Article: We can't afford Springfield rail by 2011: Bligh

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

We can't afford Springfield rail by 2011: Bligh

We can't afford Springfield rail by 2011: Bligh
Tony Moore | February 12, 2008 - 5:48AM

The rail line can be built to Springfield by 2011, but the cost of the project cannot be justified before 2015, Premier Anna Bligh said this week.

Transport Minister John Mickel announced the government's decision in late January to build the rail line to Richlands by 2011, but not to proceed to Springfield until 2015.

The decision was met with some surprise in the Ipswich and Springfield communities, though publicly the decision was accepted.

Ms Bligh said the government did consider delivering the project by 2011.

"And we actively investigated that. That's what we looked at," Ms Bligh said.

"And it can be, physically.

"But financially - within the constraints of a budget that has got a lot of infrastructure pressures on it - such as a $9 billion water grid, we had to make a responsible decision and that's what we did."

The Premier said the decision had to be taken in line with the impact of rising infrastructure costs on the state budget.

"I would love to be able to afford to do everything faster, but I have to manage what that means for the total cost of our budget, what it does for inflation and what it does to our borrowing."

However, Ms Bligh said the State Government was committed to developing the "western corridor", from Darra west towards Springfield and Ipswich.

Providing services to the region is the second arm to the State Government's policy to handle increasing population pressures on South-East Queensland.

Ms Bligh said the Government had not changed its schedule of providing the rail line to Springfield by 2014-15.

"The fact that we are maintaining our original schedule should not be seen as any moving away from it," Ms Bligh said.

"This is the single most important transport corridor to the success of the South-East Queensland plan.

"If we aren't able to provide the transport and services into that western corridor, then families will not move and settle there.

"And if they don't, then we will have real density pressure in other parts of the south east corner."

Springfield Land Corporation managing director Bob Sharpless and Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale both told brisbanetimes.com.au they wanted to meet Premier Bligh to discuss ways of bringing forward the rail and highway links to Springfield.

[ozbob]

RAIL BoT has long supported the railway line to Springfield.

I think our media release of 31 Jan 2008 summed it up ...

Media Release 31 January 2008

Brisbane:  Springfield railway, better late than never!

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport has welcomed the commitment from the Queensland Government to commence works for the railway to Richlands and then Springfield, although the completion date has been put back to 2015 for the Richlands to Springfield section.

Robert Dow said:

?Today?s confirmation of the railway line to Springfield is great news for all Queenslanders.?

?This is the beginning of a smart rail renaissance in Queensland.?

?We are disappointed that the line to Springfield itself will not be completed till 2015 but we are grateful for the commitment made today by Minister Mickel and the Queensland Government.?

?RAIL Back On Track has strongly supported the calls for the railway line to Springfield and we suggest that all four railway stations be built as the line is rolled out (references 1, 2).?

?A double line to Richland is a great start, and with the triplication of the line from Darra to Corinda high frequency services will be able to be introduced from Ipswich as well as Richlands and finally Springfield.?

?This line is important as the western regions of Brisbane are some of the fastest growth areas in Australia.  Looming fuel price increases and environmental costs require that rail infrastructure is lead out now.  The railway to Richlands and Springfield is very necessary.?

?As a nation we need to continue to think rail.  Adding a second 3?6? gauge line to the standard gauge corridor to Bromelton is smart!?

?Building the long awaited railway from Petrie to Kippa-Ring is essential.?

?Rail is the sustainable transport solution for the future!? said Robert Dow, spokesman for RAIL Back On Track.

References:

1. http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=246.0

2. http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=321.0

Contact:

Robert  Dow

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

[mufreight]

More from Mufreight
Seems that spin to keep the uninformed public quiet is the object rather than some actual results
More to the point can the SEQ community afford to wait even till 2011
Perhaps if there were a few million tonnes of coal there we might see more action as by comparison a branch line and load out facilities including a baloon loop for a coal mine requiring possibly double the length of track could be built and in service in less than two years lead time
Coal must be more important than people.

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Fresh push to fast-track Springfield rail

Fresh push to fast-track Springfield rail
Tony Moore | February 14, 2008

Springfield Land Corporation (SLC) believes private investors could deliver the western rail link to Springfield before 2015 - and it plans to take its case to the State Government.

SLC managing director Bob Sharpless confirmed this week that the organisation, as the major developers of the Springfield township, still wants the rail line earlier than 2015.

The State Government has ruled out fast-tracking the project because of the impact on the State Budget, announcing it could proceed to Richlands by 2011, but not to Springfield for a further four years.

Mr Sharpless said the SLC still wanted to speak with the State Government about the decision, although it understood its financial limitations.

Premier Anna Bligh earlier this week explained how infrastructure costs - mainly the $9 billion cost of South-East Queensland's Water Grid - had forced the Government to shelve plans to fast-track the rail line to Springfield.

In the mid-1990s, Springfield Land Corporation entered into a delicate arrangement with the State Government to make payments in advance to allow the Government to build the first stage of the Centenary Highway from the Ipswich Motorway to the Logan Motorway.

Mr Sharpless said they were interested in developing a similar proposal.

"That's the concept," Mr Sharpless said.

"What we are looking to raise with them is to come up with a concept like we used in the early '90s where we brought forward the first stage of the Centenary Highway."

Mr Sharpless said no discussions had taken place.

Meanwhile, Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale said the responsibility for bringing the rail line forward had to lie with developers.

Cr Pisasale said he had emailed Premier Anna Bligh and Deputy Premier Paul Lucas.

"I think the responsibility lies with the development industry," Cr Pisasale said.

"If we can show how we can bring forward the project at no cost to government, and work in partnership with the Government so we can save costs at a later date, then I think they would be very willing to look at the project.

"But I think the onus now is right back on the developers and if the development industry wants to accelerate that plan, then it has to be at the cost of the development industry."

[Derwan]

I think private investment into a rail line is fine - provided it is not structured like the Airtrain service.  Profit sharing needs to be worked into ordinary fare structures and ticketing options.

[haakon]

I think what they did was pre pay taxes to the State government to fund highway. Looks like they want to do something similar for the rail line.