5 Sep 2015: Gold Coast Light Rail: Get On With It!

[ozbob]

Media release 5th September 2015

Gold Coast Light Rail: Get On With It!

RAIL Back on Track is disappointed with Tony Abbott's rejection of any participation in Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2.

Steven Jamieson, Gold Coast regional spokesperson said "While this is utterly unsurprising and completely wrong, it makes the Commonwealth Government's position entirely clear.  That being the case, it is now entirely a matter for the State Government and Gold Coast City Council to make this happen".

Stage 1 of G:Link between Gold Coast University Hospital enjoyed funding contributions of $365m from the Commonwealth Government and $120m from Gold Coast City Council, in addition to State Government and private funding sources.

"The Commonwealth chipping in $200m would have unquestionably made procuring Stage 2 easier, but we absolutely do not accept that the State Government does not have the capacity to fund this project.  The State has the ability to reallocate funding from elsewhere in the DTMR budget (in particular capital expenditure on roads) or from other agencies, undertake extremely low-interest borrowings, raise taxation revenue through a variety of means or enter long-term repayment arrangements with whoever is to deliver the project."

"We have had it up to the back teeth with the politics.  If the project is worth doing, it is worth doing no matter who funds it.  Just get on with it!"

Contacts:

Steven Jamieson
Gold Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

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

Reference:

1. http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/game-changer/prime-minister-tony-abbott-under-fire-after-backflipping-on-vow-to-consider-new-rail-funding/story-fnvizjmv-1227513472704

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10887.msg160821#msg160821

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow

#GoldCoast #LightRail: Get On With It!

> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11635.0 ... ...

>> ... ... #qldpol #auspol #nswpol #springst O_o

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

9th September 2015

Re: Gold Coast Light Rail: Get On With It!

Greetings,

Confirmation on #qldpol twitter ( https://twitter.com/search?f=tweets&vertical=default&q=%23qldpol&src=savs ) that the Prime Minister is sticking to his ' knitting '

So be it.

There are options for funding stage 2 as we detail below.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release 5th September 2015

Gold Coast Light Rail: Get On With It!

RAIL Back on Track is disappointed with Tony Abbott's rejection of any participation in Gold Coast Light Rail Stage 2.

Steven Jamieson, Gold Coast regional spokesperson said "While this is utterly unsurprising and completely wrong, it makes the Commonwealth Government's position entirely clear.  That being the case, it is now entirely a matter for the State Government and Gold Coast City Council to make this happen".

Stage 1 of G:Link between Gold Coast University Hospital enjoyed funding contributions of $365m from the Commonwealth Government and $120m from Gold Coast City Council, in addition to State Government and private funding sources.

"The Commonwealth chipping in $200m would have unquestionably made procuring Stage 2 easier, but we absolutely do not accept that the State Government does not have the capacity to fund this project.  The State has the ability to reallocate funding from elsewhere in the DTMR budget (in particular capital expenditure on roads) or from other agencies, undertake extremely low-interest borrowings, raise taxation revenue through a variety of means or enter long-term repayment arrangements with whoever is to deliver the project."

"We have had it up to the back teeth with the politics.  If the project is worth doing, it is worth doing no matter who funds it.  Just get on with it!"

Contacts:

Steven Jamieson
Gold Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

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

Reference:

1. http://www.goldcoastbulletin.com.au/news/game-changer/prime-minister-tony-abbott-under-fire-after-backflipping-on-vow-to-consider-new-rail-funding/story-fnvizjmv-1227513472704

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10887.msg161058#msg161058