25 Sep 2012: SEQ: Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade put on the backburner ...

[ozbob]

Media release 25th September 2012

SEQ: Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade put on the backburner, this time by the LNP

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web-based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers, today called for "the need to resume rail duplication works from Beerburrum to Nambour as a matter of high priority." (1).  Currently, duplication won't occur before 2031 and may be delayed beyond that date.

The Hon. Scott Emerson MP, Minister for Transport and Main Roads, released a reply to a parliamentary e-petition last Thursday, 20 September, 2012 (2), stating that these works would not be brought forward -- this despite six petitions in favour of duplication being lodged within 19 months.  Three were sponsored by the Hon. Andrew Powell MP, the LNP Member for Glass House and now the Minister for Environment and Heritage Protection.  The remaining three were lodged by Peter Wellington MP, the Nambour-based Independent Member for Nicklin.

Jeffrey Addison, Sunshine Coast regional spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track said, "That opening sentence, above, does not come from Rail Back on Track, it comes from no less than three e-petitions sponsored by the LNP, prior to the last election.  It bears reiteration that Mr Powell was the sponsor of these petitions. (1)

"On the first occasion (e-Petition 1565-10) in November 2010, Mr Powell requested that 'the House revise the timeframes published in the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program and deliver the completed upgrades through to Nambour by 2021'. (1).

"On a further 2 occasions (via e-Petition's 1712-11 and 1795-11) in June and October 2011 respectively, he requested that 'the House revise the timetable currently set for 2026-2031 [duplication to Nambour] and allocate the funds required to deliver the project'.(2)

"In Opposition, Mr Powell was an enthusiastic supporter of rail duplication to Nambour, writing this on his official website in June 2011: 'Top of my priority list, without question, is funding for the North Coast Rail duplication. News last year that continuation of the duplication from Beerburrum to Nambour had been delayed until 2031 was a major blow to commuters.  This vital infrastructure is the centerpiece of our region's public transport network and, if the Sunshine Coast is to accommodate an expanding population, the Bligh Labor Government must allocate funding to restart this project now'."

Mr Addison continued: "There have been no less than six petitions in the past 19 months, calling for funding and priority for these works to proceed well before the stated Labor party timelines.

"Now that the LNP is in government, it appears that LNP ministers are struggling even to commit to the construction timeline Labor proposed and the LNP maligned mercilessly, and for good reason.

"The Premier, Campbell Newman, stated before the election that the Sunshine Coast would no longer be neglected under his Government, and yet here we are, neglected once again -- this time by the LNP that acted as champion for better rail services to shore up the party's vote on the Sunshine Coast.

"We feel let down and betrayed by a government that has dashed our hopes," Mr Addison said.

References:

1. http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/closed-e-petition?PetNum=1712

2. www.parliament.qld.gov.au/apps/Epetitions_QLD/responses/1955-12.pdf

Contacts:

Jeff Addison
Sunshine Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

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

[ozbob]

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