BCC - elections 2016

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Labor lord mayor hopeful Rod Harding pledges to fast track CBD-Kangaroo Point pedestrian bridge

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane City Council 2016 election: Battle for City Hall takes shape

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane City Council election: The Greens enter the race

A third player in the bid to become Brisbane's lord mayor has entered the fray, with Greens candidate Ben Pennings launching his campaign in King George Square on Thursday.

The launch was part policy and part theatre, with a faux-fundraising lunch mocking the $3000- and $3300-a-head functions held by both the LNP and Labor.

Mr Pennings said while major parties accepted developers' campaign contributions, that remained strictly off limits for the Greens.

"We're quite concerned that both major parties accept money from developers, from construction companies and a whole lot of people with vested interests, and we're talking about hundreds of thousands if not millions of dollars," he said.

"We believe that shouldn't happen, but if they are accepting that money, they should be open and honest about it and let that information out before the election, which they refuse to do."

Mr Pennings said voters needed to know "who's paying their bills".

As for the Greens' own bills, Mr Pennings said their campaign would be open and transparent.

"We don't get money from any property developers or anyone with a vested interest – we refuse to accept it," he said.

"Anything over $1000 we'll declare within seven days. We're a small party, so we can do that quite easily.

"Those guys can do that easily too, but they choose not to, so the real question is: what are they hiding?"

Mr Pennings said he did not expect people to contribute large amounts to the Greens' cause.

"We're not that sort of party and people know that," he said.

"We may get some donations over $1000, but it's more likely we'll get lots of donations of $20, $50, and people do it because they like our values and what we stand for."

While not releasing any policies at the launch, Mr Pennings said transport was Brisbane's most pressing issue and he criticised the TransApex network of toll roads.

"Council's $1.6 billion in debt, about $1400 a person, man, woman and child and that's paying off something that hasn't reduced congestion," he said.

Mr Pennings said the Greens would release their "integrated transport policy" closer to the election.

"It's about better bus services, about linking in with bus services, cycleways and things that get people off the road because they want to be off the road," he said.

Mr Pennings also backed Labor's call for the council not to enter into any construction contracts for the $650 million Kingsford Smith Drive upgrade.

Labor lord mayoral candidate Rod Harding said his party would scrap the project and, as such, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk should not enter into any contracts.

On that point, Mr Pennings was singing from the same hymn sheet.

"It's a pretty open election," he said.

"The Lord Mayor is very popular and he'd be favourite to get back in, but the Lord Mayor may get in with a Labor majority in council.

"...We're confident of winning a couple of wards – we're looking at swings of 7 and 11 per cent for two wards that we're quite confident of getting.

"So that's an important thing for us. We're concerned as well that they don't go and open ratepayers up to having to pay out a chunk of money in compensation.

"(The election) is only a few months away, so we should be waiting."

The Greens have so far preselected 18 ward candidates, only four of whom were women, and considered themselves a real chance to win Paddington (where Michael Kane is standing), The Gabba (Jonathan Sri) and Central (Kirsten Lovejoy).

Mr Pennings conceded it was unlikely he would wear the mayoral chains following the March 19 election.

"A win for the Greens is to get more people to support us," he said.

"It's to force the other parties into some better policy, but also to win a couple of wards.

"We're a growing and very ambitious party and we see very little, particularly at a local level, between the two major parties.

"They've got very similar policies in a lot of areas, they both accepting the money that we're concerned about and we see ourselves as quite a third force alternative."

[#Metro]

Let's hope he runs on a bus reform platform! Always good to have a third one that while may not be a strong chance of getting the post, can air all the controversial and embarrassing aspects hat politicians would rather not deal with.

[ozbob]

Twitter

Robert Dow ‏@Robert_Dow 5m

. @Team_Quirk is locked into a failed bus network ..

@Rod4Bris & @BenPennings recognise the need for reform ..

bring it on #bccvotes #qldpol

[#Metro]

The Greens have not released their PT policy yet. It is probably in production.

Would be great if they took up the CentenaryGlider and BulimbaGlider proposals. RBOT had very strong support for the CentenaryGlider proposal from the Greens previously.

They have a feedback form, so I would encourage EVERYONE to fill it out here --->

Got a question? Got Feedback? An idea for Council?

Drop us a line and our BCC Campaign Team will get back to you as soon as possible.

http://itsyourbrisbane.com/contact/

[pandmaster]

There have been some incredibly positive mumblings coming out of the Queensland ALP recently. First from George Street and now (potentially City Hall). I am not a fan of Harding's enthusiasm for the Lytton/Wynnum Road upgrade, however the rest of his transport policies are fantastic. His "TransitWay" concept is much more sensible than Quirk's ridiculously expensive Busways. I was in Chermside the other day and there are a number of apartment blocks on the way (it would be nice to see some more along rail corridors BTW) so something needs to be done about PT there or the traffic will get a lot worse!

On a related note I can not express how much I HATE Quirk (and his LNP cronies on Council). They are completely out of touch when it comes to transport. I am not sure if this was posted elsewhere. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/acting-brisbane-mayor-blasts-exorbitant-cbd-parking-20151008-gk4hhv.html I was ropable after reading it.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

19th October 2015

Brisbane City Council election candidates urged to adopt Bus Reform

Bus reform is the fastest, cheapest and most effective way to improve Brisbane's public transport. Our New Bus Network Proposal will give Brisbane Australia's best bus network, and can be completed entirely within the first term of office.

We have done all the hard work reviewing Brisbane City Council 's bus network. We urge all candidates in the Brisbane City Council 2016 elections to consider adopting our New Bus Network Proposal for Brisbane.

New Bus Network Proposal
http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

Current BCC network
http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus

Internationally, Houston and Auckland have implemented Bus Reform at near-neutral cost. Indeed, the ex-head of Brisbane Transport is assisting Auckland's bus reform, and his firm's office is located on Coronation Drive.

New CityGliders

400 CentenaryGlider Superbus
Light Rail style superbuses carrying 150+ passengers every 10 minutes or better to the Centenary Suburbs, 24 hour bus service on Friday and Saturday nights.

230 BulimbaGlider
Faster and improved bus service every 15 minutes or better via both Riding and Thynne Rds with connections at Morningside station to the Cleveland line. 24 hour bus service on Friday and Saturday nights.

New or Improved BUZ routes

175 Garden City BUZ (Logan Rd)
196 Yeronga BUZ (Extension into Yeronga)
200 Carindale BUZ (Stanley Rd) (new alignment)
205 Carindale Heights (Chatsworth Rd)
222 Carindale Interchange (converted to 150+ passenger superbuses)
300 Toombul Interchange BUZ (Kingsford Smith Drive)
359 Albany Creek BUZ (Old Northern Rd)
375 Stafford BUZ (new bus station at Stafford City)
380 The Gap BUZ (Payne Road)

900 Series CityConnector Buses

902 Toombul-Carindale CityConnector
903 Toombul-Ferny Grove CityConnector (current 369 extended from Brookside Shops)
911 UQ St Lucia-Mitchelton CityConnector (direct service to UQ from Northwest)

There are absolutely enormous service benefits across the entire city of Brisbane to be had with bus reform. Only genuine reform of rail and bus networks, together with fare reform will guarantee abundant and low cost public transport for all.



Best wishes,
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

28th October 2015

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's 'Early Bird' bus upgrade welcomed

Greetings,

RAIL Back on Track welcomes Lord Mayor Graham Quirk's announcement that early bird buses will be introduced to the BUZ network from next month. Nine BUZ routes will be upgraded. Our members have serious criticisms of Brisbane City Council's stewardship of the bus network, however, to give credit where it is due, we think this will be an excellent initiative.

In the lead up to the Brisbane City Council Elections in early 2016, all political parties and candidates are on notice: any candidate that ignores upgrades to Brisbane's bus network will be losing a major vote-winning opportunity.

A larger-than-usual allowance has been made for buses in Brisbane City Council's most recent budget. We predict Lord Mayor Graham Quirk will announce a major public transport upgrade, possibly a BulimbaGlider or CentenaryGlider, before the next Brisbane City Council elections?

Bus Reform will give Brisbane Australia's best bus network within 2 years. As Bus Reform rearranges existing bus services, it will be fast, near-cost neutral, and powerfully effective at increasing mobility across the entire City of Brisbane. Our proposal is here http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

We welcome this initiative from the Lord Mayor, and look forward to further announcements from the Lord Mayor and Lord Mayoral challengers as the election approaches.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Reference:

Brisbane City Council increases AM bus services to cater to increased morning demand
http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/north/brisbane-city-council-increases-am-bus-services-to-cater-to-increased-morning-demand/story-fni9r1kg-1227584578614

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

13th November 2015

Re: Lord Mayor Quirk lives in the past ...

Good Morning,

Another transport meltdown post the AC/DC concert last evening.  Nothing new is it?  Buses without priority on congested roads will always be problematical.

Sorting out the bus network for Brisbane remains a priority task and a challenge in our view.  It is good to see some great initiatives coming from Brisbane Lord Mayor candidates, the present Lord Mayor is locked into the past.  The fact that BCC can override TransLink and the State Government is proving to be disastrous for transport in and around Brisbane.  As a consequence of BCC's intransigence, other regions  in SEQ have suffered service cuts and reductions in spans.  Is this equitable?  It is time Councils outside of Brisbane starting asking questions of the BCC and acting for their citizens on this matter.

Next generation ticketing with fancy payment options is not going to cover up network failure.

It is time we saw some real leadership.  BCC needs to be directed to cooperate with network reform and we need to get cracking.  Time is running out.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

11th November 2015

Lord Mayor Quirk lives in the past ...

Good Morning,

We note that Lord Mayor Quirk is still living the past.

Brisbane congestion charge back on agenda as gridlock set to spiral
> http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/brisbane-congestion-charge-back-on-agenda-as-gridlock-set-to-spiral/story-fnihsrf2-1227603953645

Lord Mayor Quirk is still babbling on about the BaT -  the BaT is dead, again confirmed in parliament yesterday. In case Lord Mayor Quirk missed this, the BaT was never going to happen

Senior LNP figures say BaT Tunnel was former premier Campbell Newman's impossible dream
> http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/senior-lnp-figures-say-bat-tunnel-was-former-premier-campbell-newmans-impossible-dream/story-fnn8dlfs-1227373555703

What is needed is bus network reform for Brisbane.  This will deliver more buses more often to where they are needed and reduce the number of near empty buses running into the Brisbane CBD both peak and off peak.

BCC needs to find the courage to convert Victoria Bridge to a green bridge.  That coupled with bus network reform is all that is needed from BCC's perspective.

Cross River Rail is the project that needs acceleration.

We have shown how bus reform for Brisbane can proceed.

We detail our proposals here:

Bus reform - our proposal media releases grouped - http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11099.0
New Bus Network Proposal - http://tiny.cc/newnetwork
Current BCC Bus Network - http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus

The sooner the Lord Mayor and Brisbane City Council is stripped of public transport functions, the sooner genuine reform of rail and bus networks can go ahead, and the sooner we can look forward to abundant and low-cost public transport for all.

The biggest problem with the looming massive congestion problem for Brisbane is Brisbane City Council.

Enjoy the gridlock!

Best wishes
Robert

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

Reference:

Reform Brisbane Bus Network > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.msg163937#msg163937

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane City Council 2016 election: Quirk promises full term if re-elected

The major parties' confirmed candidates:

Labor

    Lord Mayor: Rod Harding
    Bracken Ridge: Cath Palmer
    Calamvale: Mukhtar Wesseh-Nah-Konteh
    Central: Amber Hawkins
    Chandler: TBC
    Coorparoo: Matthew Campbell
    Deagon: Jared Cassidy (incumbent)
    Doboy: Kerryn Loose Jones
    Enoggera: Amanda Ronan-Hearn
    Forest Lake: Charles Strunk
    Hamilton: TBC
    Holland Park: Adam Obeid
    Jamboree: TBC
    Macgregor: TBC
    Marchant: Stephanie Serhan
    McDowall: Liam Culverhouse
    Moorooka: Steve Griffiths (incumbent)
    Morningside: Shayne Sutton (incumbent)
    Northgate: Reg Neil
    Paddington: Jeff Eelkema
    Pullenvale: TBC
    Runcorn: Stanley Hsu
    Tennyson: Stephen Harvey
    The Gabba: Nicole Lessio
    The Gap: Shane Bevis
    Walter Taylor: TBC
    Wynnum Manly: Peter Cumming (incumbent)

Liberal National Party

    Lord Mayor: Graham Quirk (incumbent)
    Bracken Ridge: Amanda Cooper (incumbent)
    Calamvale: Angela Owen-Taylor (incumbent)
    Central: Vicki Howard (incumbent)
    Chandler: Adrian Schrinner (incumbent)
    Coorparoo: Ian McKenzie (incumbent)
    Deagon: Kelly Millard
    Doboy: Ryan Murphy (incumbent)
    Enoggera: Andrew Wines (incumbent)
    Forest Lake: Leanne McFarlane
    Hamilton: David McLachlan (incumbent)
    Holland Park: Krista Adams (incumbent)
    Jamboree: Matthew Bourke (incumbent)
    Macgregor: Steven Huang (incumbent)
    Marchant: Fiona King (incumbent)
    McDowall: Norm Wyndham (incumbent)
    Moorooka: Brett Gillespie
    Morningside: Nicole Hansson
    Northgate: Adam Allan
    Paddington: Peter Matic (incumbent)
    Pullenvale: Kate Richards
    Runcorn: Kim Marx (incumbent)
    Tennyson: Ashley Higgins
    The Gabba: Sean Jacobs
    The Gap: Steven Toomey (incumbent)
    Walter Taylor: Julian Simmonds (incumbent)
    Wynnum Manly: Deidre Thomson

Greens

    Lord Mayor: Ben Pennings
    Bracken Ridge: Keith Skelton
    Calamvale: TBC
    Central: Kirsten Lovejoy
    Chandler: Rikki-Lee James
    Coorparoo: David Hale
    Deagon: Anthony Walsh
    Doboy: Taylor Toovey
    Enoggera: TBC
    Forest Lake: TBC
    Hamilton: TBC
    Holland Park: Karen Anderson
    Jamboree: Dorotee Braun
    Macgregor: TBC
    Marchant: Richard Nielsen
    McDowall: TBC
    Moorooka: Leo Campbell
    Morningside: Peter Melrose
    Northgate: Anthony Pink
    Paddington: Michael Kane
    Pullenvale: John Bellchamber
    Runcorn: Edward Starr
    Tennyson: Gillian Marshall-Pierce
    The Gabba: Jonathan Sri
    The Gap: TBC
    Walter Taylor: Chris Turnbull
    Wynnum Manly: Damien Andrews

Note: Tennyson is currently  held by independent Nicole Johnston, who was originally voted in as a Liberal in 2008 as part of Campbell Newman's administration. Milton Dick (Labor - Richlands), Helen Abrahams (Labor - The Gabba) and Margaret De Wit (LNP - Pullenvale) will not recontest their seats.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/brisbane-city-council-2016-election-quirk-promises-full-term-if-reelected-20151127-gl9vc0.html

[Simon]

LM Quirk is looking silly ...

Umm, but surely it is because of this.

I was wondering why not have RailBoT members (and I don't mean myself - I'm not eligible at present) run for council. I don't think you'd get the 500 members for a political party but that's not a big deal without above the line voting.

You only need 6 electors to nominate and the deposit is only $250. Link.

It's a great way to put viewpoints out there and raise the profile of issues, I'd think. I doubt you'd get elected but who cares?

[ozbob]

G'day Simon,

The thought has occurred  .  Some folk are considering state level for exactly the reasons you outline for the council.

It is up to individuals - they are independent, we are not a political group as such.  Although a person could stand on a bus reform platform for example.  I expect there will be a lot more to come out from the mainstream parties yet concerning transport and other matters.

Interesting times ahead ..

[Simon]

Looks like the deposit is the same, but the disclosure requirements are more onerous. Besides, state level elections aren't due for two years plus. Surely if you wanted to run for state, it would be better to run for council now even if just to raise one's profile.

[#Metro]

University elections were fun - there would always be at least one nonsense/drama student entry, which put put satirical non-policies and made a mockery of the process.

People are of course welcome to run on joke platforms

[Stillwater]

At the same time as Queenslanders vote in the local government elections in March, we could be voting in a referendum on whether we should have four-year state parliment terms, fixed.

[ozbob]

Couriermail Quest --> Brisbane City Council election heats up with ALP Tumblr page and cartoon of Lord Mayor Graham Quirk

[aldonius]

I went searching for the page in question (as newspapers seem to have a pathological hatred of linking to external sources). Can't find it. Perhaps it's already been pulled?

[red dragin]

I went searching for the page in question (as newspapers seem to have a pathological hatred of linking to external sources). Can't find it. Perhaps it's already been pulled?

I searched "Quirky Facts" in the Tumblr app and it came up OK.

[error]

I went searching for the page in question (as newspapers seem to have a pathological hatred of linking to external sources). Can't find it. Perhaps it's already been pulled?

I searched "Quirky Facts" in the Tumblr app and it came up OK.

http://quirkyfacts.info

[#Metro]

Team Quirk FB page coming to life. Seen a few ads around the city also.
https://www.facebook.com/TeamQuirk/

[#Metro]

Excuse me...since when did BCC become the State Government?

Quite a while actually. Lord Mayor of Queensland Brisbane heads the SEQ Council of Mayors. An influential position.

Not the first time BCC would appear to have gone all 'Royal'. See --->

The State Government of Brisbane City Council?

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad appears to be on the cusp of having her Transport Portfolio
functions taken over by Lord Mayor Graham Quirk.

Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk will bypass the state government and directly lobby Prime
Minister Malcolm Turnbull to provide federal funding for the city's abandoned Bus and Train Tunnel.

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2034.msg162544#msg162544

[ozbob]

BCC is. the. problem.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th January 2016

BCC Election snaps into gear

Greetings,

Transport is already shaping up as a key policy area for the forthcoming Brisbane Council elections.  Both the Greens and the ALP are putting forth policies, which are highlighting the transport policy vacuum that has been the hallmark of the present Brisbane City Council.  Unable to cooperate with the state authorities to deliver essential bus network reform, and the selfish manner they treat other public transport operators as competitors rather than as partners, now sees Lord Mayor Quirk and BCC left flailing as an anachronism.  Holding back positive transport developments for Brisbane.

We have set up a new forum area at http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?board=85.0  which provides an organised quick reference to this developing policy framework of progress, initiative and future success.

Well done to both Green's Ben Pennings and Labor's Rod Harding for setting an agenda.

Best wishes
Robert

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

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th January 2016

Greetings,

Brisbane Bus Network: Brisbane Apartment EXPLOSION

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 calls on Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe and Lord Mayoral candidates to fix Brisbane's bus network.

We think there is a transport crisis on the horizon. We've noticed very large numbers of apartment blocks under various stages of construction, or recent completion. There are construction projects around Garden City/Mt Gravatt, The Gap/Upper Kedron, Taringa, Bulimba, Milton, Toowong, St Lucia, multiple blocks going up around the PA Hospital, large projects at Buranda station and Cannon Hill, and a number in Fortitude Valley/Newstead. Literally, there are cranes everywhere, all over the city.

Indeed, more than 11,000+ apartment construction approvals were granted in the year from May 2014-2015. This was a 200% + increase on the year 2012-2013.

Brisbane's public transport network is not prepared for this boom. This boom is going to put massive pressure on the entire public transport network across the entire city, with wider ramifications for the rest of south-east Queensland.

Unfortunately, Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Brisbane City Council have refused to fix Brisbane's broken bus network. They have ignored our concerns over the past three years. They refused to cooperate with TransLink to deliver much needed reform of the network in 2013. We are now seeing the consequences - a rapid failing bus network, with wider implications for all of south-east Queensland. All regions other than Brisbane have suffered service cuts and reduced spans of hours due to BCC's anti-integration public transport position.

We just don't have the time or the money to start constructing more busways or railways to deal with this. It is happening too quickly. Brisbane City Council and the Queensland Government need to reorganise the entire Brisbane bus network pronto. We suggest retaining the fares review task force panel and re-purposing it to also review the Brisbane bus network.

The Lord Mayor's so called 'evolution approach', at four bus route changes per year,  would take 50 years to reform the network. There is absolutely no credibility to that approach - that approach must be rejected. Even Hobart Tasmania has managed to complete their bus network reorganisation.

Our New Bus Network Proposal in 2014 is available here http://tiny.cc/newnetwork Brisbane City Council needs to step in and fund new CityGliders to Bulimba and the centenary suburbs for a start.

This council election, we are asking all ratepayers to boycott any candidates who do not support bus reform, regardless of party affiliation.

This city's bus network must be fixed, before it is too late!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Reference:

Brisbane unit approvals skyrocket
http://www.smh.com.au/business/property/brisbane-unit-approvals-skyrocket-20150716-gie6b9.html

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th January 2016

Brisbane Bus Reform: New Year, New Lord Mayor?

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 has called on the public to boycott candidates that won't fix Brisbane's broken bus network.

This year is an election year for Brisbane City Councillors. For over three years now, our issues with BCC's bus network have been ignored.

Polling done by The Courier Mail reveals 39% of people are undecided about giving Lord Mayor Graham Quirk another go. Both The Greens and ALP challengers are strongly supportive of improvements to the Brisbane Bus Network. Our own proposals to fix the mess were made public over a year ago at http://tiny.cc/newnetwork. This includes a 400 CentenaryGlider through Mt Ommaney, a 230 BulimbaGlider through Bulimba and an extension of the 196 Fairfield BUZ into Yeronga. Our proposal has been viewed more than 9000 times.

A number of questions now need to be raised over the Lord Mayor and Brisbane City Council's stewardship of the Brisbane Bus Network:

    . Why has nothing been done about bus service black holes in Yeronga, Bulimba, the northwestern suburbs and the centenary suburbs?
    . Why has nothing been done about the enormous inefficiency/waste/service duplication which floods the CBD with too many buses, but leaves suburbs starved of decent bus service?
    . Why were Brisbane City Council staff instructed not to co-operate with TransLink bus reviewers on six occasions during the 2013 bus review, and who authorised this?
    . Why have we been fed anti-bus interchange claptrap when connected bus networks already operate successfully on the Gold Coast, where they have increased bus patronage?

Even Hobart, Tasmania, has managed to muster up the courage to sort its city bus network. Likewise Adelaide, South Australia. Similar reviews in Auckland (NZ) and Houston (USA) demonstrate that these can be cost-neutral.

Brisbane residents deserve better than "Australia's most modern bus fleet."* They deserve Australia's best bus network, and our proposal shows how to do it. Is anyone at City Hall listening?

Best wishes,
Robert

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

References:



* Brisbane City Council has recently been sticking this slogan all over its bus fleet. In our opinion, this is because the council election is coming.

Brisbane bus passenger numbers plunge due to high prices poor service
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/brisbane-bus-passenger-numbers-plunge-due-to-high-prices-poor-service/news-story/4ba19a68fb79c19a93a933f6c79c414c

Rod Harding primed to topple Lord Mayor Graham Quirk
http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/rod-harding-primed-to-topple-lord-mayor-graham-quirk/news-story/3f48342cf4a6c8c700780e62225119ab

[verbatim9]

How did this council election turn into a public Transport debate. I thought PT was always a state issue?

[#Metro]

It has always been a debacle. No side has ever been game enough to sort it, sans Campbell Newman when he offered the entire system of a silver platter to the then Bligh admin. They of course rejected it, because that's what people do, and in doing so, stupidly waved away the largest opportunity to fix the BCC bus network in, well 50 years or so.

See:

City's Public Transport Will Never Improve While Run By Opposing Sides,
Peter Quick, The Courier Mail 11/04/2012
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.msg161037#msg161037

BCC Deputy Mayor Adrian Schrinner:  Does Deputy Premier Jackie Trad have "the guts?"
http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.msg161151#msg161151

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

17th January 2016

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk Faces Public Transport Policy Showdown

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 says Lord Mayor Graham Quirk faces a public transport policy showdown.

We have tried to point out the obvious issues to Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and Brisbane City Council for over three years now. Brisbane City Council's response has been to put up a wall of silence around itself and largely  ignore our concerns.

Transport issues facing the city are fast becoming the central battleground this council election.

Mayoral candidate Rod Harding (ALP) has already announced policies:

* Bus Transitways on Gympie Road ($66 million) and Old Cleveland Road ($25 million)
* Removal of the Coopers Plains railway level crossing ($200 million)
* Removal of the Banyo railway level crossing
* Funds towards removing Coorparoo level crossing ($5 million)
* Investigation into Light Rail starter lines in Brisbane

Mayoral candidate Ben Pennings (The Greens) this week announced free fares for pensioners and seniors on Brisbane City Council buses. Such a system already operates on the Gold Coast. A very significant policy for improved safety and support for active transport has also been delivered.

We are not yet aware of any public transport policies by Lord Mayor Graham Quirk (LNP), other than his 'bus evolution' vision, which we have assessed as requiring about 50 years to complete, and the recent plastering of the entire Brisbane City Council bus fleet in LNP-blue stickers featuring the slogan "Get on board Australia's most modern bus fleet".

With 11 000+ apartment approvals and an apartment construction explosion gripping the city, bus network reform remains the single largest vote winner of this election campaign in our opinion.

Our New Bus Network would create Australia's best bus network in Brisbane, at virtually neutral cost, within 2 years. High-frequency CityGliders to Bulimba (230 BulimbaGlider) and The Centenary Suburbs (400 CentenaryGlider), along with upgraded BUZ service to other parts of the city form the central part of our proposal. Virtually all Brisbane City Council wards stand to benefit from our New Bus Network proposal, which can be found here http://tiny.cc/newnetwork

RAIL Back on Track is a politically neutral organisation. We are happy to discuss our ideas with anyone who will listen to us and judge policies based on merit.

We encourage all candidates to contact us with their policies.

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

Reference:

Bus evolution policy - Calculation
Assume four bus route changes per year
ca. 200 bus routes / 4 = 50 years.

[ozbob]

How did this council election turn into a public Transport debate. I thought PT was always a state issue?

This is Brisbane ...   

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Brisbane bikeways: Council silent on $5 million cycle plan

[verbatim9]

Nothing is going to change nor happen re PT in Se Qld with this Council election. State or Federal yes! When the money is dealt out. Only tweaking will be made a bus route here and there till then.

[Otto]

Old Mc Quirky had a town, e i e i o
And in that town he run some buses , e i e i o
With a bus route here and a bus route there , here a bus, there a bus, everywhere a bus route
Old Mc Quirky had a town, e i e i o

Old Mc Quirky had a town , e i e i o
And in the town he did a review , e i e i o
With a snip snip here and a snip snip there, here a snip, there a snip, The city was totally stuffed sniped sniped
Old Mc Quirky had a town , e i e i o

Old Mc Quirky had a town city, e i e i o
And in that town  city he had black holes, e i e i o
With a black hole here and a black hole there, here a hole, there a hole, everywhere his holes grew
Old Mc Quirky had a town city, e i e i o

Old Mc Quirky had a town city, e i e i o
And in that city he added bandaid routes , e i e i o
With a Bandaid here and a Bandaid there, Here a Bandaid, There a Bandaid, No one knew where the heck to wait
Old Mc Quirky had a town city, e i e i o

Old Mc Quirky had a town city, e i e i o
And in that town city he needs a proper review, e i e i o
But he says it ain't broke here and it ain't broke there , Here it ain't and there it ain't and the fares just get more broke unaffordable
Old Mc Quirky had a town city, e i e i o

Old Mc Quirky had a town city, e i e i o
And in that town city he was to face an election, e i e i o
And the People want reform, and the State want reform, Reform this route and reform this Fare, but Mc Quirky ain't listening and he ain't going to listen
[sing slowly] Old Mc Quirky once had a town city , eeee iiiii eeeee iiiii ooooo

[ozbob]

Nice work! 

[#Metro]

SEQ Hokey Pokey!

You put your bus cuts in,
You take your bus cuts out,
You put your bus cuts in,
and you mess TransLink about,

You do the Hokey Pokey, and you turn around
That's what it's all about.

You put a rocket bus in,
You take a rocket bus out,
You put a rocket bus in, and you extend the ends about

You do the Hokey Pokey, and you turn around
That's what it's all about.

Whoa, Hokey Pokey
Whoa, Hokey Pokey
Whoa, Hokey Pokey
That's what it's all about

You put the fares right up
You take the fares right down
You put the fares right up,
and you implement 9-then waste about.

That's what it's all about.

You get passengers in
You get passengers out
You overcharge them and confuse them about,
so they turn around, off in the car from now...

[Otto]

 

[ozbob]

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11928.msg167438#msg167438

Sent to all outlets:

24th January 2016

Musical buses highlights BCC bus dysfunction

Greetings,

Another example of the dysfunction that is Brisbane City Council and how it manages the Brisbane bus network is the changes to bus route 475

TransLink has announced:

================================

http://translink.com.au/travel-information/service-notices/70451/details

Twice as many buses for route 475

Last updated: 2.18pm Thursday 21 January 2016

From Monday 22 February, additional trips will be added to route 475 Rainworth to City and the service will run every 30 minutes throughout the day instead of hourly.

Please check back for the new 475 timetable closer to 22 February.

=================================

As part of the token ' bus review ' hand-balled to BCC by the Former Transport Minister Mr Emerson, the 475 was cut.

Below is a media release we put out on this.  We could see that it was flawed decision to alter the 475 and disadvantage residents.  After struggling for a number of years services will now be restored.

How much more dysfunction does Brisbane need?  The bus network needs reform.  Only by doing that will there be frequent, connected, affordable public transport for all.

Best wishes
Robert

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

=====================

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=10329.0

Media release 31st October 2013



SEQ: BCC Bus Cost Explosion engulfs Bardon, Paddington and Kangaroo Point

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 says that residents of Bardon, Paddington and Kangaroo Point have been given a raw deal by the recent bus network review conducted by Brisbane City Council.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"The effect of Brisbane City Council opposing the TransLink bus review has caused frequency cuts to bus routes in many areas - including in Cr Peter Matic's own ward. While the creation of a new route, the 234, to replace the eastern section of the 475, is welcome news, this has come at a serious cost to the community."

"The 234 and 475 have both had their frequency reduced to every hour in the off-peak, taking a huge toll on the immobile and disabled. Pensioners in Kangaroo Point are up in arms about how a trip from Kangaroo Point to the PA, which used to take them 15 minutes, now takes them over an hour (1)."

"Such reductions are not due to a forced transfer, but due to the severe reduction in frequency in Kangaroo Point. The TransLink bus review proposed the retention of the 475 on similar frequency, with the current 234 to be upgraded into an outer loop with frequency better than that on the 475."

"Instead, BCC has chosen to stick with a hi-waste anti-connection bus network, which has forced cuts to successful bus routes, in order to retain hi-waste routes such as the 161, 232 and 314. Why is it that the residents of Kangaroo Point, Bardon and Paddington are being forced to pay even more on top of their council rates for BCC to run the bus network, even though these residents are suffering from severe cutbacks in service?"

"This very same network is the network which also has buses passing through the core point in the network, Cultural Centre busway station, at 50% loads, losing significant amounts of money that could be put towards service improvements for users of the 234 and 475. Yet Graham Quirk still says with a straight face that '...the bus network is not broken and does not need revolutionary change ...'."

"The Lord Mayor and BCC can no longer be trusted to run Brisbane's buses. After a decade of games, it's time to dump Brisbane City Council and separate Brisbane Transport."

Reference:

1. Pensioner protest over bus route changes http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/pensioner-protest-over-bus-route-changes-20131030-2whig.html

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Media release 25th January 2016

SEQ: Time for the Brisbane bus revolution!

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 has said it is time that Brisbane's bus network was reformed. (1).

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Public transport must be fast, direct and frequent. The present Brisbane bus network is based on a direct service model that embeds poor service, poor frequency, poor connections, legacy routing and is becoming unaffordable. Other operators are treated as 'competitors' by BCC rather than as team players in an integrated network."

"Many jurisdictions such as Auckland, Houston and Hobart have moved on with public transport network reform, delivering much better networks with more frequent service and significant patronage gains."

"In 2013, TransLink acting on Government direction, with the support of Transport Consultants, proposed a proper reform of the Brisbane Bus Network.  This review was not proceeded with as the then State Government lacked the resolve to do what was right in the end. What has changed since  then?  A token bus review done by BCC has just further compounded network failures.  There has also been an impact on regions outside Brisbane as cuts to services and spans, the consequence of BCC's intransigence.  Hardly equitable or decent is it? Band-aids on festering wounds just leads to rampant disease!"

"The forthcoming Council Elections provides an opportunity for all candidates to articulate clear policies for public transport reform, particularly for Brisbane's ailing bus network."

"There is an excellent local example of how network reform benefits us all.  It is the Gold Coast.  Network reform has delivered frequent, connected bus routes to the light rail and has delivered patronage gains of over 20%.  There are lessons there for Brisbane. Passengers will transfer on a connected network.  It is how real frequency and excellent service is generated."

Reference:

1.  Brisbane - bus network proposal http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.0

Contact:

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

[ozbob]

Brisbane motorists warned the worst congestion could still be to come. https://t.co/lAgvJIiASa #7News #bnetraffic https://t.co/OwWzUWFyYW

— 7 News Queensland (@7NewsQueensland) January 28, 2016

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

31st January 2016

Brisbane Bus Reform: Election Holy Grail Still Up For Grabs!

Greetings,


Image: Citywide coverage of Hi-Frequency buses after bus reforms. Purple lines are 150 pax superbus lines.

Proposing a metro within the core of the Busway network is a stark admission that Brisbane City Council's hi-waste bus philosophy of "every bus must travel to the CBD" is unsustainable, incredibly inefficient and a failure.

Brisbane City Council's buses must be completely reorganised to feed the metro and existing QR rail stations. We call on the Queensland Government to begin constructing a bus-rail interchange at Indooroopilly.

The election 'holy grail' - complete bus reform of the entire Brisbane bus network is still up for grabs. Under bus reform, 12 new hi-frequency bus routes could be put on. Bus reform would be complete within a single term of office and come at virtually neutral cost.

Our New Bus Network Proposal is here ---> http://tiny.cc/newnetwork We list the changes and upgrades below.

Neither the Brisbane Metro proposal nor the Light Rail proposal has addressed the lack of service in bus 'black hole' areas such as Yeronga, Bulimba, The Centenary Suburbs and The Northwestern Suburbs.

This election will be won and lost on public transport. Bus Reform does not need billions of dollars, it is the holy grail - who will grab it?

Best wishes
Robert

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

References:

New Bus Network Proposal - Frequent Services

http://tiny.cc/newnetwork (New Network, All services)
http://tiny.cc/checkyourbus (Current Brisbane City Council Bus Network)

66 UQ Lakes - RBWH - Converted to superbus operation.

Hi 111 Eight Mile Plains - Merged with 160, Co-locate 555 in King George Square.
Hi 190 Blue CityGlider - Travel the full length of Montague Rd. Consider for Superbus conversion.
Hi 196 Yeronga - Extend current 196 into Yeronga via Kadumba St.
Hi 100 Inala Express - Alter route to travel via Moorooka
Hi 120 Garden City via Coopers Plains station - Bus altered to connect passengers into via Coopers Plains rail station
Hi 130 Sunnybank Hills - No change.
Hi 140 Browns Plains RSL - No change.
Hi 150 Browns Plains - No change.
Hi 175 Logan Road (Garden City) - Created by amalgamation with 174. Faster route via new Buranda busway routing.
Hi 180 Cavendish Rd (Garden City) - New routing connects to Coorparoo station. Less duplication.
Hi 185 Mansfield - Faster routing via Nursery Rd and busway.
Hi 199 West End- No change.
Hi 200 Carindale - New routing. Residents in Stanley Rd and Macrossan St Seven Hills get new access to Hi Frequency buses.
Hi 205 Carindale Heights - New Hi Frequency along the entire length of Cavendish Rd.
Hi 209 UQ Lakes - No change.
Hi 222 Carindale Interchange - Convert to superbus.
Hi 230 BulimbaGlider via Morningside Station. Amalgamate existing services in the area to create BulimbaGlider. Connect to Roma St/Morningside rail.
Hi 300 Toombul Interchange - New Hi frequency bus service through Hamilton and along Kingsford Smith Drive
Hi 330 Bracken Ridge - Passengers fed to rail at Zillmere. Continues to Chermside. Rail connection frees up buses for expanding Hi Frequency elsewhere in Brisbane.
Hi 333 Chermside Interchange - Convert to superbus.
Hi 340 Carseldine Rail - No change.
Hi 345 Aspley - No change.
Hi 359 Albany Creek - New Hi Frequency service to Albany Creek.
Hi 374 Maroon Glider - Serving Bardon.
Hi 375 Stafford - Upgraded to Hi Frequency service.
Hi 380 The Gap via Ashgrove - Amalgamate low-frequency routes in area to create new Hi Frequency service.
Hi 385 The Gap via Paddington - No change.
Hi 400 CentenaryGlider (Superbus) - Amalgamate low-frequency routes to create a new Hi Frequency service. Superbus.
Hi 412 St Lucia (Superbus) - Convert to superbus operation. Amalgamate 402 serice.
Hi 444 Moggill - Feed rail at Indooroopilly. Connect to 400 CentenaryGlider Superbus.

Selected CityConnector Cross-Town services
902 Toombul via Carindale (CITYCONNECTOR) - Amalgamate Great Circle Line routes and 590 to create new Hi Frequency service.
911 UQ via Hawken Drive (CITYCONNECTOR) - Amalgamate Great Circle Line and 411 to create new Hi Frequency service.