village.

"In conjunction with the Robina to Varsity Lakes Rail Extension project, planning has been undertaken to ensure the land surrounding the new station will have a range of facilities and high quality transport connections," she said.

"There could be between 600 and 900 residences accommodating between 1,250 and 1,900 people, while shops and commercial space will provide up to 2,500 office jobs and approximately 360 retail jobs."

Ms Nolan said this will be further boosted by a $515 million QR allocation to upgrade infrastructure and rolling stock on the CityTrain network through the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan.

Projects include $125 million for the Springfield line to Richlands, $62.7million MetTRIP track infrastructure mainly for the Caboolture to Beerburrum duplication, $97.3 million for the Gold Coast rail extension from Robina to Varsity Lakes, $57 million for a third track from Corinda to Darra, $17.9 million for metropolitan freight capacity enhancement and $155.1 million for additional rolling stock.

A total $862 million will also be spent by QR on coal network track works and new and upgraded locomotives and wagons.

"The Bligh Government remains committed to investing in public transport and infrastructure to better plan for the future as we head Towards Q2," Ms Nolan said.

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[mufreight]

Seems that the Ministers spin doctors are still somewhat less than well informed as in the Ministers latest media statement it states that the Government intends to spend 62.7 million on Caboolture to Beerburrum duplication, last time I took a trip up there the duplication was in service having been opened over Easter.
57 million for a third track between Corinda and Darra, well again traveling through that section on a regular basis and from the politicialy released material on that project there are four tracks.
All of this raises question as to if anyone in the Transport Ministers department has the faintest idea of whatis going on once agai indicating that the latest media statement by the Minister is another panic blurb to distract an upset electorate.

[david]

Came across something very interesting whilst perusing through the budget papers:

From page 9 of the Budget Highlights paper --> http://www.budget.qld.gov.au/budget-papers/budget-highlights.shtml

$62.8 million over two years for the duplication of the Ferny Grove rail line to provide additional rail services

Not quite sure what this means...there would've been a major announcement by the Transport Minister if they were planning to duplicate the remaining Keperra to Ferny Grove section...

[Derwan]

I read the statement this morning before work but didn't have time to respond.  My thoughts regarding the rail projects were "nothing new here".  The fact that they're "announcing" a project that is already complete is very strange indeed!

It's almost as though they forgot to update last year's budget document relating to rail!

[ozbob]

There are some new things, but most of it is just the actual funding for projects as they proceed.   They often announce projects but they are not necessarily funded outright.  As it proceeds funding allocations are made.  I haven't had the chance to look at things in great detail yet, but it is good that broadly things are proceeding.

Cheers
Bob

[SteelPan]

MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT FOR QLD POLITICAL MINISTERS BELOW:

Govt will spend ZERO dollars this year on public transport - TAXPAYER will spend ALL money spent on public transport and every other govt service.  Just so you really know who's putting up the cold hard CA$H  

Also, count up the number of times the word BUS gets a run, against rail/train and you see they still aren't addressing long-term sustainable public transport issues.

Finally, if the GC can get a 24/7 tram network, surely Brisbane has reached a point were something like 24/7 BUZ/Rail services can commence - after of course, the mandatory $20m+ 4 year "study/investigation" phase!  

Finally, finally, it might be there, I may have missed it, anything in the STATE budget papers about advancing the Brisbane Underground???  (I think the TAXPAYER coughed up some study dollars in the Fed budget - did it get a state mention??)

[brad C]

Not quite sure what this means...there would've been a major announcement by the Transport Minister if they were planning to duplicate the remaining Keperra to Ferny Grove section...

Total distance between Keperra and Ferny Grove is approx 2.6km. There would be an outcry if duplication of this section was to cost $62M.
What you will find is this is smoke and mirrors and consists of retainers to contractors once new works are commissioned. All nicely hidden under the umbrella of MET Trip (needs a glossary to explain) However this will probably include Mitchelton to Keperra, Kuraby to Salisbury, Helensvale to Robina and Caboolture to Beerburrum.
This is the way govt reports its expenditure.
Sadly no dollars for Beerburrum to Landsborough.

[stephenk]

So much spin in this statement, that I'm feeling giddy!

?$171.8 million towards construction of the Northern Busway between Enoggera Creek and Kedron

Is this busway sharing infrastructure with the Airport Link tunnel?
Enoggera Creek or Windsor? (see below)

?$37.8 million towards construction of the Eastern Busway: Princess Alexandra Hospital to Buranda. Construction will include an elevated busway station within the Princess Alexandra Hospital and will be a key link in the regional busway network.

Busway station "within" Princess Alexandra Hospital. Within? More like "close to" the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

"These busways are expected to take up to 600 buses, or 13,000 passengers, off the road every day.

How about the Government thinking in terms of making public transport attractive enough to take cars off the road, rather than doing the minimum to fix rail overcrowding after it occurs?

"On Brisbane's north side, the $734.7 million Northern Busway project will provide a vital link for the northern suburbs to the city. The $198 million first section from Royal Children's Hospital to Windsor will open in August, also ahead of schedule."

To Windsor? The new works finish South of Enoggera Creek, and as far as I know that is in Herston. I hope that this new extension is accompanied by extra bus services, because at the moment the bus service between Royal Children's Hospital and Roma Street via the Northern Busway is abysmal - infrequent services, full buses.

"The light-rail system will operate 24 hours a day

Great. Lets just hope that someone works out how to do maintenance work and still keep a 24 hour service running (hint: lots of scissors crossovers and ability for bidirectional operation).

Ms Nolan said $13.2 million has also been confirmed to complete the future transit-oriented development (TOD) known as Varsity Station Village.

"In conjunction with the Robina to Varsity Lakes Rail Extension project, planning has been undertaken to ensure the land surrounding the new station will have a range of facilities and high quality transport connections," she said.

"There could be between 600 and 900 residences accommodating between 1,250 and 1,900 people, while shops and commercial space will provide up to 2,500 office jobs and approximately 360 retail jobs."

Is the Government expecting any extra people to use the Gold Coast Line once this development opens. If so, have they put in any thought about infrastructure requirements needed to increase Gold Coast Line peak frequency such as Kuraby to Loganlea triplication, and Kuraby 4th platform? Not much capacity left on the Merivale Bridge either!

Projects include $125 million for the Springfield line to Richlands,

Another half-baked project. The Springfield Line actually going to Springfield would be good news.

$62.7million MetTRIP track infrastructure mainly for the Caboolture to Beerburrum duplication

What's MetTRIP?

$97.3 million for the Gold Coast rail extension from Robina to Varsity Lakes

Old news. But at least it's double track (I think?).

$57 million for a third track from Corinda to Darra

Another half-baked project. How about a 4th electrified track?

"The Bligh Government remains committed to investing in public transport and infrastructure to better plan for the future as we head Towards Q2," Ms Nolan said.

More like committed to wasting money on roads, spending the minimum amount of money as possible to reduce rail overcrowding only after the overcrowding occurs, with limited long term vision for public transport and sustainability.

[ozbob]

metTRIP =  Metropolitan Track and Rolling Stock Implementation Program

[Derwan]

Old news. But at least it's double track (I think?).

You are correct.  I've driven past couple of times.