Strong Choices Investment Program - Have a say on where money is spent

[Fares_Fair]

There is a place to put your priorities for infrastructure development to share in $8.6 billion of funds.
$2 billion of these are earmarked for rail; $1 billion for bus and train project (the BaT tunnel) and $1 billion for Public Transport Rail Infrastructure Fund.

It can be found here --> http://www.strongchoices.qld.gov.au/investment-program
I have made a submission, though I'm sure it will be on the State Government's to do list to be announced before the State election due in March 2015.
My submission reproduced below (it is limited to 1200 characters) and should address the simple criteria requested:

The North Coast Line (NCL) rail duplication from Beerburrum to Nambour.

It's role is threefold, it delivers passenger rail services between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, it delivers long distance travel train services up to North Qld and it provides freight paths for goods, agriculture and mined product transportation between Cairns & Brisbane

Many reports, including a joint State & Federal government study, stress the need for its' improvement. The NCL services 58% of the Qld population
A 2007 report: "It is likely that the region would experience adverse socio-economic effects should the NCL between Landsborough and Nambour not be upgraded."
This is the biggest choke point in NCL's 1669km.

Funding sources:
From $1 billion Public Transport Rail Infrastructure Fund
From Federal Government with a 15% infrastructure contribution
Potentially (decision pending) from the Australian Rail Track Corporation, with regard to Qld rail freight improvements

A Qld Government EIS report states it will have a benefit, described as output generation to the Queensland economy, including SEQ, of $4.57 billion
It will create 2786 jobs at any one point in time over the 7 year construction period

[Fares_Fair]

STRONG CHOICES INVESTMENT PROGRAM

Having made the strongest and smartest choice to reduce the $80 billion state debt, the Government will also free up funds to build more schools, hospitals and other vital infrastructure to ensure this State's growing population can enjoy a brighter future.

The Government has now launched the Strong Choices Investment Program, with eleven funds designed to support and stimulate economic growth around Queensland.

Strong Choices Investment Program
   
Fund Allocation

Rural and Regional Roads Fund                           $1.5 Billion
South East Queensland Roads Fund                     $1.5 Billion
Public Transport Rail Infrastructure Fund      $1 Billion
Bus and Train Project                                       $1 Billion
Future Schools Fund                                            $1 Billion
Rural and Regional Economic Development Fund$700 Million
Local Government Co-Investment Fund             $500 Million
Future Fund (Natural Disasters)                        $500 Million
Entrepreneurial and Innovation Fund                 $500 Million
Community Hospitals Fund                               $300 Million
Cultural Infrastructure Fund                              $100 Million

Total Package                                                   $8.6 Billion

Do you know a project in your region or industry that deserves support? We would like to hear from individuals, community groups, councils and organisations across Queensland about how the funds raised from our Strong Choices should now be invested for the future.

Please nominate your project with a brief description of its role in the community, including how you believe it contributes to growth of the State. You should also identify which fund, from the table included here, is most appropriate to support the project.

Submissions will close on August 15.
All feedback will be considered as the Government prepares its Final Plan, to be released in September.

[#Metro]

My money would be:

Public Transport Rail Infrastructure Fund      $1 Billion

to be spent as follows:

Subtract the cost of doing the Sunshine Coast Line (not sure how much this will cost, but let's say $500 million?)
Any surplus should then be used to convert a section of track, perhaps a short line such as Ferny Grove, Springfield or Shorncliffe or Airport
, to ATP and ERTMS 2, and remove guards on that section. This will generate some savings which can be used to, for example, extend frequency to include weekends.

I am of the view that rail extension should be absolute last resort - it is hugely expensive to extend the infrastructure, buses can extend the reach, and funds should be spent making the current network better.

Any surplus left thereover should be spent buying more trains as this is limiting currently the frequencies across the network.

[SurfRail]

I don't think there should be a single new route km added anywhere after MBRL until the following are done:

- NCL realignment and duplication Beerburrum to Nambour
- 3 tracks or freight passing loops Caboolture to Petrie
- 4 tracks Petrie to Strathpine
- 2 tracks Sandgate to Shorncliffe
- New station at Skygate and possibly 2 tracks on the entire airport branch (at least between Skygate and the Intl terminal)
- 2 tracks to Doomben, new/upgraded platform faces and get rid of the semaphores
- Examine sinking the FG line between Enoggera and Oxford Park to enable closure of the Gaythorne curve and replacement of up to 4 LXs, with a new below-ground station on the site of the current Mitchelton station
- 2 tracks Manly to Cleveland
- 4 tracks Yeerongpilly to Kuraby, close stations from Runcorn to Banoon inclusive and realign the corridor under Beenleigh Rd so it goes Coopers Plains - Pinelands - Fruitgrove
- Additional platform capacity at Beenleigh
- 2 tracks over the Coomera River
- Junction improvements between Milton and Roma Street to minimise conflicts
- Assess and close redundant stations and plan to implement 4-5 major DDA upgrades per year
- Major, major, major signage audit to get rid of ancient signs, replace the station name lightbox signs with something more visible (and install more of them) and ensure network maps are more widespread and replaced more quickly
- PIDS at as many stations as possible
- Eliminate all pedestrian and/or vehicular LXs south of Nambour and east of Ipswich as quickly as possible, including by simply closing some crossings without replacement and by carrying out at least 2-3 replacements per year.  Limited number of exemptions for very, very low traffic crossings where replacement is not feasible (eg the one between Holmview and Edens Landing on the Beenleigh line).
- More train stabling
- ETCS Level 2 and ATP
- Whatever is built as the third track pair through the CBD, whether it be BaT or something else, and on the basis it either adds a track pair all the way from Yeerongpilly to Mayne or at least provides for that to be done (and for a link to the NWTC)

Then, and only then, should they bother looking at extensions to places like Ipswich via Ripley, Flagstone, Coolangatta and Maroochydore.

[Fares_Fair]

That's quite an exhaustive list SR.

Train stabling preparation is underway for the rollout of the next generation rolling-stock due to hit the rails end of 2015 and into 2016.

Program status:

Four sites are currently being progressed to design and construction including:
Robina (additional capacity within the existing facility) (Gold Coast Line)
Banyo (Shorncliffe Line)
Elimbah (North Coast Line)
Woombye (North Coast Line)

PLEASE GO TO THE TOP OF THIS THREAD FOR A CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON QUEENSLAND's PROPOSED INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT.

[SurfRail]

Should qualify what I said above - no passenger route km.  The only new route km which should be added are the Rosewood to Bromelton line, which would delay or eliminate the need for more tracks between Darra and Ipswich by diverting nearly all the freight off the Ipswich corridor.  That would eventually hook up to the line to Melbourne but there are good enough reasons to do it now whether or not the larger project progresses.  Just lay narrow gauge on dual gauge sleepers.

[Fares_Fair]

Sunshine Coast Council calls for voices ... on what the Sunshine Coast needs for infrastructure.

Webpage here:
http://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/sitePage.cfm?code=strong-choice-investment-program&utm_content=bufferd4e40&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

Help the Sunshine Coast Get its Fair Share
You can help the Sunshine Coast get funding for:

1. a duplicated rail line
2. expanded Bruce Highway and other major road upgrades
3. an entertainment, convention and exhibition centre in the Maroochydore Priority Development Area.

All you have to do is tell is tell the state government why you think these projects are important for the future of this region – and Sunshine Coast Council has even provided some helpful facts to make it even easier.