16 Jun 2021: Queensland Budget 2021-22 - public transport

[ozbob]

Queensland Budget 2021-22 - public transport

https://budget.qld.gov.au

We welcome the ongoing commitments to public transport service delivery in the 2021-22 Budget.

The Minister for Transport and Main Roads Mark Bailey MP issued a statement as part of the budget process on the 15th June 2021.
" Transport budget drives Queensland's economic recovery https://statements.qld.gov.au/statements/92389 "

Key rail investments listed in the statement (including some investments jointly funded with the Australian Government and local governments) include:

$5.4 billion Cross River Rail (100% funded by the Palaszczuk Government and being delivered by the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority)
$4.156 billion New Generation Rollingstock being delivered as a Public Private Partnership
$1.044 billion Gold Coast Light Rail (Stage 3) Broadbeach South to Burleigh Heads (with project costs subject to the finalisation of contract negotiations)
$646.4 million European Train Control System Level 2 upgrades
$600 million Rollingstock Expansion Project
$550.8 million North Coast Line - Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade (Stage 1)
$486.9 million train station upgrades at various locations including Albion, Auchenflower, Banyo, Buranda, Cannon Hill, Fairfield to Salisbury, Lindum, Morningside, Southbank, Wooloowin, Bundamba, East Ipswich, Burpengary and Dakabin
$356.2 million Gold Coast rail line (Kuraby to Beenleigh) capacity improvement preconstruction activities
$292.6 million Clapham Yard Stabling (Moorooka) construction
$255 million New Generation Rollingstock, European Train Control System fitment, install new signalling
$163 million funding commitment for the Beams Road (Carseldine) rail level crossing
$146 million funding commitment for the Boundary Road (Coopers Plains) rail level crossing (project cost, timing and funding arrangements subject to further planning and negotiation with Brisbane City Council)
$120 million Queensland Government funding commitment for three new Gold Coast railway stations at Pimpama, Helensvale North and Worongary/Merrimac
$114.2 million Mayne Yard (Mayne) upgrade
$95.1 million Loganlea train station relocation

It should be noted that this is not necessarily actual expenditure in 2021-22 but already committed (spent) or planned expenditure and not necessarily in 2021-22, but later on. None the less there are a number of essential projects listed and this is encouraging.

There are some concerns as to be expected.  For example if we refer to the Capital Statement 2021-22 it can be noted that despite being allocated $160.8 million in June 2018 for the $550.8 million North Coast Line - Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade (Stage 1), in 3 years only $43.7 million has been spent.  In 2021-22 they have budgeted $29.4 million. So we need to be circumspect when reviewing the above list. The stage 1 North Coast line project has been cut back from Landsborough to Beerwah as well, frankly a stupid myopic decision.

With respect to the $600 million Rollingstock Expansion Project there is only a committment to an initial 20 by six car trains.  We believe this is not enough and should be expanded to at a minimum to 30 six car trains. It was announced by Minister Bailey in Parliament yesterday that " Train manufacturers Alstom, CAF and Downer Rail have been shortlisted to manufacture the first 20 trains in a purpose-built Maryborough manufacturing facility for Cross River Rail. Queensland trains will be built in Queensland under this government. Their selection follows an extensive expression of interest process by the Department of Transport and Main Roads over the past six months."

Another concern is the slow progress with grade separation (level crossing removals). It appears from the budget documents that the Beams Roads (Carseldine) level crossing removal will proceed. The other mentioned is the level crossing removal at Coopers Plains, but this is contingent on further discussions with BCC. Simply not enough level crossings are being removed in SEQ.  The deficit is building year on year and will require a massive project eventually on the scale we have seen in Victoria since 2015.  Victoria has removed 46 level crossings since 2015 and is well on the way to removing another 29.  In SEQ we have removed none since 2015.

All the budget documents can be found at the Budget 2021-22 web site.

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

[ozbob]

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