13 Dec 2015: SEQ: A Christmas wish – Duplicate the Sunshine Coast Line

[ozbob]

Media release: 13 December 2015

SEQ: A Christmas wish – Duplicate the Sunshine Coast Line

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web-based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has called on the state government to end secrecy over its plans for the Sunshine Coast Line rail track duplication to Nambour and spell out a timetable for its construction (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"If ever there was a collective Christmas gift the Queensland Government could give the people of the Sunshine Coast, it would be certainty over the timetable for construction of dual railway tracks between Beerburrum and Landsborough North, and then onto Nambour."

"The economic benefits of this construction project and the flow-on stimulus to the region and state are enormous and are known to the state government, which is preparing a business case and cost-benefit analysis cloaked in secrecy.  Previous studies have revealed that $1 spent on the Sunshine Coast Line duplication would generate $2.25 for the SEQ economy."

"The new study is doing the calculation based on 2015 dollars, but the result is likely to be very positive. Indeed, it seems a more extensive plan for the North Coast Line (including north of Nambour) is in prospect, but the state government won't reveal any of the detail or likely timings."

"This uncertainty is stifling planning and investment decisions by the private sector.  Also, many of the fly-in, fly-out mining workers employed in other parts of Queensland make the Sunshine Coast home. As the resources boom comes off the boil, affecting their jobs, the track duplication to Nambour would create new jobs for these people and sustain their spending contribution to the Coast economy."

"The latest advice from TransLink and the Department of Transport and Main Roads is that the cost-benefit analysis was due to be completed by the end of the year, with the results being used to inform the business case. The department has cited no reason, except to say it is not publicly available at this stage, in not releasing the details of what it calls the 'North Coast Line Action Plan'."

"Clearly, the government is talking to industry and private financiers about the most favourable solution involving joint private-public funding mixes.  While these may be commercially sensitive, this does not prevent the Palaszczuk government from explaining the timelines and stages for this preliminary work."

"We think it is also time for the government to pin its colours to the mast and stipulate what physical structural works it has in mind and what construction timetable it proposes.  Recent wording in government strategic documents now refers to this project as 'duplication to Landsborough and further upgrading to Nambour', suggesting that the project scope has altered to involve dual tracks to Landsborough only, with longer passing loops on a single track further north to Nambour."

"By not spelling out the detail, the government is creating an impression that it lacks a coherent infrastructure agenda."

"All we want for Christmas is two rail tracks, but it feels more like pulling teeth to get anything done. The time for playing Scrooge with the Sunshine Coast is over."

Contacts:

Jeff Addison
Sunshine Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

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

Reference:

1. The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6647.0

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6647.msg165517#msg165517

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

15th January 2015

Track amplification Beerburrum to Landsborough North

Greetings,

Upgrading the Sunshine Coast Line, next stage from Beerburrum to Landsborough North, must be a key priority from here.  Expertise built up on the MBRL project can be moved onto this project?

It is a priority because:

- all advice to government is that it should be built, without exception
- transport efficiencies are enhanced
- positive socio-economic benefits flow
- travel time savings are won for passenger rail and rail freight
- the environment benefits by having freight moved on rail, transport costs are decreased
- the construction industry benefits, jobs are created
- the Queensland economy is enhanced
- while this is to be tested in the new business case, past business analysis says the project will generate more dollars than it costs to build.  It actually costs more not to build it.

The only variable left is politics.  Politics is holding up the duplication of the Sunshine Coast Line.

A recent article from the Couriermail:

===============================

Couriermail --> Fears Queensland's infrastructure plans not on track to meet future demand

MUCH-needed rail projects across Queensland are stalled in the planning stage, sparking fears that the state's heavy rail system will not be able to cope with growing passenger numbers in the future.

The Palaszczuk Government is under pressure to get moving on new projects amid concerns the Moreton Bay Rail Link may be the end of the line for heavy rail.

Acting Premier Jackie Trad and Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe yesterday spruiked the progress of the near-completed Moreton Bay Rail Link.

But RAIL Back On Track spokesman Robert Dow said the Government needed to turn its mind to delivering other crucial rail projects like the duplication of the Sunshine Coast railway line and cross-river rail.

"There's nothing in the pipeline. It's all planning and looking at cost-benefit and ­redoing studies that have been done many times already," Mr Dow said. "They produce the documents but nothing ever happens."

Mr Dow did acknowledge the announcement last month of the $163 million duplication of the Gold Coast railway line between Helensvale and Coomera, and the securing of Commonwealth funds for the Gold Coast light rail extension.

Experts have warned Queensland's rail system will not cope with rapidly growing passenger numbers and risk exceeding capacity by 2021.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the Government was moving on major projects and was poised to announce its infrastructure plan in coming months.

=========================================

Best wishes
Robert

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

Media release: 13 December 2015

SEQ: A Christmas wish – Duplicate the Sunshine Coast Line

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web-based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers has called on the state government to end secrecy over its plans for the Sunshine Coast Line rail track duplication to Nambour and spell out a timetable for its construction (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"If ever there was a collective Christmas gift the Queensland Government could give the people of the Sunshine Coast, it would be certainty over the timetable for construction of dual railway tracks between Beerburrum and Landsborough North, and then onto Nambour."

"The economic benefits of this construction project and the flow-on stimulus to the region and state are enormous and are known to the state government, which is preparing a business case and cost-benefit analysis cloaked in secrecy.  Previous studies have revealed that $1 spent on the Sunshine Coast Line duplication would generate $2.25 for the SEQ economy."

"The new study is doing the calculation based on 2015 dollars, but the result is likely to be very positive. Indeed, it seems a more extensive plan for the North Coast Line (including north of Nambour) is in prospect, but the state government won't reveal any of the detail or likely timings."

"This uncertainty is stifling planning and investment decisions by the private sector.  Also, many of the fly-in, fly-out mining workers employed in other parts of Queensland make the Sunshine Coast home. As the resources boom comes off the boil, affecting their jobs, the track duplication to Nambour would create new jobs for these people and sustain their spending contribution to the Coast economy."

"The latest advice from TransLink and the Department of Transport and Main Roads is that the cost-benefit analysis was due to be completed by the end of the year, with the results being used to inform the business case. The department has cited no reason, except to say it is not publicly available at this stage, in not releasing the details of what it calls the 'North Coast Line Action Plan'."

"Clearly, the government is talking to industry and private financiers about the most favourable solution involving joint private-public funding mixes.  While these may be commercially sensitive, this does not prevent the Palaszczuk government from explaining the timelines and stages for this preliminary work."

"We think it is also time for the government to pin its colours to the mast and stipulate what physical structural works it has in mind and what construction timetable it proposes.  Recent wording in government strategic documents now refers to this project as 'duplication to Landsborough and further upgrading to Nambour', suggesting that the project scope has altered to involve dual tracks to Landsborough only, with longer passing loops on a single track further north to Nambour."

"By not spelling out the detail, the government is creating an impression that it lacks a coherent infrastructure agenda."

"All we want for Christmas is two rail tracks, but it feels more like pulling teeth to get anything done. The time for playing Scrooge with the Sunshine Coast is over."

Contacts:

Jeff Addison
Sunshine Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

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

Reference:

1. The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6647.0

[ozbob]

Discussion --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6647.msg166625#msg166625