Tram for Nambour project

[Stillwater]

Even stationary trams/locos can cost a lot of money.

https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/historic-loco-is-100000-from-final-destination/2647164

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> 'You've killed it': Councillor's impassioned tramway plea

A $1 MILLION donation to The Nambour Tramway Company could be the saving grace for the project, but its most impassioned advocate fears his colleagues have "killed it, dead".

Councillor Greg Rogerson revealed early in this morning's ordinary meeting local philanthropists Roy and Nola Thompson had pledged $1 million from their foundation to mitigate the revised surplus, should any exist.

Cr Rogerson pleaded with councillors to delay a vote to sever ties with the project until the February 28 meeting so he and TNTCo could engage other professionals to provide revised plans and costings.

But Cr Steve Robinson's motion to push that decision until April's meeting to allow a thorough investigation was supported by all councillors except Cr Rogerson, Jenny McKay and John Connolly.

TNTCo representatives present in the gallery declined to comment after the meeting.

Ahead of the decision, Cr Rogerson said his colleague's vote was for "Nambour's future", and the extended deadline would "kill the project, dead" as the specialised builder who council had voted to complete the information and western terminus building, had other commitments and could not change the construction timeline.

"(The builder) has other commitments, and the price that TNTCo are doing the terminus for, you wouldn't expect anyone else to build it for that particular price," he said.

"If he is taken out of the equation because he has other objectives in his life... it will further put at risk because the cost would be proportionately higher."

Towards the end of the near two-hour, impassioned debate, Deputy Mayor Tim Dwyer supported Cr Robinson's motion to push the date to April and accused Cr Rogerson of generating fear amongst his colleagues.

Murmurs of "you're joking" rang from the gallery as Cr Dwyer assured the Sunshine Coast Council had not "turned its back on Nambour" and said he was over the "Coast versus the hinterland" myth.

"This is about making sure the project has every possible chance of getting over the line, you're not the victim here Cr Rogerson, and neither is Nambour."

Currently, the Federal Government's $500,000 funding commitmment requires 30 per cent of the terminus building be complete by March 30, and complete by July.

The Chief Executive Officer's office told the meeting written correspondence from the Federal Government confirmed these deadlines could be extended to June 2020 at the latest.

Latest budget estimates put the project in $2.97 million deficit, which was revealed when today's agenda was published last Friday.

Cr Rogerson said since news broke that the project was in jeopardy, he and TNTCo had engaged with specialists and engineers who assured they could provide new plans and costings by the February 28 meeting.

The ordinary meeting heard the current budget included $2.58 million for the tramway component alone, and that this included a 35 per cent contingency.

The motion carried as put forward by Cr Rogerson, and amended by Cr Robinson, is that the Sunshine Coast Council:

Defer consideration of 8.4.1 Nambour Heritage Tramway project update, until council's ordinary meeting of April 2019, to enable the Divisional Councillor to work in partnership with the Nambour Tramway Company Ltd and council officers to:

Undertake investigations into alternative/value engineering and construction methods for the tramway corridor.

a) Request the Chieff Executive Officer to cease the current tender process for tram rolling stock, that closed on December 18, 2018;

b) Revise the functional specifications for the required tram rolling stock to enable the necessary procurement processes for this to occur;

c) Request the Chief Executive Officer to formally seek the vary the funding agreement with the Australian government for the terminus building to the latest commencement and completion dates, possible noting this require full acquittal by June 2020; and

d) Request the chief executive officer Undertake a review regarding the operational costs and revenue streams for the Tramway and provide a clear forecast of operational costs and risks, depreciation and any expected further project stages over a minimum of a ten year period.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/WINNews_SCoast/status/1090888549195341824

[Gazza]

Just let this die already.
No money to do it properly, all for the sake of recycling a couple of old rails set in the bitumen.

[Stillwater]

Not dead.  SC Council has voted (today) in favour of the tram and will kick in an extra $730,000 to meet the increased costs.  First priority is to start building terminus.

[red dragin]

Not dead.  SC Council has voted (today) in favour of the tram and will kick in an extra $730,000 to meet the increased costs.  First priority is to start building terminus.

Hopefully doesn't end up costing them, what Mary Valley cost Gympie Council & the State Government.

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> 'Catalyst' project to go full steam ahead for Nambour


VISION: An architects' impression of the Nambour Heritage Tramway terminal.
Greenway Architects

A "CATALYST" project set to drive Nambour's future through a throwback to its past has stayed on track, with councillors voting to start construction.

The Nambour Heritage Tramway project was unanimously supported by councillors present in Nambour on Monday.

The support for the first stage of the project came after an impassioned speech from Cr Greg Rogerson, who documented the seven-year battle to have the project reach fruition.

He spoke glowingly of the community's efforts to raise $158,000 through TramFest and thanked philanthropist Roy Thompson for his foundation's million-dollar donation, without which, could've left the tramway project "dead in the water".

"It's (battery-powered electric tram) the only one of its kind in the world," Cr Rogerson said.

The second stage of the tramway involves it connecting through to the Nambour Showgrounds, creating a link from the heavy rail network near Mill St.

"We didn't want a tram that went to nowhere," Cr Rogerson said.

Cr Ted Hungerford had raised concerns about the lack of contingencies built into the modelling and the $763,000 funding shortfall, which was being covered by reshuffling the 10-year capital works program budgets and delaying Eumundi street scaping for about a year.

But Cr Rogerson said they'd been able to secure fixed price estimates, giving certainty to the bottom line.

The new, mill-inspired terminus must be built by March next year to meet Federal Government funding requirements.

It was tipped to be a substantial building which included an information centre.

Cr Christian Dickson committed $25,000 from his discretionary funds next year to the project, while Cr Rogerson tipped in $100,000 and Cr John Connolly also committed funding.

Nambour Tramway Company director Peter Clark said the project was a game changer for the region, not just the division.

"We believe that this is a catalyst project," Mr Clark said.

"I see some green shoots in the town and hopefully this will be what you would call the rain on those green shoots to make this town just come back alive again... and to be a prosperous centre."

Mr Thompson said Nambour had a "little bit" to be desired and he hoped his financial support would help revive the town's former glory.

"It's good for the Coast," he said.

"It's a good cause. Anything that helps the whole Coast go has got to be good for us.

"I made a lot of money on this Coast, I've got to put it back in here."

He though it would be "fantastic" for Nambour once the tramway connected to the showgrounds and he indicated he'd be willing to support the second stage of the project in future.

Cr Rogerson said he was "absolutely ecstatic" to secure council support and added he'd probably be clipping tickets or driving the tram for a few years as a volunteer.

[red dragin]

Mary Valley was originally 2.5 mill.

Then 8.5 mill.

Then that blew out to 10.8 mill.

Last I heard (about a year ago) the figure was at 17.5 mill.

Sadly I feel that this will be the same. They'll get started, then get too far into it to stop and just have to keep going until it's running.

[SurfRail]

What is this actually for?

[timh]

^Yeah. Not sure if this is meant to be a commuter thing, like for regular people to get around town, or if it's purely a tourist thing. I think it's cool, just seems weird.

[Stillwater]

Essentially, it is a 'booby prize' to the people of Nambour because the SC Council in a couple of years time will transfer 400 jobs from Nambour to a new 'city hall' at the Maroochydore Town Centre, now under construction.  The SCC presence at Nambour will be reduced to the Library and a small 'kiosk' style drop-in centre to pay rates, check your dog registration etc.  Staff will transfer from Caloundra to Maroochydore also.

The tram will operate between the Coles next to the Nambour railway station to the Nambour Showgrounds, via the shopping district.  It is unclear whether it will be a tourist attraction or a public transport convenience for people to get around Nambour without a car.

[Gazza]

Its basically just over 1km long, so more or less the stop spacing between BUZ stops in Brisbane, or shorter than the length between the Queen Street and Nerang Street stops on G:Link, so it'll literally be a tourist thing, or possibly for the infirm that cant walk far.

It's kind of fake heritage though isn't it? It's not like Nambour ever had trams like Ballarat or Bendigo, its literally getting an old timey vehicle and running it.

[timh]

Its basically just over 1km long, so more or less the stop spacing between BUZ stops in Brisbane, or shorter than the length between the Queen Street and Nerang Street stops on G:Link, so it'll literally be a tourist thing, or possibly for the infirm that cant walk far.

It's kind of fake heritage though isn't it? It's not like Nambour ever had trams like Ballarat or Bendigo, its literally getting an old timey vehicle and running it.

Oh right. I didn't know much about this, I just assumed it was another tram revival project like the towns you mentioned, but no, it's just a pet project. Even more weird. Idk maybe one day it'd grow to a commuter service if Nambour grows? Unlikely but eh.

[achiruel]

The heritage bit is the track on which it runs, it's using the old 2" sugar mill tramway track, which is heritage listed but hasn't been used since 2003? I can't imagine people wanting to travel in the old sugar cane wagons.

[Stillwater]

Nambour and district has a strong heritage of narrow gauge steam loco hauled cane trains, which did take passengers for such occasions as picnic days. A train ran to Buderim from Palmwoods.  History showed that the cane trains also provided a parcel/delivery service -- stopping along the way to place parcels and bread in flying fox mechanisms that allowed householders to pull the goods in the flying fox over steep gullies to their homes.

I suppose the electric motor tram harks back to that era in some way, as people will be able to see the heritage tracks put to some use.

It will be staffed by volunteers -- don't expect your Go-card to work on the Nambour tram.

[ozbob]

And don't forget the Mapleton Tramway than operated from Nambour to Mapleton



>> https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8991.0

[ozbob]

Nambour and district has a strong heritage of narrow gauge steam loco hauled cane trains, which did take passengers for such occasions as picnic days. A train ran to Buderim from Palmwoods.  History showed that the cane trains also provided a parcel/delivery service -- stopping along the way to place parcels and bread in flying fox mechanisms that allowed householders to pull the goods in the flying fox over steep gullies to their homes.

I suppose the electric motor tram harks back to that era in some way, as people will be able to see the heritage tracks put to some use.

It will be staffed by volunteers -- don't expect your Go-card to work on the Nambour tram.

Yo.  It is designed to be a little tourist drawcard and will support the Mill Museum too.  Nambour has a great history of 2' tramways, and it is using that as a hook of sorts.  The ' tram ' will be a single unit propelled by an internal combustion motor.  Nothing too fancy, it will be after all 2' gauge.


The Nambour tram in early impressions.

[red dragin]

With a suitable grant to shift rolling stock, groups like ANGRMS might be able to operate their 2ft steam (once in service) on the track.

A weekend only steam service would be a bigger draw card.

[achiruel]

I thought I read somewhere the tram was to be solar-battery electric?

[red dragin]

I thought I read somewhere the tram was to be solar-battery electric?

Same here. It works for the 'solar rail motor' down at Byron, though the trick is that the rail motor charges off the grid at the station. The train itself generates some solar power, with the panels on the shed generating the rest over the course of the day. There is no true direct sun -> motor technique in place. Overall the power generated exceeds the power consumed.

[achiruel]

I expect the Nambour tram will charge at the termini as well.

[ozbob]

I thought I read somewhere the tram was to be solar-battery electric?

Yes, could be.  Depends a little on how much moolah they get!

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/rdasc/status/1130941428102762497

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> China-built trams on track for Nambour project


WORK IN PROGRESS: Nambour Heritage Tramway building under construction. Photo Patrick Woods

SUPPORT for the next major tourist attraction in Nambour is on the rise as construction of the project charges full steam ahead.

Works for the Nambour Heritage Tramway are chugging along at the Mill St site, with the terminus roof installed this week.

The Nambour Tramway Company director Peter Clark said momentum for the project was building now the community was seeing the project take shape.

"We've surveyed a number times, it's been a seven-year process, and the approval rating has always been quite consistent around the 78 to 79 per cent mark," he said.

"But I think that's improving now there's something happening and there's a building coming out of the ground."

Mr Clark said the company had been speaking to a number of tram builders about the design of the people carrier.

"Once we have final quotes, we will certainly be making a decision on that and get the ball rolling," he said.

Mr Clark said the project was on track to meet the May 2020 deadline for the terminus and information centre.

"Within 12 months, I think we will see the whole thing up and running in town, which to me, is very, very exciting to have it all under way," he said.

Councillor Greg Rogerson said works were "rapidly taking shape" in Nambour, yet the team hadn't locked down a time for when the tram would be functioning.

"The necessary tram corridor improvements and a final date for the bespoke, 'only tram of it's kind' to be running down the line, full with people, is still to be locked in," he said.

Cr Rogerson recently visited Hangzhou and Quzhou in China to appraise two potential manufacturers for the Nambour tram and said it was a "huge success".

"I took it on myself to see first-hand the build quality, materials used, technology incorporated and most importantly, the eagerness and willingness to work with TNT Co (the Nambour Tramway Company) to build the best available tram, at a realistic price," he said.

"Both manufacturers were completely transparent in every question and viewing opportunity I put to them.

"I have absolutely no hesitation in recommending to the TNT Co board, that both manufacturers have the capability of delivering Nambour's 'fit for purpose', bespoke tram."

[verbatim9]

Nice! Solar powered electric as well.

[ozbob]

Nambour Tram, Update. Plus trains in Nambour. John Coyle video

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/7NewsSC/status/1393123316609683457

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Had a visit to the Nambour Tramway Co on the 20th April 2022.

Considerable progress, just waiting for their tram now.

Some photographs:



Tram will 48v battery electric with rapid capacitor charging.
Copper clad with interactive interior.  Considered to be an ' art piece ' as well as tram.







This is the road for the ' tram '.  3 road shed.

















Photographs R Dow 20th April 2022

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

[ozbob]