Building Queensland - BQ

[SurfRail]

The above is designed with a mind to passenger convenience, so it would align operational needs with those (ie ensure terminating Beenleigh trains arrive on the same platform as southbound Gold Coast trains so there can be a cross-platform interchange).

The usual Queensland approach would be to add only a third platform in a way that forces most people to have to use an underpass or overbridge, because they don't seem to consider how this stuff should work properly (eg Darra).  Petrie isn't brilliant either.

Similar approach should be adopted at Caboolture and Ipswich in the longer run, with the intercity platforms also designed to accommodate long distance trains (this may be less of an issue at Ipswich for the foreseeable future).  There always seem to be issues with Rosewood connections being park on the "wrong" platform where it should be completely avoidable.

[achiruel]

Petrie is a little more difficult than Beenleigh, because there are more interchange options.

From Caboolture to Kippa Ring
From Caboolture to Springfield
From Kippa Ring to Caboolture
From Kippa Ring to Ipswich (I've been told this is a faster trip to the CBD even taking into account transfer penalties, but haven't bothered checking)

Same at Darra.

I think it's not possible to have NO platform transfers at these locations.

[not_available]

From Kippa Ring to Ipswich (I've been told this is a faster trip to the CBD even taking into account transfer penalties, but haven't bothered checking)

In morning peak there is often a train arriving on p4 either 0 or 6 mins after a train arrives on p5, which it is then faster to jump off @ petrie (not by too much)

Also the petrie overpass has to be one of the longest anywhere.

[red dragin]

From my limited experience, Petrie operates 2/3 northbound, 4/5 southbound most of the time.

And yes, Kippa-Ring to Ipswich switching at Petrie would be quicker, although only by a few minutes as above.

Once you get to town though, you'd be catching the next Caboolture service so you'd loose another 3 minutes.

[verbatim9]

My preferred layout would be to do a proper Sydney style upgrade of Beenleigh.  Knock the whole thing flat, including the bus station.

2 new island platforms with a double turnback at the southern end in place of the existing single.  Proper concourse on top with a bit of retail and fare gates.  Eliminate all platform curvature by moving the site a few hundred metres south.  Better linkage to the shops on the eastern side with an overpass of the yard.  Reconfigure the yard to allow access from the south.  Proper bus interchange on the western side.  100% DDA compliant.

Operationally it would be up-up-down-down.  All Gold Coast services on the outer platforms, terminating Beenleigh on the inner outbound platform, enter turnback, leave from inner inbound platform.  It just means access to the yard would be more finicky, but not much more so (trains would come out of the yard towards the south onto the southbound running line, then cross into the turnback track, then onto the Beenleigh starting platform.  Reverse arrangement for trains entering the yard.  There shouldn't be an issue given the additional turnback space and platform faces as there is no stowing or holding trains on a running track which would block a Gold Coast train in either direction.

Surfrail1's suggestion of new Beenleigh station, tracks and turnbacks would be excellent. That would definitely future proof the corridor for years to come.

^^The bus interchange needs to be repositioned and integrated in the new station design as well. A good choice of retail on the concourse level would be a cafe, 7/11 with (24hour access) and some sort of grab and go food outlet?

[#Metro]

Could be paid for by allowing a Toowong style TOD.

[ozbob]

Could be paid for by allowing a Toowong style TOD.

Yep, Toowong ..

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1086835580229439493

[Bretto1082]

The biggest issue to a development like toowong village in today's world is the cost and restrictions to construction activities over the ohle which is why Milton did not go over the top of the station there are a lot of restrictions for what freight can travel via where to get to the port which impacts on work time for the development which increases there costs

[achiruel]

The biggest issue to a development like toowong village in today's world is the cost and restrictions to construction activities over the ohle which is why Milton did not go over the top of the station there are a lot of restrictions for what freight can travel via where to get to the port which impacts on work time for the development which increases there costs

Freight really not an issue on the Beenleigh/Gold Coast line. I think it gets maybe 1 a week which branches off at Hillview anyway.

[kram0]

The biggest issue to a development like toowong village in today's world is the cost and restrictions to construction activities over the ohle which is why Milton did not go over the top of the station there are a lot of restrictions for what freight can travel via where to get to the port which impacts on work time for the development which increases there costs

Freight really not an issue on the Beenleigh/Gold Coast line. I think it gets maybe 1 a week which branches off at Hillview anyway.

I can assure you the Beenleigh/GC line is very active with freight trains but only from Park Rd to Tennyson branch and also to the other branch south of Salisbury station.

[achiruel]

The biggest issue to a development like toowong village in today's world is the cost and restrictions to construction activities over the ohle which is why Milton did not go over the top of the station there are a lot of restrictions for what freight can travel via where to get to the port which impacts on work time for the development which increases there costs

Freight really not an issue on the Beenleigh/Gold Coast line. I think it gets maybe 1 a week which branches off at Hillview anyway.

I can assure you the Beenleigh/GC line is very active with freight trains but only from Park Rd to Tennyson branch and also to the other branch south of Salisbury station.

So still entirely irrelevant to the redevelopment of Beenleigh station, then?

[SurfRail]

Could be paid for by allowing a Toowong style TOD.

Developers have no interest in building on top of railways, including down south where they are reportedly having enormous difficulties finding somebody who wants to do Victoria Cross in North Sydney.  The only exceptions are where there is no adjacent development site so it makes some commercial sense (eg new Martin Place metro station and integrated development).

If you can build adjacent to it, you realise virtually all the same benefits without any of the complications, uncertainty and added cost of working in the rail corridor.  That's just the way it is commercially.  The best outcome we can practically hope for is a better pedestrian interface between major projects and station access points and crossings over or under the corridor.

Beenleigh is fraught because of various historical and legal issues relating to the development of the land on either side of the rail corridor, which I can't go into.  There is a reason why there is still a big patch of vacant land on the western side.  One of many reasons why I despise giving entire town centres over to large developers to cut up and control.

[achiruel]

<snip>
Beenleigh is fraught because of various historical and legal issues relating to the development of the land on either side of the rail corridor, which I can't go into.  There is a reason why there is still a big patch of vacant land on the western side.  One of many reasons why I despise giving entire town centres over to large developers to cut up and control.

Are you referring to the area bounded by Main St, Alamein St & Intercity Cct?

[SurfRail]

Yup

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Mega-projects' threat to infrastructure industry outlined in new report

THE dominance of mega-projects such as Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro will threaten the sustainability of Queensland's infrastructure industry as small and medium contractors struggle to find work, a new report warns.

And a heavy reliance on rail initiatives could put the state on track to a skills shortage train wreck, according to experts.

The 2019 Queensland Major Projects Pipeline report, released today, warns that after a decline in work over the next couple of years, 2021-22 is predicted to be the sector's busiest since 2014-15.

While that should be good news, it found 89 per cent of funded work forecast for that year is focused on a handful of extremely big-ticket initiatives, each worth $500 million or more.

"The high concentration of mega-projects in the pipeline threaten the sustainability of the construction industry here as they are only able to be undertaken by a small number of large contractors," Queensland Major Contractors Association chief executive Jon Davies said.

"Many smaller and medium-sized contractors will struggle to find work following on from the predicted downturn next year."

Infrastructure Association of Queensland chief executive Steve Abson said there were also concerns over cost blowouts on huge projects, with the risk of losses flowing down the supply chain to small businesses.

"We seem to have a growing problem delivering these complex mega-projects on time and budget, and without costly disputation. This can lead to substantial loss in shareholder value and to contractors exiting the Australian market, which is not good for industry, suppliers or taxpayers," he said.

The report — which compiles all known major projects worth $50 million or more which are under construction, announced or flagged — forecasts that the value of funded projects will fall by 24 per cent from $6.1 billion this year to $4.6 billion in 2019-20.

By 2021-22, the funded pipeline will bounce back to $6.8 billion — the majority rail-related.

"Rail continues to offer the strongest outlook for growth in major project work activity from just $150 million in 2018-19, ballooning to just over $4 billion by 2021-22," Mr Davies said.

That includes the Cross River Rail tunnel and underground stations network, the Inland Rail project, the start of the Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade and work on the Galilee Basin rail line to service Adani's Carmichael coal mine.

"This Queensland boom overlays major rail work in southern states of New South Wales and Victoria and so creates an unusual spike in national demand, the likes of which we've not seen before," Mr Abson said.

Mr Davies said sufficient professionals could not be trained in time to handle the demand and tightening of 457 visas meant it would be difficult to bring in skilled people from overseas.

The report does not include the proposal recently put forward by the SEQ Council of Mayors for a rapid rail network, which Mr Abson described as "a thought bubble at this stage".

If it wins support from the state and federal governments, however, it would further exacerbate the demand for staff with rail expertise and experience.

The report calls for a greater spread of market-ready projects of varying sizes to be brought forward to smooth out the peaks and troughs over the next few years.

"Right now, there can sometimes be years between a project receiving a positive business case from (independent assessment agency) Business Queensland and tender documents being prepared by the agency," Mr Abson said.

Of the total 194 projects identified over the next five years, 103 (worth $27.7 billion) are funded and 91 (worth $13.8 billion) are unfunded.

The funded projects are expected to employ 11,900 workers a year. Fully funding the pipeline would create an extra 5000 jobs per annum.

Just over half the projects are government-driven. The report says more collaborative approach could encourage more proposals for private investment or public private partnerships.

And it has identified a clear gap.

"We're not seeing any projects originated in the pipeline that really adapt our state to the impacts of climate, such as cyclonic rains or droughts," Mr Abson said.

The idea pitched last week by Sir Leo Hielscher and Sir Frank Moore for a new version of the Bradfield Scheme to create a series of dams and irrigation channels across Queensland was an example of the innovative thinking needed.

[ozbob]

Brisbanetimes --> Federal cash needed for Cross River Rail to free up state funds: report

Federal funding for the Cross River Rail project is crucial to free up the Queensland government's budget to invest in roads and other major projects, while new road tolls could also be considered.

A report, commissioned by the Queensland Major Contractors Association and the Infrastructure Association of Queensland, examines the major projects expected to be built by the private and public sector.

The report, to be released on Wednesday, argues the state government's ability to fund infrastructure growth beyond its current budget commitments is challenging.

"This is likely to hamper its ability to meet contributions required by the Commonwealth per national partnership agreements covering transport and road projects," the report reads.

"Securing Commonwealth contributions towards the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail project and further contributions to the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail project would liberate funds from the forward estimates to reinvest into other priorities."

Queensland is already staring down a forecast $83 billion debt bill, while the state government announced it would go it alone and fund Cross River Rail in its entirety after the federal Coalition government did not commit funds.

Federal Labor has pledged to tip in $2.2 billion for the project.

The 2019 Queensland Major Projects Pipeline Report, by BIS Oxford Economics, recommended the Queensland government consider asset recycling, while it said introducing tolling on major roads could also help fund future infrastructure projects and push out the need to reinvest in road networks.

The report revealed major project work would suffer a setback of $1.4 billion in 2019-20 unless funding for new projects was secured.

For the setback not to occur in full, currently unfunded projects such as the Nullinga Dam, Paradise Dam spillway improvement, Pacific Motorway section C and Gold Coast light rail stage three required investment decisions and procurement.

Adani's Carmichael coal mine was listed as accounting for $1.6 billion in activity to 2022-23, or 6 per cent of the total funded major projects pipeline, although it remained "subject to commercial, regulatory and political risk".

Queensland Major Contractors Association chief executive Jon Davies said large peaks and troughs in workload were the scourge of the sector.

"The problem is that little to nothing is currently being done about it," he said.

"Right now, there can sometimes be years between a project receiving a positive business case assessment from Building Queensland or Infrastructure Australia and tender documents being prepared by an agency."

Infrastructure Association of Queensland chief executive Steve Abson said he did not see any projects in the pipeline that could adapt the state to the impacts of climate, such as from cyclonic rains or drought.

"We believe there's plenty of room to think differently about climate resilience and considerable opportunity for the development of major water projects in Queensland that support regional communities and expand agriculture and industry," he said.

Over the next five years, the major projects pipeline was valued at $41.3 billion over 194 projects, of which $13.8 billion was unfunded.

By 2021-22, 89 per cent of major funded project work was due to be concentrated in projects with individual values of more than $500 million.

Mr Davies said there was a rise in billion dollar mega projects over the past five to 10 years, but the number of contractors with the financial capacity and risk appetite to build them was shrinking.

"Nationally, we're seeing a growing problem in delivering these complex mega projects on time and budget and without costly disputation," he said.

"We think there should be a re-think in how these projects are packaged."

In 2017-18, major project activity was estimated to support almost 14,000 direct full-time jobs, spread across construction labour and white collar jobs in project management.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Trad says contractors have nothing to fear in mega-projects

QUEENSLAND has billions of dollars of work to keep infrastructure contractors busy, Deputy Premier Jackie Trad says.

A report released yesterday jointly by the Infrastructure Association of Queensland and the Queensland Major Contractors Association said the dominance of mega-projects such as Cross River Rail and Brisbane Metro could leave small and medium contractors out in the cold.

But the pipeline of work in the report only includes those projects worth over $50 million each and Ms Trad said most work had a price tag below that level.

"The State Government's current $46.3 billion infrastructure investment pipeline is growing our State and our opportunities.

"Meanwhile, only 6 per cent of the Federal Government's $75 billion 10-year infrastructure package is being spent in Queensland," she said.

"Many of the commitments in the Federal Budget around major projects like the M1 like the Beerburrum to Nambour (rail) duplication are off in the never-never.

"It's pretty clear which level of government is doing the heavy lifting on infrastructure."

Opposition leader Deb Frecklington said dam and road projects needed to be brought forward.

"You've got a Labor Government who is ripping the guts out of the infrastructure spend, reducing it by $1.4 billion.

"That is the reason why businesses don't have confidence in Queensland and that we have one of the highest unemployment rates in the nation," she said.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Highway robbery: State holds up road and rail cash splash

MORE than $2.7 billion worth of Queensland road and rail projects that are fully federally funded are being held up by the State Government delaying signing off, funding or demanding more cash.

Another $4 billion is on the line with Queensland being the only state yet to sign a bilateral agreement to proceed with the Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail.

Federal Liberal National MPs have accused the state of deliberately playing politics and holding back on the job-creating and congestion busting projects due to the upcoming election.

State Transport and Main Roads Minister Mark Bailey has dismissed them as "desperate claims", accusing the LNP of doing "too little, too late" on infrastructure.

Projects impacted by the state standoff include the $780 million Beerburrum to Nambour rail upgrade, the Gold Coast light rail stage 3a, the $350 million Mackay Ring Road stage 2 and the $100 million M1 intersection upgrades to Exits 41 and 49.

Member for Petrie Luke Howarth said the Federal Government committed $120 million to the Bruce Highway/Dohles Road on-off ramp upgrade in April last year, but it still waiting on $30 million from the State.

"They are too focused on the Cross River Rail and are ignoring small infrastructure projects that would make a huge difference to local families," he said.

Member for Dickson Peter Dutton said the State Government had to "stop playing games on George Street and start putting the needs of everyday Queenslanders first".

Member for Fairfax Ted O'Brien said the Beerburrum rail was state-owned and operated, making the federal contribution almost unprecedented.

"It's beyond a joke that State Labor is prepared to put $5.4 billion to fund 100 per cent of Cross River Rail in Brisbane but they are not prepared to fund 50 per cent for vital and game-changing upgrades on the Sunshine Coast," he said.

Mr Bailey said defended the Palaszczuk Government's infrastructure record, saying it was spending a record $21.7 billion over four years.

"Many of the projects they claim to have committed funding for are too little, too late promises — we haven't seen any dollars for them from Canberra," he said.

"It's a fact the federal government year in, year out has ripped off Queensland, with no funding for Cross River Rail, half-hearted offers for the M1 compared to NSW and a $230 million shortfall for the Sunshine Coast Rail Duplication."

He said Queensland would not sign the Inland Rail agreement until the plan had dealt with the concerns of farming communities around the impacts of its proposed corridor.

[Stillwater]

It is a sad fact of politics in Queensland that, while screaming for more infrastructure funding from Canberra, the state government will not spend by the end of this financial year all the Fed money it has been allocated for 2018-19.  Put yourself in Canberra's shoes -- a state with money already allocated but unspent wants more dollars.  It can't spend what it has been given!

There seems little doubt that Queensland is playing a political game to 'punish' the federal Coalition for not funding CRR -- a project the state says it will fund 100 per cent.

When Queensland says if the Feds put in money to the CRR project, it will free up state money for 'other projects', the other projects are those that require them to put in a small percentage in order to unlock the federal dollars on offer and get them up and running.

In other words, Queensland wants more money from the Feds so that money can be rebadged as state money for jointly funded projects.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Crippling debt hits essential services and infrastructure projects

THE dual issues that beset the Palaszczuk Government this week were two sides of the same coin.

First came the Government's plan to blow $110 million over four years to bring Queensland's two privately-run prisons back into the public sphere because overcrowding had caused a surge in assaults.

Then came a capacity crisis throughout southeast Queensland's public hospitals, a situation that forced the Government to cut essential services and turn to the private sector for additional beds.

Both of these examples indicate the Sunshine State is struggling to afford the essential infrastructure it needs.

Years of under-investment is catching up to Queensland.

With hospitals and prisons demonstrating capacity problems, the question must be asked which area of public administration will be next?

Will it be our schools and increasing class sizes?

Will it be our transport system and blow outs in travel times during in peak periods?

Some might argue that these things are occurring already.

We always hear about how the Government is getting on with the job of building the projects Queensland needs.

The state's Labor administration likes to spruik its four-year $45 billion infrastructure budget as proof.

However, this is little more than an ambit claim given every year the Government fails to spend the money on infrastructure that it pledged.

For example, the difference between what Labor promised it would spend on capital purchases during its first three years in office and what was actually delivered was $3.8 billion.

There's always some excuse.

Sometimes its procurement delays and the changing scope of projects.

Other times it simply blames delays on inclement weather.

However, it's hard not to suspect that some projects are being postponed because the Government has had to divert the money to other areas.

It all comes back to the fact Queensland is wallowing in debt and the Government has all but conceded there's no way out.

Around 5 per cent of the Government's own-source revenue – so excluding Commonwealth handouts – is spent each year on interest payments on debt.

That doesn't sound like much. But when you consider the Government's wage bill accounts for about 75 per cent of its own income and that $6.6 billion will be spent on interest payments over the next four years, it is clear there's little wriggle room.

If things go wrong – which they inevitably do in a disaster-prone state – the impact on Queensland's finances is now severe.

In fact, the Palaszczuk Government has had to ditch its rhetoric about how it can pay down debt and build infrastructure altogether to fund its pet project, the $5.4 billion Cross River Rail.

The Government might be spending an extra $10 billion on building it over the next four years but it is having to borrow every single cent of it.

This has been exacerbated by the Federal Coalition's recalcitrance towards Cross River Rail.

But given half the extra money being spent on infrastructure is going on one massive project, that means other necessary projects will be missing out.

The $780 million Beerburrum to Nambour rail duplication is a perfect example of what is going on.

The Palaszczuk Government wants the Commonwealth to pay for 80 per cent of the project because it snakes along a federally-funded highway.

Yet even when the Gillard government plucked the century-old Redcliffe Rail project from obscurity to save Labor seats a decade ago, it was only prepared to pay 66 per cent.

If delays are occurring to popular projects like public transport upgrades, it's not surprising that we're seeing capacity problems emerging elsewhere.

It's not surprising that prisons are over capacity and that our hospitals now struggle to cope whenever there's a sudden spike in patients.

Most Queenslanders probably never thought much about the Government's debt problem or the long term cost of paying for interest rather than essential projects.

However, the impact will be felt by every single one of us if the capacity of our infrastructure can no longer cope with growing demand. ...

[ozbob]

 

[timh]

I agree with the decision to make the prisons public again, because I disagree with the idea of privatised prisons. But it's sad that we are doing so bad financially. I understand disaster bills have been particularly hard, but to me it just looks like the government doesn't have enough incoming revenue. But how do we fix that? What realistic solutions are there for the state government to earn more revenue?

[verbatim9]

I agree with the decision to make the prisons public again, because I disagree with the idea of privatised prisons. But it's sad that we are doing so bad financially. I understand disaster bills have been particularly hard, but to me it just looks like the government doesn't have enough incoming revenue. But how do we fix that? What realistic solutions are there for the state government to earn more revenue?

The Federal Government probably will need to bail out Queensland. We don't actually need State Governments. It's a waste  Just have Super Regional Councils and a Federal Government with fixed elections every 4 years on the same day. So much waste in this country. It's hardly justified.

[Stillwater]

What goodies will be coming Queensland's way in the Federal Budget on Tuesday?

[ozbob]

" Fast Rail " and " congestion busting " road funding ...   

[SurfRail]

It's functionally irrelevant, even if the budget does pass the government won't survive the next 6-7 weeks.

[verbatim9]

It's functionally irrelevant, even if the budget does pass the government won't survive the next 6-7 weeks.

I reckon Federal Labor will still invest in fast electric rail to Sunshine and Gold Coast as well as Toowoomba.

[timh]

It's functionally irrelevant, even if the budget does pass the government won't survive the next 6-7 weeks.

I reckon Federal Labor will still invest in fast electric rail to Sunshine and Gold Coast as well as Toowoomba.

I think federal labour will win this one as well. I'd rather they invest in the regional rapid rail before interstate HSR too. I am looking forward to the $2.2bn for CRR they promised though. That would go a long way to relieve financial pressure and is as close to a bail out as we're going to get in the near future

[SurfRail]

It's functionally irrelevant, even if the budget does pass the government won't survive the next 6-7 weeks.

I reckon Federal Labor will still invest in fast electric rail to Sunshine and Gold Coast as well as Toowoomba.

You keep harping on about electric rail to Toowoomba when literally nobody else is suggesting it.

[verbatim9]

Many have suggested on here and other forums that current rail stock should be utilised on a new Toowoomba line, for integration and cost benefit purposes. There is even a video about it by a YouTuber who is a infrastructure enthusiast.

It just you that has been against electric rail to Toowoomba from when it was first mooted in the forums 10 years ago. Many people want clean fast Electric rail travel to regional hubs including Toowoomba that integrates into the SEQ train network seamlessly.

[SurfRail]

No, I'm just realistic.  People can make suggestions as much as they want, but there is no credible suggestion that anybody in government is looking into it or examining it, much less procuring it. 

At the moment there is some high-level work being undertaken on a commuter service between Toowoomba and Brisbane.  There are plenty of comparable diesel services elsewhere in the country between a large metropolitan region and a nearby city of 50-100K population or so (particularly in V/line territory and to a lesser extent in WA), but no electrics other than the NSW Trainlink routes.
Those connect much larger population centres, and electrification made compelling sense due to Sydney's terrain and the traffic volumes.  The terrain to Toowoomba might certain favour electric traction but not for a marginal passenger route which would most likely not be sharing with freight - and due to double-stacking requirements and tunnel clearances would also not be electric.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1150547921206595585

[ozbob]

https://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au

Infrastructure Pipeline Report 2019

Building Queensland has released the 2019 Infrastructure Pipeline Report, detailing 18 priority proposals under development by the Queensland Government.

>> https://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Infrastructure-Pipeline-Report-2019.pdf

Interesting item:  PRELIMINARY BUSINESS CASE - Gold Coast Rail Line Capacity Improvement—Kuraby to Beenleigh

NEED

The current track configuration of the Gold Coast Rail Line
between Kuraby and Beenleigh is limiting the ability for
express trains to effectively pass all stops during peak periods.
This is limiting the capacity of the corridor and impacting on
service reliability.

PROPOSAL

The proposal is investigating the following options:
» signalling updates to safely increase the number of services
and improve reliability
» amendment of stopping patterns to reduce conflicts
between different train services
» construction of new passing loops to provide more
opportunities for express trains to pass
» development of a full or partial third/fourth track (subject to
operational requirements)
» consideration of corridor preservation requirements
» targeted track realignments to improve travel time
» station upgrades and higher-capacity trains.

The options will be packaged to form a preferred solution to
meet long-term capacity, reliability and customer objectives.
All major components of the preliminary business case are
complete. A staging assessment will be completed prior
to a detailed business case to inform a future program of
potential investments.

An estimate will be provided once the proposal has been developed further

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> The 25 infrastructure projects worth $17b to Queensland's economy

The State Government has released its blueprint for major infrastructure projects across Queensland, spruiking 40,000 jobs and a huge boost to the economy. But the Opposition says some of the most desperately-needed projects are bogged down in delays.

TWENTY-five projects worth $17 billion and creating tens of thousands of jobs have been listed in the Building Queensland Infrastructure Pipeline, the State Government's blueprint for what it reckons should be investigated and built in our state.

The projects - all costing $50 million or above - include new hospitals and renovations, extra schools, upgrading the Bruce Highway and M1, the massive $2.1 billion Brisbane Live entertainment precinct, dredging Gladstone Port for bigger ships, a congestion-busting motorway bridge, dams and water pipelines.

But while State Development Minister Cameron Dick is crowing about the 40,000 jobs he says the Palaszczuk Government is delivering, the LNP Opposition say the report highlights delays and inaction, including for the biggest project listed - the massive $2.1 billion Brisbane Live.

The LNP says the massive revamp of Roma St to include a world class entertainment precinct and 17,000 to 18,000 capacity arena has been in the languishing in the hands of the Palaszczuk Government without a decision.

Brisbane Live is one for four major projects where the business cases have been finished and are awaiting a decision, Building Queensland says in the pipeline report.

The other projects are the $247 million congestion-busting Centenary Bridge upgrade, the $90m-$100 million Lake Macdonald Dam improvement and the $70 million southwest pipeline bulk water connection to Beaudesert.

Building Queensland's Infrastructure Pipeline Report says Brisbane Live would be part of the Cross River Rail station at Roma Street and revitalise an "underutilised section of the Brisbane CBD".

"Capitalising on the existing range of sporting, music and arts events occurring in Brisbane, the Brisbane Live Entertainment Arena, with state of the art facilities and technology would provide Brisbane and Queensland with a world class facility for premium live events that is highly accessible and well connected to all transport networks," the report says.

It is expected to include 17,000 to 18,000 seat arena for events on a large deck structure built over the railway between Albert and Roma streets.

LNP Shadow Infrastructure Minister Andrew Powell said the report proved delays were bogging down desperately needed projects.

"Whether it was infrastructure for schools, dams or rail lines, projects across the board have been delayed, postponed or canned altogether," Mr Powell said.

"Our roads are congested, our schools are overcrowded, our hospitals are at breaking point and prisons overflowing all thanks to Annastacia Palaszczuk's failure to show any leadership.

"With infrastructure cuts and major project delays it's no wonder why Queensland has had the worst or second worst unemployment rate in the nation for most of the past 12 months."

The State Government received the Brisbane Live final report in November last year and would consider the project "in due course" but could not give a timeframe.

The State Government received the final reports for the Centenary Motorway bridge in June this year, and had sent it to Infrastructure Australia.

The water pipeline was received in March and more work is being done to make sure it provided value for money, he said.

State Development Minister Cameron Dick said the 2019 Infrastructure Pipeline Report demonstrated the significant progress made towards the state's infrastructure needs and creating more jobs.

"The next four years will see a $49.5B infrastructure investment across Queensland, including $12.9B over the next 12 months, which will support up to 40,500 local jobs," Mr Dick said.

"We are delivering more infrastructure than the LNP ever did.

"Sixty per cent of this year's infrastructure budget is being invested outside Greater Brisbane, where it will support around 25,500 jobs.

"Our strong infrastructure program underpins and unlocks private sector investment, making our state's $147 billion combined public-private infrastructure pipeline the second largest in Australia, according to Deloitte Access Economics.

"A strong, sustainable infrastructure pipeline provides confidence and certainty for investors, employers, businesses and communities.

"Projects in the pipeline respond to challenges associated with Queensland's growing and ageing population, like planning for revitalised Toowoomba and Bundaberg hospitals and improvements to the M1."

$12.6 billion Bruce Highway upgrade program: Jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments on an 80:20 basis, the 15-year (2013-14 to 2027-28) $12.6 billion Bruce Highway Upgrade Program is the largest road infrastructure program Queensland has ever seen. It is aimed at improving safety, flood resilience and capacity along the length of the Bruce Highway between Brisbane and Cairns.

$461 million Logan Hospital expansion: Logan is one of the fastest growing regions in the state and a major growth corridor for South East Queensland with an estimated population of 1.2 million. Logan Hospital is the main acute facility for the region and has grown from a 48-bed community hospital in 1990 to more than 400 beds and bed alternatives as at 2018. Despite significant capital investment over the last 10 years, and changes in models of care, the existing facility no longer has adequate capacity to meet service demand.

$176 million Cairns Convention Centre: An upgrade and expansion of the Cairns Convention Centre, along with essential maintenance works, is proposed to meet potential unmet demand for national and international conventions in Cairns.

$136 million Burdekin Falls Dam: Proposed improvement works include raising saddle dams and spillway abutments, installing post-tensioned anchors to the dam's main spillway and abutments, and installing anchor bars at the downstream end of the spillway.

$127.5 million Ipswich Hospital redevelopment stage 1A: The region is experiencing rapid growth with the population forecast to more than double from 286,000 to 587,600 by 2036. The community is culturally, economically and geographically diverse, with lower social determinants of health than the Queensland average, resulting in proportionately higher acuity, burden of disease and health care demand. In addition to the high incidence of chronic disease, the region has an ageing population.

Inner City South State Secondary College: Construction of the Inner City South State Secondary College is expected to start by the end of 2019, with the school scheduled to commence operation with Year 7 at the start of the 2021 school year.

New youth detention centres: The Queensland Government has committed more than $320 million to expanding, building and staffing new youth detention centres.

ON THE CARDS

Waiting for State Government consideration:

$2.1B BRISBANE LIVE ENTERTAINMENT ARENA

A new arena of 17,000 to 18,000 seats located on a large deck structure built over railways, roads and property, bounded by Albert Street to the north and Roma Street to the south. It would include new public spaces and facilities and active transport connections with neighbouring central business district locations.

$247M CENTENARY BRIDGE UPGRADE

The Centenary Motorway has progressively developed from a two-lane local arterial to an urban motorway; however, it has not kept up with the rapidly changing land use and demographic changes. As a result, the strategic network is vulnerable to severe impacts on network performance and flow breakdown in the event of a traffic incident.

The detailed business case investigated the construction of a new three-lane northbound bridge and rehabilitation works for the existing bridges.

$90M-$100M LAKE MACDONALD DAM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT

The proposed upgrade will reduce dam safety risks by increasing the spillway capacity of the dam while maintaining water supply security.

$70M SOUTH WEST PIPELINE

Connecting the Beaudesert water supply zone with the South East Queensland water grid, via Logan City Council infrastructure. The bulk water pipeline is proposed to be approximately 24 kilometres in length, connecting the Beaudesert Water Treatment Plant storage reservoirs to the Flagstone development area and to the Water Grid pipeline network.

Detailed business case being completed:

$450M-$750M TOOWOOMBA HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT

Toowoomba Hospital is operating at capacity in a number of areas and the hospital faces long

emergency department waiting times and overcrowding. Forecast demand, driven by a growing and ageing population and high levels of chronic disease, is expected to place further pressure on the hospital.

The proposal is investigating a staged relocation of healthcare services to the Baillie Henderson Hospital site in Cranley Street which is 6.5 kilometres north of the existing hospital.

$430M SUNSHINE MOTORWAY-MOOLOOLAH RIVER INTERCHANGE

The existing Sunshine Motorway, Nicklin Way and Kawana Way transport infrastructure is congested and lacks capacity for forecast traffic growth. Proposed works include a new direct connection to the Sunshine Coast University Hospital precinct via a new two-lane road connecting Kawana Way at Parrearra and crossing the Mooloolah River to the planned Mooloolah River interchange.

Dredging to widen the Clinton channel for bigger ships.

IPSWICH EXTRA PRIMARY SCHOOL CAPACITY - COST TO BE DETERMINED

Enrolment forecasts indicate that it is unlikely the schools currently serving the Ipswich City Council area will be able to accommodate future growth or alleviate pressure on the existing state schools.

LOGAN EXTRA PRIMARY SCHOOL CAPACITY - COST TO BE DETERMINED

Existing schools in the area are reaching capacity and demand is predicted to increase significantly within the next five years.

EXTRA SPECIAL SCHOOLING CAPACITY ACROSS SEQ - COST TO BE DETERMINED

A number of special schools in South East Queensland have experienced significant growth in enrolments over the past five years. Population forecasts indicate that enrolments will likely increase for students with special educational needs within the short to medium term as the population in South East Queensland continues to grow.

BUNDABERG HOSPITAL REDEVELOPMENT - COST TO BE DETERMINED

Bundaberg Hospital is having to send patients to other services to deal with demand.

PARADISE DAM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT - COST TO BE DETERMINED

The project will ensure the dam meets national and Queensland guidelines on dam safety standards and continues to function safely during extreme weather events.

SOMERSET DAM IMPROVEMENT PROJECT - COST TO BE DETERMINED

Built on the Stanley River between 1937 and 1959 to the engineering standards at that time, the dam now requires upgrading to comply with the provisions of the Australian National Committee for Large Dams (ANCOLD) and Queensland guidelines on acceptable flood capacity in response to updated climate modelling for extreme weather events.

Preliminary business case:

GOLD COAST RAIL LINE CAPACITY IMPROVEMENT - KURABY TO BEENLEIGH - COST TO BE DETERMINED

The current track of the Gold Coast Rail Line between Kuraby and Beenleigh is limiting the ability for express trains to effectively pass all stops during peak periods. This is limiting the capacity of the corridor and impacting on service reliability.

PRINCESS ALEXANDRA HOSPITAL REHABILITATION AND SUBACUTE SERVICE RENEWAL - COST TO BE DETERMINED

The need for an infrastructure upgrade at the Princess Alexandra Hospital has been identified to provide contemporary fit-for-purpose facilities for statewide spinal cord and brain injury rehabilitation, as well as general rehabilitation services.

Strategic business case:

M1 Pacific Motorway - Daisy Hill to Loganholme

M1 Pacific Motorway - Loganholme to Nerang (including Coomera Connector)

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

4th September 2019

Queensland - the stalled state ..

Good Morning,

What hope is there really for regional fast rail, or the necessary infrastructure for the proposed 2032 Olympics when this state cannot deliver even basic transport infrastructure in a timely manner and without botching it?

Upgrade of Sunshine Coast railway line -  stalled since 2009.

Gold Coast light rail stage 3A - stalled.

Brisbane ' Metro ' - stalled.

Bus network reform - stalled.

Level crossing removal - stalled.

New Generation Rollingstock - complete DDA non-compliance botch.  Still waiting for the rectification of the non-compliant trains to commence.

Redcliffe Peninsula line - botched signalling.  This line despite being the newest line on the Citytrain network has the worst on-time running profile of all the lines.

Station accessibility upgrades botched - a number still only being given partial platform raising.

Inland rail to the Port of Brisbane - stalled.

Cross River Rail - no public rail service plan, doubts about whether the present train fleet is sufficient to deliver the services required post 2024.  Poor design.

The Queensland Government is kidding itself. Enjoy the trip to Switzerland Premier!

Best wishes,

Robert

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

[ozbob]

Queensland - the stalled state ..https://t.co/NwmKqLjlGX#qldpol
The State of stasis .. @AnnastaciaMP @DebFrecklington pic.twitter.com/2OmZjT2xB8

— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) September 3, 2019

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 6th September 2019 page 11

No wins for transport in lead-up to 2032 Games bid

[ozbob]

Facebook ..

[ozbob]

Queensland - the stalled state ...https://t.co/TPsW5sfji5#qldpol pic.twitter.com/v9SIIPhcdw

— RAIL_BoT_Forum (@railbotforum) September 5, 2019

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Opinion: The regions should stop moaning about unfair allocations

You hear it everywhere in regional Queensland ... when it comes to State Government infrastructure spending, they get ripped off. It's just not true. There are areas getting shortchanged, but they're not in the country, writes Steven Wardill.

IT'S an unqualified truism throughout regional Queensland that when it comes to State Government infrastructure spending they get ripped off.

Almost every day it's reported in the regional press and peddled by certain politicians.

They point out some dodgy road or dilapidated school in their area and compare it to whatever shiny boondoggle is being built in Brisbane – the current favourite is Cross River Rail.

I was in Townsville recently and a local newsagent picked me for "southerner" and out of nowhere she complained fiercely "Brisbane gets everything".

This week in State Parliament, Whitsunday MP Jason Costigan, who has launched a one-man party with a single platform to complain about the supposed rip offs occurring in the regions, was beating the drum about the new Byerwen coal mine.

Costigan reckons at least half of the royalties from this mine and other new resources projects should be reserved for the regions.

Deputy Premier Jackie Trad was as diplomatic as she could be about this very prickly political topic.

"Whether it is in mining, whether it is in stamp duty, whether it is in payroll tax, whether it is in making sure that regional communities get a helping hand by differential payroll tax, we are there to help everyone," Trad responded.

I suspect Trad would have really liked to say something far more colourful to Costigan.

However, her response just showed how hard it is to pierce the pervading view in the regions about rip offs.

Personally, I'm sick of this argument.

I'm tired of hearing it repeated because it's just not true.

Sure, more of the total infrastructure money is spent in Brisbane and its surrounds.

But that because there's more people. Many more.

However, if anyone should be complaining it's some areas around the south-east corner.

Here are some facts. Make of them what you will.

Queensland Treasury figures show infrastructure spending per capita in the south-east corner will be $2155 this financial year.

In regional Queensland the per person figure is a whopping $3692.

What was that about ripped off?

Dig down a little and the disparity gets even more stark.

In outback Queensland the per capita figure is $7793, in central Queensland its $4971, Townsville $3692 and in Costigan country around Mackay and the Whitsundays it's $3566.

Compare that to some of the figures for the south-east corner, such the lowly $1298 for the Gold Coast, a miserly $1335 for Moreton Bay and $1443 for Logan.

This is not a new phenomenon either.

The average for the previous four financial years was $3256 in the regions compared to $1745 for the south-east.

I'm not, however, quibbling with this clear disparity. We're a decentralised state and that comes with extra costs.

And in the long term it will be in our interests to have strong, liveable regional cities.

But the complaint about the regions getting ripped off is utter clap trap.

The problem here is not favouritism for one area over another, as the snake oil salesmen of this issue are selling.

The problem is that the State Government has not been able to spend enough on infrastructure anywhere.

For the last six years, infrastructure spending as a proportion of the economy has been bumping along at the lowest levels seen in our state for a generation.

The opportunities for this to be improved will be extremely limited while the state's budget remains lumbered with record debt approaching $83 billion.

The interest bill on this debt might make up less than three per cent of total expenses – a tiny amount compared to the 42 per cent for employee costs.

However, that equates to around $1.7 billion a year that is being diverted from the state's building budget.

Just imagine what this extra money could do each year.

There is currently no solution in sight for this problem.

Both major political parties have retreated from the idea of asset sales after they both previously advocated for such a strategy.

And while these interest payments are affordable now while borrowing rates are low and the economy is growing, it won't be that way if there's a global downturn.

It is understandable that regional Queensland feels aggrieved about the amount of building going on.

But governments aren't the only issue.

Private sector capital spending across the country has been subdued for several years and the decline has been more acute in regional areas.

This lack of activity, of course, then feeds into what governments can afford.

Regional Queensland is struggling and governments at all levels have not had the answers.

But peddling falsehoods about funding favouritism doesn't help anyone.