Recovery from floods

[ozbob]

The floods are very serious and have wrecked havoc terms of lives lost and infrastructure damage.

Our sincere condolences to all so affected.  RIP.

Infrastructure can be rebuilt, lives are lost.  I was in Brisbane for the 1974 floods,  it is surprising how recovery can occur.

In recovery from floods it is now important to future proof and flood proof.  One of the compounding issues is the road system is constantly weakened and damaged by the endless heavy vehicles, the road network becomes much more susceptible to damage in floods.  It would make sense to focus on moving more freight back to rail and then use the rail heads as feeders.  This would reduce the constant damage and run away costs in maintaining and constantly having to re-establish the roads, often in parallel to rail.  Rail is relatively easy to recover from floods.

These flood events are more likely to occur again.  Putting the thinking caps on for more future proofing is essential.

[ozbob]

From Rail Express click here!

QLD floods update
by Rail Express — last modified Jan 19, 2011 10:15 AM
— filed under: Weekly Top Stories, Rail

While the impacts of floodwaters on infrastructure throughout Queensland are still being assessed, QR National railings continue to be affected by flooding and the rail systems that feed Gladstone port have been severely damaged.
   
 
QLD floods update

By Jennifer Perry and Jim Wilson

QR National Queensland coal networks update
QR National's Moura coal line re-opened to all traffic on January 13 and the Blackwater network is now targeted to re-open later this week.

The company's latest update, dated January 13 on local coal networks is as follows:

•    The Newlands line to Abbot Point Coal terminal near Bowen continues to operate. The Newlands system has remained open throughout and while it operated at reduced railings in December it has recovered well in January;

•    The Goonyella network into the ports of Dalrymple Bay and Hay Point, south of Mackay, continues to operate. It was closed from December 24 to December 30 following derailment of a Pacific National train near Yukan. The network is currently working at around 70% capacity due to reduced coal availability;

•    The Blackwater network that feeds into the port of Gladstone is expected to re-open later this week, following a detailed inspection and assessment of flood-damaged track on January 12. The system has been closed since December 27. On current estimates, services are expected to resume on the line as early as January 20, pending no significant rain and recovery operations proceeding as planned. It is planned that services would be available from Burngrove (near Blackwater) east from that time, and then progressively mines located on the (northern) Gregory branch line from the coming weekend. Precise dates for the resumption of services for the Minerva and Rolleston mines are yet to be determined;

•    The Moura system re-opened on January 13. The system was closed on December 29 and then partially re-opened to the mines of Callide and Boundary Hill on January 4;

•    In southern Queensland, QR National is unable to operates services west of Brisbane because of flooding and damage to the rail line on the Toowoomba Range following a landslide on January 10. QR National is awaiting further advice from the network owner, Queensland Rail, on the extent of the damage to infrastructure and likely timeframe for restoration on the track. QR National is unable to provide services to coal customers, west of Brisbane and to grain and general freight customers in south-west Queensland; and

•    QR National's general freight services along the North Coast line to locations beyond Gladstone to Cairns are not able to operate because the line remains cut by floodwaters at Rockhampton. This is expected to continue through to at least mid this week.

Many areas of the coal network continue to be subject to speed restrictions, allowing QR National to monitor track condition as train services resume and increase and future repair requirements are assessed.

The company said it is working closely with all participants in the coal export supply chain to maximise throughput. It is liaising daily with coal mining customers to understand the coal available for railing, including available stockpiles and when coal producing can re-commence.

Floods impact Asciano
Asciano has advised that its businesses including Pacific National are being impacted by ongoing severe weather conditions in Queensland and New South Wales.

As a result of flooding a number of PN customers have issued force majeure notices under their coal haulage contracts.

NSW coal haulage volumes are being impacted by coal chain congestion and the restricted availability of coal. In particular, weather related issues in the Gunnedah Basin and the Ulan network will likely reduce the average haul length anticipated in NSW during the fiscal year.

Consequently, the forecasted growth in revenues for the PN coal division will be impacted, however Asciano said it was not able to make a full assessment of both the business and financial implications at this point in time.

Ports update
Floodwaters have twisted south Queensland rail systems that feed Gladstone port "like a corkscrew".

Port users at the port of Gladstone said that the port is working more or less normally, except for disruptions to coal and grain receivals.

"It's just business as usual but port access is the problem - rail in and out of the port is the problem," one port user said.

"The rail tracks have been twisted like a corkscrew," he said, referring to the tracks outside the port, south of Emerald and west of the mines.

"They are also said to be service lines, not main lines, "but you can still run coal over it," the source said.

A Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal spokesman added that because of the rail track damage around Gladstone, coal had been diverted to DBCT.

The rail link from Dawson Mine at Moura is up and running, allowing several coal shipments to be railed into Gladstone, with the port recommencing shiploading on January 15.

Gladstone Ports Corporation chief executive Leo Zussino said additional trains from more nearby mines may be sent on January 21 as owing to rail repairs.

There are also six trains that were loaded prior to Christmas located on the line.

A spokeswoman for Gladstone port said that the "trains are due, but we don't yet know how many are coming."

She added that the coal stockpile was "seriously depleted - it's less than 500,000 tonnes."

Meanwhile, priority shipping operations resumed at the port Brisbane on January 16, however it could take some weeks before all berths are brought on line.

The Port of Bundaberg remains closed to commercial shipping because of the flooded Burnett River.

Port Alma also remains closed to commercial shipping due to flood conditions in the Rockhampton area.

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
19/01/2011

Brisbane to Cairns train line to open tonight for passengers/freight

The North Coast Line between Brisbane and Cairns will reopen tonight after a derailment and extensive flooding cut the line for almost a month.

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan and Member for Rockhampton Robert Schwarten said the line's reopening will see freight trains and passenger trains passing through Rockhampton tomorrow, letting in vital supplies for Central and North Queensland.

"Trucks and even ships have been used to supply groceries to North Queensland since the state's flooding emergency started, but now trains will be able to restock food supplies over coming days," Ms Nolan said.

"The flooding that has affected so much of Queensland has been unprecedented and Queensland Rail has worked as quickly as possible to reopen this vital piece of infrastructure."

Mr Schwarten said the North Coast line is vital for the movement of supplies into North Queensland.

"This is good news for the communities of Central and North Queensland," he said.

"The reopening of the city's vital rail link is a major step in getting lives and our economy back on track."

Paul Scurrah, Chief Executive Officer of Queensland Rail, said the organisation developed and implemented plans with QR National to keep trains and infrastructure safe during the flooding.

"We decided to remove electrical equipment from the Rockhampton Yards as floodwaters rose, allowing us to reinstall it immediately after the water dissipated.

"We experienced a derailment on a line adjacent to ours that stopped trains near Mackay, then flooding in Bundaberg closed the bridge over the Burnett River, before finally the Fitzroy River broke its banks, flooding our yards and compounding damage to tracks north and south of the city.

"The final piece of the recovery puzzle in this region has been heavy earthworks to rebuild the rail line at Yaamba, which will be completed today."

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

Premier and Minister for the Arts
The Honourable Anna Bligh
19/01/2011

Authority tasked to get Queensland back on its feet

Premier Anna Bligh today announced the establishment of a new Queensland Reconstruction Authority to get the State back on its feet.

The Premier said the statutory Authority will manage the enormous task of rebuilding and repairing infrastructure in more than 60 flood affected communities across Queensland.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority will scope and coordinate the total statewide rebuilding program.

"These floods have been catastrophic and we have a post-war scale building task ahead of us. We need a dedicated body to prioritise that," Ms Bligh said.

"Our volunteers, SES workers, emergency services workers, police and defence force have done a phenomenal job of helping communities clean up.

The Premier said the Queensland Reconstruction Authority would be responsible for developing and implementing a statewide plan for rebuilding and reconnecting communities across the State.

"Its role will be to work closely with local governments and communities to ensure the unique characteristics of each community are factored into the rebuilding process.

"It will also coordinate government and non government organisations to deliver the necessary services to assist individual communities in the rebuilding process.

Ms Bligh said more than 70 per cent of the State had been affected by floods across many federal, state and local government areas of responsibility.

"We have a massive rebuilding task ahead of us, and it needs to be coordinated so we can get it right for every flood affected community.

The Premier said Major General Mick Slater would chair the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Board.

The Board will have the necessary skills and experience that will be vital to the rebuilding task.

"The Major General has been appointed to lead the recovery effort and develop a road map to recovery.

"He has been on the task since he was appointed in early January and his leadership will be vital.

Ms Bligh said Coordinator General Graham Newton had been appointed CEO of the Authority.

"Mr Newton brings with him a wealth of experience in planning and infrastructure and will be invaluable as we set about the task of rebuilding.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority will be provided, through legislation, with all necessary powers to implement all recommendations of the Board.

"Many Queenslanders have been through a very tough time and we have a long rebuilding road ahead of us.

"For many people, the healing process is about getting their lives back to normal - returning to their homes, their workplaces, their towns.

"What's more, our road and rail networks are the lifeblood of this State and crucial to getting crops and livestock to market and coal to port.

"We have a massive task ahead of us and we are going to all need to work together to get Queensland back on its feet.

"But if we have learned anything over the last few weeks it is that Queenslanders are up to the challenge."

Ends.

[#Metro]

^^^ There is all the evidence that is required to put the North Coast Rail line in as an rail line of national significance to qualify for Infrastructure Australia funding of it and the Landsborough-Nambour rail upgrade.

[mufreight]

^^^ There is all the evidence that is required to put the North Coast Rail line in as an rail line of national significance to qualify for Infrastructure Australia funding of it and the Landsborough-Nambour rail upgrade.

Of greater need at this time would be the completion of the Beerburrum to Landsbrough section duplication and the realignment and duplication of the section of track between Eudlo and Palmwoods which would effectively double the number of opposing paths avaliable between Caboolture and Nambour.