Discussion - Some reflections on the western transport corridor options

[ozbob]

This document is a the basis of a formal submission by mufreight. 

It is has been edited slightly by admin to put in a discussion format. 
Thanks to mufreight for making it available:

Much has been said of late both in the Parliament and in media releases on a number of related issues by the Premier, the Minister for Infrastructure, the Transport Minister and the Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation.   It is however unfortunate that too often a statement made by one Minister is within days contradicted by a further statement relating to that same matter made by another Minister or as recently occurred a statement made by the Transport Minister in relation to transport infrastructure was within a matter of days contradicted in a statement made by the Premier. 

Understandably I and many others now seek some clarification and explanation of a number of these conflicts and opinions on the matters raised relating to public transport infrastructure.

I have previously drafted a proposal for the extension of the electrification of the railway west of Rosewood to Gatton to enable the reintroduction of passenger services between Gatton and the Brisbane and Ipswich areas.

You would be aware that in the Gatton area there is currently a University, that the Government  is building a super jail in the vicinity of Gatton and that at the present time due to the spread of residential development there is at the present time in excess of 1100 people commute daily from the residential corridor that has developed between Gatton and Rosewood to the Amberley, Ipswich and various other points between Ipswich and the Brisbane CBD.

The numbers of voters who have no choice but to commute over this corridor grows daily with the expansion of residential development, the expansion of the University and the construction of the super jail.

It is understood that at the time of negotiations with the shire council regarding the locating of the jail at Gatton improved transport access to the area including the provision of public transport was raised and the Government representatives promised that these needs would be met.

The new jail will create a need for reliable public transport within the region for prison staff and visitors to the prison on top of other regional growth.  A percentage of the prison staff will undoubtedly reside within a reasonable proximity to the prison but their families will have a need to commute for employment, education and social needs, at the present time there is no realistic reliable alternative to private transport (car), placing extra load on a road system already beyond capacity that becomes a parking lot between Ipswich and Brisbane during the peak hours which now is extending into a three hour period morning and evening.

Relief for this congestion in the form of the Ipswich Motorway upgrade with actual construction only now commencing and during the period of the construction of the upgrade will create even more congestion than presently exists, a situation that will continue over the next three years with no relief for commuters from the nearby electorates who have to transit that section until it's completion presently scheduled for completion in 2011.

One of the major flaws of reliance on the upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway is that when the upgrade which will provide another traffic lane in each direction is completed it will on the Transport Departments predictions then again be at capacity, it will because of the sheer volumes of traffic including heavy transport be even more vulnerable than the Gateway Arterial to blockage as it was proven to be last year when a dangerous goods spill on that highway forced it's closure in both directions for some hours.

Some immediate relief could be given by improved utilisation of the existing rail system which could however provide some relief for commuters presently using the road system within a matter of days if there is the political will to do so. 

One must question the focus of the Government on road based infrastructure and the comparatively low levels of expenditure on rail infrastructure which hold the potential for considerable relief of the transport congestion bringing the South East section of the state to the point of transport gridlock.

As recently as the 3rd of March the Premier stated the intention of the Government to create a transport hub in Ipswich, unquestionably a great concept but one that requires actual upgrading of existing infrastructure and the construction of new infrastructure not just words.

On the 31st January the Transport Minister released a Ministerial statement in respect of transport infrastructure projects being on track and on time, one project of note was the Darra to Springfield Railway which has the potential to reduce the growing congestion on the Ipswich Motorway by the provision of commuter rail services. 

This project was originally scheduled for completion in 2010, a date that then slipped to 2011 and now has slipped further to 2015 yet despite this original forecast by the then Premier the Honourable Mr Peter Beattie in June 2006 of completion by 2010, There was then the Ministerial statement delivered by Transport Minister the Honourable Mr Reginald Mickel on the 31st January 2008, in which he stated that Major Rail and Road infrastructure was on track for delivery, this included the Springfield line with a 2010 completion date.

This was then followed by the Premier Ms Bligh on 12th February 2008 releasing a Ministerial statement that the Government could not afford to complete the Springfield now until 2015.  If the Springfield line can slip back by this amount, almost 6 years over a period of less than two years what assurance is there that if there are other infrastructure needs arising which the Government sees as having a greater priority such as the extension of a rail line for a coal mine, the installation of heated toilet seats for Ministers that the completion of the Springfield line will not be further deferred.

This despite the declared concerns of the Government, with regard to the costs both monetary, and social to the community as a consequence of gridlock on the Ipswich Motorway.  Concerns regarding the sustainability of the increasing use of the finite resource of oil fuel as expressed by the Transport Minister, the Honourable Mr Reginald Mickel in his Ministerial statement of the 12th February 2008. The concerns expressed by the Minister for Sustainability, Climate Change and Innovation, the Honourable Mr Andrew McNamarra in his Ministerial statement made on 8th February 2008 regarding Government Strategy to Reduce Oil Demand.

In the 1950's the QR planed for and commenced construction of the quadruplation of the line between Brisbane and Ipswich, the outcome to this time has been four tracks completed from Roma Street to Corinda and the partial construction of a earthworks and most road over rail overbridges, the reconstruction of the station at Darra and partial reconstruction of stations at Dinmore and Bundamba.

The current construction of a third track between Corinda and Darra to cater for the Springfield is a start but one must question the logic or rational behind the building a fifth platform at Darra and an equally unnecessary complex track arrangements at both Darra and Corinda and an additional unneeded platform at Oxley is from an operational point of view unnecessary expenditure.  Money that would be better spent on the construction of a fourth track between Corinda and Darra now.

The stub of the Springfield line beyond the actual junction point at Darra could provide an interim turnback facility at Darra and the simplified track arrangement would simplify providing a third track beyond Darra in the immediate short term and allow for the eventual construction of a fourth track west of Darra at some time in the future.

I ask that having considered the points above you reflect on the necessity for constructing this critical infrastructure which holds particular relevance to providing a realistic, practical and urgently needed relief from the current road congestion, will improve road safety, and be a credible move by the Government towards the reduction of greenhouse emissions and the social and economic factors that affect both commuter transport and the further development of the western growth corridor.

mufreight

[mufreight]

Questions worth asking your local State Member in a letter then share their responses .