10 Mar 2011: SEQ: Petrol price pain and the transport storm

[ozbob]

Media release 10 March 2011

SEQ:   Petrol price pain and the transport storm

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport commuters has said South East Queensland is totally unprepared for the inevitable rise in petrol prices.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The price of petrol is going to continue to rise, and fast, as demand increases with the recovery of the global economy (1,2,3) and supply continuing to dwindle.  The Energy Watch Group (EWG) recently reiterated its warning that the highpoint of conventional worldwide oil exploitation was reached in 2006 and the International Energy Agency (IEA) endorsed this conclusion for the very first time, corroborating that the production of crude oil will never again achieve the 2006 level (4). Ask any grade 9 student studying economics what the result of demand going up whilst supply is going down and they will quickly and confidently answer 'sky-rocketing prices'."

"South East Queensland's transport network is built upon the assumption that over 70% of all trips will be by motor car and public/active transport need only cater for the remaining 30% (5).  The reality of 2011 is that 83% of all trips are by motor vehicle (6). Despite only 17% of trips being by active/public transport our cycling, bus and rail networks are at capacity during peak travel times. Thus as the price of oil increases there is limited capacity for people to switch to active/public transport in peaks and in many cases the service is so infrequent and indirect that there is no real alternative to driving."

"In 2008 a study of motorists found that 30% of motorists would give up their cars and catch public transport to work if petrol prices hit $1.75 a litre(7).  This is a potential overnight doubling of demand for active and public transport and is only 25 cents away.   What percentage will make the change if petrol hits $2 or $2.50?"

"Our political leaders and many bureaucrats  are in denial of the rapidly approaching transport storm and continue to focus transport funding primarily on our road network.  Any claims that this road funding was reducing congestion and therefore fuel costs were shattered in November 2010 when congestion statistics for South East Queensland, released by the Department of Transport and Main Roads, showed that the multi-billion dollar road investments over the last 10 years had not improved congestion levels (8)."

"If South East Queensland is to start the journey toward developing a transport system that reduces the impacts of rising petrol prices on the residents, then all levels of Government need to:

1.   halt the construction of any new motorway or tunnel capacity immediately;

2.   reduce the scale of motorway or tunnel capacity currently under construction as much as possible;

3.   redirect the funding towards  active and public transport and a sustainable transport future, and

4.   establish sustainable transport mode targets in the final Connecting SEQ 2031 of at least 60-70% for all trips made by rail freight and public/active transport."

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org

References:

1.   http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/bowser-price-shock-for-consumers-as-petrol-nears-150-a-litre-in-brisbane/story-e6freon6-1226017338481

2.   http://www.couriermail.com.au/money/money-matters/more-pain-as-fuel-to-hit-150-in-weeks/story-fn3hskur-1225997646585

3.   http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/twoyear-high-motorists-warned-of-petrol-price-surge-20110304-1bhgm.html

4.   http://www.tandlnews.com.au/2011/03/02/article/International-Energy-Agency-confirms-peak-oil-was-in-2006/IQBSBIVVOT

5.   South East Queensland Integrated Regional Transport Plan 1997
     http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/S/South-East-Queensland-Integrated-Regional-Transport-Plan-1997.aspx

6.   Draft Connecting SEQ 2031 http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/C/Connecting-SEQ-2031.aspx

7.   http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/175-a-litre-no-thanks-well-take-the-bus/2008/04/23/1208743011352.html

8.   http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=4794.0

[ozbob]

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