Article: Minister protects Ipswich to Springfield Public Transport Corridor

[ozbob]

Minister for Transport
The Honourable Rachel Nolan
17/04/2009

Minister protects Ipswich to Springfield Public Transport Corridor

17 April 2009

The State Government has approved the preservation of the Ipswich to Springfield Public Transport Corridor, giving the Government more certainty in transport planning for the rapidly growing region.

The Minister for Transport Rachel Nolan said the Government had agreed to preserve the corridor after considering the recommendations of the Environmental Impact Study into the preferred corridor.

"The Environmental Impact Study was submitted to the Queensland Government at the start of this year, and is now available for viewing by the public," Ms Nolan said.

Queensland Transport initiated a public transport corridor study for the area in October 2006 after the South East Queensland Regional Plan identified the need to investigate transport requirements in the fast-growing western region.

"Significant population growth is predicted in the region during the next 20 years, so more transport infrastructure and services will be required," Ms Nolan said.

Key recommendations of the Environmental Impact Study support the preservation of the corridor that is designed for use by heavy passenger rail and can be used for a busway.

The study has also made recommendations on station locations and park and ride facilities to service the predicted population increase.

The planning for the corridor has been done in close consultation with the Ripley Valley Taskforce.

Member for Bundamba Jo-Ann Miller welcomed the announcement and encouraged the community to view the Environmental Impact Study documents.

"This is part of the Bligh Government planning for the future of our rapidly growing community," Ms Miller said.

"The Bligh Government is committed to ensuring certainty in transport planning and balancing this with the needs of the environment."

The Environmental Impact Study has also provided advice on engineering issues.

Ms Nolan said property owners of land potentially required had been notified of the decision to preserve the corridor.

Consultation on the Environmental Impact Study document ran from 22 June - 10 August 2007 with four public displays, newsletters and newspaper advertisements.

The EIS document can be found at http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/ipswichtospringfield and for viewing at the following locations:

Ipswich Electorate office of Rachel Nolan MP

125 Brisbane Road

BOOVAL Q 4305

Bundamba Electorate office of Jo-Ann Miller MP
Shop 46B, St Ives Shopping Centre
2 Smith Road
GOODNA 4300

UQ Ipswich Library

11 Salisbury Road, Ipswich 4305

Redbank Plaza Library

Redbank Plaza Shopping Centre,

1 Collingwood Park Drive, Redbank 4301

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[ozbob]

See http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/Home/Projects_and_initiatives/Projects/Ipswich_to_springfield_public_transport_corridor_study/


http://www.transport.qld.gov.au/resources/image/468472d0b11b2476/map.png

[O_128]

wow 2050 link up here we come!

[stephenk]

It is welcome that this public transport corridor has been preserved as will be useful to support SE Queensland's badly planned urban sprawl.

It is very disappointing that significant housing development will take place in the Ripley Valley before the railway will be constructed (as has occurred at Springfield). 

I question the planning of the increasing urban sprawl in SE Queensland which has allowed developments such as those in Springfield and Ripley Valley. Large, low density cities are not sustainable, and will be increasingly unsustainable in the future with increasing fuel prices. Smaller higher density cities allow for much more efficient and cost effective public transport. It is time to restrict the urban sprawl and build up, not out.