Queensland Infrastructure Plan released

[dwb]

Queensland Infrastructure Plan- For public consultation

The Queensland Infrastructure Plan (QIP) identifies the infrastructure needed to support and further encourage growth across Queensland's major regional economic zones. It will improve the way existing infrastructure is managed, and provide a pipeline of targeted investment to deliver infrastructure where and when it is needed.

The QIP also addresses the challenge of rebuilding after the recent natural disasters our state experienced and to deliver a stronger and more resilient Queensland.

The plan directly supports the Queensland Regionalisation Strategy (QRS), which has been released for consultation, and outlines the investment needed to support the Queensland Government's Toward Q2 objective that by 2020, Queensland has Australia's strongest state economy, with infrastructure that anticipates growth.

Download the plan
View the full Queensland Infrastructure Plan ( 3.7 MB) or the following sections for browsing online:

Foreword ( 1.1 MB)
Queensland (1 MB)
Far North Queensland ( 717 KB)
North Queensland ( 654 KB)
Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday ( 638 KB)
Central Queensland ( 678 KB)
Wide Bay Burnett ( 641 KB)
Darling Downs ( 579 KB)
SEQ region ( 729 KB)
Table notes ( 471 KB)

Have your say
Have your say on the planned direction of infrastructure investment across the state.

Queensland's infrastructure planning direction
To address the challenges of delivering statewide infrastructure and achieve long term planning priorities, the QIP identifies five core principles to guide future infrastructure investment.

Queensland's infrastructure planning regions
The Queensland Infrastructure Plan identifies seven Queensland regions. The plan outlines the future infrastructure direction for each region under the themes of prosperity and liveability.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 12 July 2011 )[/url]

http://www.dlgp.qld.gov.au/delivering-infrastructure/queensland-infrastructure-plan.html
http://services.dlgp.qld.gov.au/resources/docs/qip/queensland-infrastructure-plan.pdf

[dwb]

Wow, considering this is meant to replace SEQIPP, which itself was about 80 pages, and only ~10pages of content remains on SEQ, you do have to wonder.

I guess the pollies were feeling the pinch having actually published so much information before - too many angles of attack for the opposition.

[Golliwog]

Was there a real need for SEQIPP to be 80 pages or was much of it just waffling on?

Still, some new rail projects in there (not many mind you) for example the Mayne-Ferny Grove line connection. No details given but I assume this is to connect with the back yard, which does already have a loop from the FG line but can only be accessed by trains going to/from the CBD not from FG itself meaning empties runnning to/from FG have to run through Central etc before returning to the yard.

[Fares_Fair]

Bligh unveils 20-year infrastructure plan
Updated 1 hour 4 minutes ago (2:05pm)


The strategy also includes a 20-year master plan to improve the Bruce Highway. (User submitted - file image: Cameron Kennedy)

Map: Brisbane 4000 Related Story: Bligh, Seeney butt heads over carbon tax Related Story: Budget estimates hearings begin with new rules Related Story: Overcrowding in parliamentary precinct worsens, Opposition says Related Link: Qld Government's 20-year infrastructure plan - July 2011 Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has launched a 20-year infrastructure plan for the state.

Following last year's growth management summit, the State Government this morning released its draft regionalisation strategy.

The strategy also includes a 20-year master plan to improve the Bruce Highway.

Ms Bligh says the Government's plan focuses on growth in key regional areas in Queensland.

"What this plan does is give everybody a clear line of sight about what they can expect to see in can expect in five years' time, in 10 years' time and in 20 years' time," she said.

Ms Bligh says Queensland is the only state to adopt a 20-year infrastructure plan.

"What we know is that without a plan nothing happens," she said.

"A plan is the first part of any good infrastructure delivery program."

But Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney says the release of the plan is a tactic to divert attention from the carbon tax debate and budget estimates.

"The release of the plan this morning is all about political opportunism for the government," he said.

"It's about suggesting that somehow they're going to suddenly start to do over the next 20 years what they failed to do over the last 20."

A separate 20-year masterplan for the Bruce Highway includes 60 major projects.

The Bruce Highway Upgrade Strategy identifies 340 kilometres of the Bruce Highway between Brisbane and Cairns in need of upgrading over the next two decades.

Most of the projects listed in the plan have already been announced by the Queensland Government.

The Government admits the medium to long-term projects are dependent on federal funding.

The Queensland Main Roads Department estimates the works will cost in the order of $20 billion over two decades.

Queensland Mains Roads Minister Craig Wallace denies the document is an attempt to lobby the Federal Government for more money but says the state does need a commitment from both sides of politics.

"It sets in place the ground rules which say to both sides of federal politics make a commitment to the Bruce," he said.

"This is our plan forward - this is a plan we can take to the Federal Government and say 'we need you to fund the Bruce, we need substantial funds for the Bruce and here are the areas that need to be funded'."

Deputy Premier Paul Lucas says while it is a federal responsibility, it is important to have proposed projects ready to go.

"The more products you've got on the shelf the more they can select," he said.

Mr Lucas says the Queensland Government's plan is aimed at improving the Bruce Highway's safety and capacity.

"It is not possible when you're dealing with floodplain after floodplain on the Bruce Highway to make it and guarantee that it will never flood," he said.

"What we can do with a combination of projects, we can increase capacity, we can improve flood immunity and we can improve safety."

The State Government is seeking public feedback on the strategies.

- Reporting by Siobhan Barry, Murray Cornish and Kirsty Nancarrow

[paulg]

Very disappointing that the Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication is nowhere to be seen.

[Derwan]

Is anyone else having trouble accessing the PDF files?  I'm guessing it's my connection at work.  I'll try from home later.

[Fares_Fair]

Is anyone else having trouble accessing the PDF files?  I'm guessing it's my connection at work.  I'll try from home later.

I have no problems accessing them from my work place.
The PDF is 100 pages.

Regards,
Fares_Fair

[Stillwater]

What is the relationship of the South-East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program to the Queensland Infrastructure Plan?

Does SEQIPP get lost down the back of the filing cabinet drawer that's filled with new glossy QIP documents?

Projects for which timelines had been provided (such as rail track duplication to Nambour), and which reasonably would have been built within the next 20 years, are now spoken of as being 'into the future'.  One possible reading is the 'future' is the period beyond 20 years.

This document does nothing to give a commitment to completion of projects in certain timeframes.

The word 'plan' is problematic when it comes to Infrastructure Plans.  It would be more appropriate to call them 'catalogues' and the Queensland Government a marketing organisation peddling wares (hospitals, bridges, motorways) for other levels of government, or developers, to buy. 

And what, pray, is the 'rail capacity upgrade'?

[O_128]

Cleveland rail upgrades have disappeared as well. Whats rail capacity upgrades also?

[Fares_Fair]

The State Government is seeking public feedback on the strategies.

Time to start typing ... anyone like to hazard a guess as to what I am going to suggest ?

Very appropriate points you raise SW.
It does sound like a brand new glossy brochure. Out with the old (viz. SEQIPP).
They must have shares in glossy brochure (pronounced 'broshoor') companies.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Shades of my fictitious 'ConnectUs' document in another post.

[Golliwog]

Wasn't SEQIP to be replaced by Connecting SEQ? I skimmed over the front of this one and recall seeing something saying this new QIP kind of replaces SEQIP but SEQIP is still relevant? Correct me if I'm wrong.

[ozbob]

I have learnt not to get too excited with these 'plans'.  The LNP said they will release one later this year too.

The Draft Connecting SEQ 2031 hasn't resurfaced yet as 'Connecting SEQ 2031' ...

[Stillwater]

I'm confused.  We read so-called strategic documents where the state government sets out infrastructure projects and timelines, then you read briefings to governments that outline projects and timelines, and then media statements where politicians promise works will proceed and when they will be completed.

We are told works are 'promised and guaranteed'.

Contracts are awarded, we are told.

Then we read words below from private sector companies:

"The Thiess United Group Joint Venture, as part of the Trackstar Alliance, has been awarded a contract by Queensland Rail to construct four major rail infrastructure projects in south east Queensland. The projects are part of the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan (SEQIP) Rail Alliance which was set up to ensure the delivery of planned rail infrastructure works for the region.

Under the SEQIP Rail Alliance, the joint venture partners will plan, design, construct and commission all civil earthworks and structures, stations, signalling, overhead and track installations for the four railway infrastructure projects.

These include:

•   Caboolture to Beerburrum duplication (completed in April 2009)
•   Robina to Reedy Creek extension
•   Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication, and
•   Corinda to Darra third track."

The bolding is mine.  Everything is planned, we are told construction will start and contractors are appointed, but the project (Beerburrum to Landsborough) stops dead.  WTF.

More information:

http://www.leighton.com.au/about_us/projects/south_east_queensland_infrastructure_plan_%28seqip%29.html

[mufreight]

What is the relationship of the South-East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program to the Queensland Infrastructure Plan?

Does SEQIPP get lost down the back of the filing cabinet drawer that's filled with new glossy QIP documents?

Projects for which timelines had been provided (such as rail track duplication to Nambour), and which reasonably would have been built within the next 20 years, are now spoken of as being 'into the future'.  One possible reading is the 'future' is the period beyond 20 years.

This document does nothing to give a commitment to completion of projects in certain timeframes.

The word 'plan' is problematic when it comes to Infrastructure Plans.  It would be more appropriate to call them 'catalogues' and the Queensland Government a marketing organisation peddling wares (hospitals, bridges, motorways) for other levels of government, or developers, to buy. 

And what, pray, is the 'rail capacity upgrade'?

A fresh issue of glossy brocures is far cheaper than the actual projects which the current government has no ability or intention to proceed with.

[#Metro]

Didn't we just have Con SEQ 2031
Western Transport Network Investigation
Lord Mayors Mass Transit Report
blah blah blah...

Ugh... pile on the paper

[Stillwater]

One of the spoils of occupying the government benches is that you can put the public service to work on your 'transport plan' and have the taxpayer pay for its preparation and printing.  Those poor folks at the LNP will have to have volunteers and MPs staff prepare the words and use party funds to meet the printing bill.

[Stillwater]

The curious thing about the 20-year Bruce Highway Upgrade Strategy (http://services.dlgp.qld.gov.au/resources/docs/bhus/bhus-strategy.pdf)
is that there would appear to be no comparable Sunshine Coast Line--North Coast Line document.

What are we to make if this?  Is it the case that the state government does not have a comparable plan for rail because it believes that the growth in freight transport will be handled by the Bruce Highway to the detriment of rail?

In the absence of a companion rail infrastructure document, how can the government make valid comparisons about whether an investment of $100 million in the NCL would be better than putting $100 million into the highway?

By its silence on rail infrastructure upgrades serving regions along the eastern seaboard, the state government is displaying its road-centric thinking.

[ozbob]

The curious thing about the 20-year Bruce Highway Upgrade Strategy (http://services.dlgp.qld.gov.au/resources/docs/bhus/bhus-strategy.pdf)
is that there would appear to be no comparable Sunshine Coast Line--North Coast Line document.

What are we to make if this?  Is it the case that the state government does not have a comparable plan for rail because it believes that the growth in freight transport will be handled by the Bruce Highway to the detriment of rail?

In the absence of a companion rail infrastructure document, how can the government make valid comparisons about whether an investment of $100 million in the NCL would be better than putting $100 million into the highway?

By its silence on rail infrastructure upgrades serving regions along the eastern seaboard, the state government is displaying its road-centric thinking.

The present state government is publishing itself into oblivion, clearly ... 

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Glossy plans but Brisbane's cross-river rail link in doubt

Glossy plans but Brisbane's cross-river rail link in doubt

   Robert MacDonald
   From: The Courier-Mail
   July 13, 2011 12:00AM

THE timing of Brisbane's crucial cross river rail link remains uncertain despite the State Government's release of a glossy 96-page Queensland infrastructure plan for the next 20 years.

Barely two years ago, Premier Anna Bligh said modelling showed a second rail bridge was "desperately needed" by 2016.

The document, released on Tuesday,  made no reference to a possible construction timetable beyond the phrase "medium to longer term". It also classified the ambitious scheme as still being in the "pre-project" phase.

Ms Bligh announced in late January the Government was delaying work on the project, originally slated to start in 2013, by at least two years to help pay for post-flood and Cyclone Yasi reconstruction.

Since then, the Government has failed in a bid to win funding support for the $9 billion project from the Federal Government's Infrastructure Australia, which last month said more work needed to be done before it could recommend "ready to proceed" status.

The cross river link is just one of billions of dollars worth of unfunded projects in the plan - among them the long-mooted Eastern Busway extension, which the Government admits it cannot fund on its own.

"The government is committed to maintaining a strong infrastructure program," the plan says.

"However, the reality is that government only has limited resources and must ensure funding is directed to where it is most needed.

"Encouraging and expanding the private sector investment in infrastructure is essential."

The Government also released its regionalisation strategy and a $2 billion Bruce Highway upgrade strategy, which it will use to underpin a statewide community consultation program to run until September.

Opposition Leader Jeff Seeney said the Government was only acting on the Bruce Highway now because an election was in the wind.

"Labor has had 20 years to act on this and all Queenslanders have got is words and more words," he said.

Local Government Association of Queensland chief executive Greg Hallam congratulated the Government for being the first in Australian to have a state-wide infrastructure plan.

"But to not include local government infrastructure defies belief," he said.

He described the new regionalisation strategy as "very thin, given they had a couple of hundred public servants working on it".

Looking forward to the trains returning to Tennyson!  LOL   

[colinw]

Good old News Corporation!  Here's an editorial in The Australian that lobbies for a four lane divided highway from Brisbane to Cairns. No mention of the railway at all. No great surprise that the railway is absent from the minds of our politicians when the most influential newspaper in the country pushes this editorial line.

The Australian -> Road masterplan is too modest

UPGRADING the Bruce Highway from Brisbane to Cairns is a priority not just for Queensland but for the nation.

This corridor of prosperity stretching for 1670km from Brisbane to Cairns links centres of mining growth as well as farming, industries that will fuel our export growth for decades. As far as it goes, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh's 20-year plan to upgrade the highway incorporates much-needed improvements after a recent RACQ motorists' survey labelled the highway Queensland's most unroadworthy road. The 340 km of highway duplication, new bridges, ring roads, deviations, intersection upgrades and passing lanes will improve safety, capacity and flood immunity. As the population expands, the promise of at least four lanes from Brisbane to Bundaberg, 380km north, by 2031 will be especially beneficial, although at peak times traffic flows from Brisbane to the Sunshine Coast warrant eight lanes in some stretches.

The problem with the so-called "masterplan" is that it is too modest. By 2031, it would leave most of the coastal corridor, one of Australia's fastest-growing areas, linked by just one lane in either direction. With an extra 2.5 million people expected to boost Queensland's population to seven million within 20 years, a four-lane divided highway from Brisbane to Cairns should be a priority for the federal and Queensland governments.

The opposition LNP's response so far has been unimaginative -- with some justification, it branded the plan a "sham". But Queenslanders thinking of changing their votes in coastal seats at the coming state poll will be looking for an alternative that meets the needs of provincial Queensland. Ms Bligh and LNP leader Campbell Newman both have strong track records of road-building in Brisbane and understand the importance of upgrading infrastructure to boost productivity. They can do better. As the Queensland Infrastructure Plan shows, each dollar spent on infrastructure boosts economic activity by as much as $1.60.

Both sides of Queensland politics ruled out a suggestion by Michael Keegan, head of Infrastructure Australia, to impose tolls on the Bruce Highway, but with much of the federal government's global financial crisis stimulus wasted on unproductive projects and Queensland struggling to regain its AAA credit rating, taxpayers will be hard pressed to find the capital to bring the highway up to standard.

I despair for this country.

[ozbob]

A double railway line is equivalent to a 30 lane highway ... yes we are being governed by fools and the bureaucracy is not in contact with the looming reality of world energy crises, the next great fiscal meltdown (possibly already under way), and real cost of carbon pollution.  More trucks please!

[dwb]

They can do better. As the Queensland Infrastructure Plan shows, each dollar spent on infrastructure boosts economic activity by as much as $1.60.

Interesting that they make that quote... one could imply from IA that the higher returns are from better investments such as rail, rather than road... and I thought it said up to $1.80