SEQ Mayors call for infrastructure to be a key State Election priority

[ozbob]

http://www.seqmayors.qld.gov.au/Images/News/94-MR_INF_Mayors-call-for-infrastructure-to-be-a-priority.pdf

MEDIA RELEASE

SEQ Mayors call for infrastructure to be a key State Election priority

16 February, 2012

The Council of Mayors (SEQ) wants the next State Government to commit to investing in infrastructure
to support the economic and population growth strategies being promoted by both sides of politics.
Current State budget papers and outlook show a decrease in infrastructure investment of $5.5 billion over
the next three years – reducing the State infrastructure investment from $23.4 billion to $17.8billion over
three years.

Council of Mayors (SEQ) chairman, Councillor Graham Quirk said infrastructure needed to be a key
election priority for South East Queensland (SEQ) and residents would like to see both parties address the
issue.

"We appreciate the need for the State Government to represent the interests of all Queenslanders, but it is
important for the State to invest adequately in infrastructure in the SEQ region which is home to 70 per
cent of the state's population," said Cr Quirk.

"We can't sustain a decrease to infrastructure spending with a growing population.

"What we need from the new State Government is a commitment for greater transport infrastructure to
meet the burden placed on our existing networks.

"Council of Mayors (SEQ) has identified 12 projects of State and Regional significance that should be
high on the 'must do' list of all State Election candidates in SEQ," he said.

Projects of State and Regional Significance include: an emergency helipad (Lockyer Valley); Dangerous
Open Level Crossing Elimination (Brisbane); a rural timber bridges replacement program; bus priority
and bus corridor project (Sunshine Coast); outer circulating road (Toowoomba); Gold Coast Rapid
Transit (stage two); Mt Lindesay Highway Upgrade (Logan); transitway and bikeway upgrades; Redland
City to Gateway Motorway Corridor; Bayley Road Extension (Ipswich); Beaudesert Town Centre
Bypass; Redland City to Port to Brisbane Corridor.

"Local government recognises infrastructure is the key to ensuring sustainable economic growth, we need
the commitment from the both sides of politics that State infrastructure spending will build and support
our future capacity," said Cr Quirk.

"Making long term investments in public infrastructure creates jobs, attracts and encourages private
sector investment, makes the economy more efficient and productive, and generates a multiplier of
growth in other parts of the regional and state economy."

- Ends –

[#Metro]

Current State budget papers and outlook show a decrease in infrastructure investment of $5.5 billion over the next three years – reducing the State infrastructure investment from $23.4 billion to $17.8billion over three years.

It's called "infrastructure australia the ATM ran dry"

Public agencies need to find new ways to fund concrete, or be more efficient at what they do. Not all concrete is bad or unnecessary - but there are just too many projects to do them all.

[SurfRail]

Yet when somebody suggests cordon tolling or reviewing the way we charge for things, or diverting some of the funding from less important priorities, the motorists have a spaz.

[#Metro]

Yet when somebody suggests cordon tolling or reviewing the way we charge for things, or diverting some of the funding from less important priorities, the motorists have a spaz.

Think about this - would it (cordon tolling) actually raise enough revenue for infrastructure? If we look at things like the Clem 7 tunnel or gateway bridge, airtrain, airport link and so forth - the toll is around $4 and that needs to be there for the next 30 years or so. That's just for ONE piece of infrastructure.

If we are talking about services, then maybe that's a different kettle of fish.

I don't understand what the obsessive fixation on CORDON TOLLING is by planners, councils and academics is. Cordon tolling only works when you have one high-demand area where everyone is trying to get into (i.e. CBD, Airports). In the Brisbane context I think that most of the cars are actually going along the Indooroopilly - Captain Cook - SE Freeway axis and also the Gateway.

There are other ways to perform road user charges, but I think certain things need to happen first before enough pressure is created to force the hand of government, at least in our context:

- The proportion of electric or non-fuel using vehicles needs to increase such that the revenue from fuel excise falls sharply and forces cuts in revenue and threatens the government's cash supply

- Congestion needs to go through the roof, on both road and rail networks

- Money for new infrastructure needs to become very scarce or run out forcing a crisis (I think we are approaching this, IA can't fund everything and there are just too many projects to fund right now).