Infrastructure Funding for Queensland

[#Metro]

Gatton?
Just put on more buses. Integrate the ticket (but perhaps not the fare) into the TL system.

[Arnz]

Putting on my foamer/armchair transport planner glasses  , would've thought putting hourly buses between Gatton and Ipswich (limited stops service servicing only Gatton and UQ Gatton) operating during the off-peak and weekends would be a better option, in addition to the (infrequent) 539.

During the peak, the 539 IMO should feed to and/from every 'thru' Rosewood train.

[verbatim9]

It's a start but you cannot put bikes on busses unless they are the fold up ones.

[ozbob]

The line is there, the stations are there.

No-brainer running rail services to Gatton and my guess is it will happen again, just a matter of when.

I was on the last Saturday rail motor to Gatton, a sad day for many.

The locals are very keen.  Watch this space ..

[SurfRail]

The line is there, the stations are there.

No-brainer running rail services to Gatton and my guess is it will happen again, just a matter of when.

I was on the last Saturday rail motor to Gatton, a sad day for many.

The locals are very keen.  Watch this space ..

There's certainly no real difference between rail to Gatton and rail to any number of similar locations in Victoria on the way to Ballarat, Bendigo and Gippsland.  The only major sticking point is the alignment simply makes it too slow.

If they can build the Inland Rail line and the Southern Freight Line, that gives you a proper alignment between Toowoomba and Grandchester, and gets freight near entirely off the Ipswich line.  Then you can talk about running 160kph regional services stopping only at Toowoomba, maybe Harlaxton somewhere, Gatton, Laidley, Rosewood, Ipswich, Darra, then as per the Ipswich express pattern to Bowen Hills.  No need for electrification, diesels work fine for the kind of frequency we would be talking about (hourly at best in the off-peak).  9 stops to the city with high-speed west of Ipswich should be quite competitive with coaches, and would actually serve the population centres the Warrego skirts around.

It's something to do principally for the freight benefits with passenger benefits being an upshot - same with the Sunshine Coast in my view.  That's what has to be pushed, given we want Federal money for both (and both fall into clear areas of Federal responsibility, especially the western corridor stuff).

[Gazza]

^Of course the locals are keen, just the same as Nambour locals love that battery tram thingo for the main street.
Doesn't mean it would generate much pax or be faster than a coach.
If there were a proper alignment done as part of interstate rail as surf rail says, yeah definitely.
But at the moment it'd just be a welfare service on steel wheels.

[Gazza]

link to Brisbane Airport for people at Gatton and Toowoomba (Park n Ride @ Gatton)

Gatton and Toowoomba people should be using Welcamp airport.
Free parking.

[verbatim9]

No International flights, plus is flying to Brisbane for a connection environmentally sound compared to an 9 or 6 car electric train running via renewables !?

[ozbob]

http://www.qldconference.com.au/?q=News&id=b1e8cf87-0a3a-0378-388a-55a1d86172ae

Rail studies boost for North West industries

Posted On July 8, 2015
Hon. Warren Truss
Deputy Prime Minister
Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development

The Australian Government will develop  partnerships with the Queensland and Northern Territory Governments to undertake feasibility studies on an upgrade of the freight railway line between Townsville and Mount Isa, and the construction of a new line between Mount Isa and Tennant Creek.

The studies will consider the viability and economic opportunities created by a new transport link between Queensland and the Northern Territory.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure and Regional Development Warren Truss outlined the plan while in Mount Isa today.

"These two rail lines have the potential to improve access to global markets for local producers and deliver economic growth to the entire region," Mr Truss said.

"The Mount Isa-Tennant Creek study will assess the viability of a 600 kilometre link between the two regional centres as part of the Government's plan to develop northern Australia.

"Rail remains a key transport mode for getting bulk goods to market, and conducting a Mount Isa-Tennant Creek feasibility study will help determine the best transport links to support business owners and residents between those two centres.

"Likewise, the study into upgrading the ageing Mount Isa-Townsville line is great news for the region, which supports a range of industries crucial to Australia's economic success, including mineral resources and beef cattle exports.

"The Australian Government is committed to developing Northern Australia and should these projects  prove viable, up to $5 billion in concessional loans is available to the private sector, including mining operators, and state and territory governments, to build key infrastructure projects including rail."

Mr Truss said improving transport links in the region would benefit local operators, the national economy more broadly and send the right message to Australia's major trading partners.

"Obviously many overseas operations are in need of a reliable supply of goods at a competitive price, and delivering this rail link may help service that growing demand," he said.

The Australian Government has committed $5 million to undertake freight rail feasibility studies in northern Australia as part of the Northern Australia White Paper, with the Northern Territory Government contributing $1 million to the Tennant Creek to Mount Isa pre-feasibility study.

[Gazza]

No International flights, plus is flying to Brisbane for a connection environmentally sound compared to an 9 or 6 car electric train running via renewables !?

So if we're talking environmental impact, then catching a coach from Toowoomba to Roma St, and then Airtrain would likely cause less pollution than a heavier DMU/electric train that in all likelihood won't be carrying that much of a passenger load.
(A coach going down the highway is taking less time/distance than a DMU struggling up the current hills and curves on the current western line)

Besides, if we're talking about making inroads into emissions, then "people from Toowoomba going to BNE to catch a flight" is such a specfic  and small fry target it's not funny.

[verbatim9]

Airport commuting was not the objective neither DMUs as per previous posts

[James]

No International flights, plus is flying to Brisbane for a connection environmentally sound compared to an 9 or 6 car electric train running via renewables !?

The flights currently going out of Wellcamp go to Sydney. Given there are a lot more travel options going out of Sydney compared to Brisbane (both domestic and internationally), I don't think this is a bad thing. Also, an electric train isn't powered by 'renewables', nor is it 'zero emissions' - the emissions just occur at the powerplant stage rather than the engine stage.

Gatton is a town of 7000 (approx.) - the same population number as the average Brisbane suburb. Can we fix Brisbane's flailing train system first?

[ozbob]

Couriermail 28th July 2015 page 6

State seeks to stay ahead

MAYORS and planning experts from across the state will be told they need to focus on a future no longer tied to mining as Deputy Premier Jackie Trad outlines her vision for Queensland today.

Ms Trad will launch the State Government's Planning Summit in Brisbane with a speech intended to kickstart consultation on reform.
The Deputy Premier is expected to tell the audience she wants to start a new conversation "that needs to be had now as we forge our way in a changing global economy, and look to broaden our economic base away from a dependence on mining".

"We should be looking to become a regional investment and innovation hub, a launch pad into Asia for some of the biggest players in the world, playing off our strengths to grow investment and trade in the knowledge industries of the future," Ms Trad is expected to tell the summit.

"Nationally and internationally, there will be significant competition for knowledge and creative industries' workers and entrepreneurs, so we need to draw them here.

"And a flow-on effect will be the economic development and employment growth in such ancillary activities as retail, food and accommodation and personal services.

"It will be this level of detail that will be captured in the new SEQ Regional Plan currently being drawn up."

Ms Trad will tell the summit the current regional plan had served its purpose "protecting our rural areas, promoting greater housing density in growth corridors and protecting our enviable lifestyle, but again, it needs to reflect the changing ways in which we will be working, living and playing".

"It takes strong leadership and bold decisions to stay ahead of the curve, to provide the strong planning base."

[Stillwater]

blah, blah, blah

We can do that too .... lots of words

The Smarter State needs to be more creative at reshaping and repurposing Brisbane and SEQ to become a world exemplar for sustainable living and world class public transport connectivity, a colloquium of transport officials and planners was told today.  And we only have 10 years to achieve it, according to the peak public transport advocacy group, Rail Back on Track.

RAILBOT's 'Brisbane in the 21st Century' Colloquium was told that partnerships involving the state and federal governments, and the private sector, acting in unison, would need to capture the totality of all benefits flowing from new developments along existing transport corridors and greenfields master planned communities connected by fast rail and dedicated busways.  Greenbelts containing active transport pathways should be integrated into the 'Smarter State Transport Plan 2051', a spokesperson for the group said.

Waffle waffle waffle, rhubarb, rhubarb.

The colloquium communique contained a pledge to meet regularly to work through issues leading, in time, to an action plan for the future.

Big smiles, lots of satisfaction ... good news grab for the evening television bulletin.  Mission accomplished!

[ozbob]

It is plans ++++  > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11576.0

Decided it needed its own thread ... it is a planning summit!



It is hard not to be cynical with respect to plans.  Anyway, I am establishing a good collection of plans, in various forms.  Posters, booklets, CDs, flash drives.

I hope I can get a talking Mr XXXX man that says we have  a plan to serve XXXX on the Sunshine Coast Express Link bullet trains ... when you bring it into proximity of a can/bottle of beer.

[James]

Didn't we have a massive talkfest and plan drawn up under the last government? New government, new talkfest, same plan (build nothing until 2020).

We really are a hopeless lot in Queensland aren't we?

[Stillwater]

Politics requires that we reject the inferior LNP grand plan and implement the Labor Grander Plan, which is ready to announce before the next election, only to be replaced by a new plan from the new lot or, if the same government is elected, the same plan reviewed to take account of which seats were won and which were lost.  (That seat didn't vote for us, so they don't get their bus interchange.)  In this way, nothing gets built.

Yes Minister considered this ground in one episode ... On the one hand we have the sausage, and on the other we have the British sausage.


The debate gets hijacked by the nature of the sausage or the transport plan.  It doesn't matter that people starve, or cannot travel efficiently.

And here is how it works within government.  The plan for having an Integrated Transport Plan:

http://www.veoh.com/watch/v21039348JrKTWwjD

[ozbob]

Yo, join in ...  now there is a plan! 

[ozbob]

7 News  --> Plans stalled by election: Qld govt

Queensland's Deputy Premier has revealed planning for the south east's growing population has stalled for more than a year because of January's election. Geoff Breusch reports.

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

Bus network reform?? > http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=11047.msg159270#msg159270

[Stillwater]

From Brisbane Times media report:

"Queensland has undergone a lot of planning for planning reform in the past, with the Bligh government's Towards Q2 superseded by the Queensland Plan, which Labor refused to vote for, and now looks largely to be scrapped in favour of an as-yet un-named "strong vision" the Palaszczuk Government plans on putting forward."

Currently, Queensland does not have a plan and won't have one until early 2016.

The farcical situation is that Queensland has had a succession of plans that look out about 20 years, yet each of those plans has not lasted three years!  Chopping and changing the plans as each government comes and goes is frustrating as heck for councils and the private sector, whose impression of the state government (whether wearing a red or blue shirt/dress today) is that it is confused and undecided.  This is not a good situation, as the private sector must do much of the heavy lifting when it comes developing cities and regions.

Right now, it is the councils (such as Ipswich, Logan and Sunshine Coast) were good planning has taken place.  The state needs to start from a position of taking those localised plans and building a framework around them.

A brand new top-down plan that ignores those local plans will make them redundant, forcing the councils to start over ..... and we repeat the whole vicious cycle.

This is madness!  Let's have a plan that lasts beyond the election cycle please.

And we probably need to have a debate about 4-year parliamentary terms to allow a government to implement its planning before facing an election.  Three-year terms just allows for lots of positioning and wedging of each side by the other, with the result being that the implementation of plans gets pushed into the next term of parliament ... and the next.

The planning thus becomes a re-election platform, a myth, a mirage -- never implemented.

It's the Queensland way. 

[ozbob]

[ozbob]

Queensland Transport and Roads Investment Program -->

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/About-us/Corporate-information/Publications/Queensland-Transport-and-Roads-Investment-Program.aspx

The Department of Transport and Main Roads held an industry briefing on 28 July 2015, providing an overview of the QTRIP program, the works to be released to industry during the 2015-16 financial year, and the new Transport and Main Roads contracts and procurement processes, including the Engineering Consultancy Scheme.

View a recording of the event --> https://www.thestreamingguys.com.au/production/qtrip-statewide-industry-briefing/

View the presentation slides --> http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/aboutus/corpinfo/Publications/Qtrip/qtripstatewideindustrybriefingpresentation0715.pdf (PDF, 2.91 MB)

[ozbob]

From the Sunday Mail 2nd August 2015 page 25

Honkers may solve our public transport woes

[#Metro]

Nobody has made a ballpark figure for how much this could raise. I suspect that it would be very small. Development is not viable at many stations - only stations where construction could be profitable and the local community would accept would be feasible. There has to be demand and willingness to pay. Nearby land values are a clue, so I would suspect mostly inner city (i.e within 5km of the CBD) stations would fall into this 'viable' category.

Heavy infrastructure is very expensive - billions. Private activity would make only a small dent in that. The tax base is too narrow.

A broad based land tax - remove the exemptions - would raise much money, and recapture land value increases from large PT projects automatically.

[ozbob]

Griffith Transport Research 

> https://www.griffith.edu.au/environment-planning-architecture/urban-research-program/research/research-themes/transport-group

[ozbob]

News.com.au --> Southeast Queensland on cusp of morphing into megacity with lines between capital and coasts blurring

[ozbob]

Sourceable --> Lack of Infrastructure Innovation Costing Taxpayers Billions

A new report produced by AECOM in collaboration with Consult Australia found that the Queensland state government is still failing to tap into potential windfall sources of funding for public infrastructure that are generated by the projects indirectly.

These include the untaxed financial benefits enjoyed by property owners located within close proximity of new infrastructure projects, such as the light rail networks in Brisbane and Gold Coast.

The end result is that the owners of properties located adjacent to new infrastructure projects reap gains that are wholly subsidised by taxpayers.

The report, entitled Value Capture Road Map, advocates capturing some of this additional value in order to help finance the development of major infrastructure projects.

According to Joe Langley, report author and AECOM technical director, these innovative financing methods have the potential to save Australian taxpayers billions of dollars in infrastructure costs, and could account for nearly a third of funding for projects.

"It is reasonable to assume that a well-conceived and managed value capture program here could contribute between 10 per cent and 30 per cent directly related infrastructure costs within a defined improvement area," Langley said.

"For example, new stations along Brisbane's rail network or the Gold Coast's light rail network will deliver significant financial windfalls to local property owners and businesses, but under current legislation they do not have to pay a cent toward them.

"That just doesn't make sense when there's a tried and tested way of leveraging this value to reduce the overall cost to the tax payer."

According to Consult Australia CEO Megan Motto, the adoption of value capture funding models will play a critical role in ensuring that Australia's future infrastructure needs are adequately met.

"We need Australian governments at all levels to embrace value capture as part of a range of innovative financing mechanisms if we are going to deliver the roads, trains and ports that will make living, working and doing business easier," she said.

"In London, the $29.6 billion Crossrail project utilised capture from a range of indirect beneficiaries, such as local employers and commercial property owners, to finance $7.6 billion or 26 per cent of the overall project cost.

"Why can't Australia beneficiaries contribute in the same way?"

... Queensland state government is still failing to tap into potential windfall sources of funding for public infrastructure that are generated by the projects indirectly ...

Well this is a surprise  NOT !!   

[#Metro]

I agree with what AECOM is getting at. It really is true, it's taxpayer funds thrown over your front fence. What did you do to earn it? Nothing!! I prefer a progressive land tax - this is already the system in Queensland, and would require minimal alteration to the current system.

[Stillwater]

     for a 'statement of intent' from Qld Govt about PT
    for Infrastructure Queensland to be formed and for the 'pipeline of projects' to be identified
    for Cross River Rail latest design to emerge
    for bus network reform
    for new fare structure
    for the Premier to move on from her 'talking up the economy' rhetoric to actually doing something
    for the next state election, at which time nothing would have been done in respect of public transport

same ole, same ole....

[pandmaster]

I can not believe someone other than us is discussing this! It is fantastic to see.

[Stillwater]

We are seeing a worrying trend developing ... and the red and blue team follow the same pattern.

It is this:

1.  Do only what essentially is required in the area of PT upon assuming office (meet existing contracts etc)
2.  Have a few inquiries, appoint a few committees to look at this and that (a project, fare restructure etc)
3.  Maybe do a few flash tricks (perhaps build a prototype of a new seating car and let the journos sit in it)
4.  Release some indicative planning - thought bubbles basically
5.  Glitzy launch of 'bold new vision for PT' immediately before the next election (brochures, drive-through, announcements in shaky seats)

Then, after election, go back to Step 1.  How do we get the pollies to break the habit?

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Queensland 'needs infrastructure pipeline' to boost jobs, confidence

[ozbob]

Queensland Government yet to make any proposals to Federal Government for new infrastructure funding

>> http://www.news.com.au/national/queensland-government-yet-to-make-any-proposals-to-federal-government-for-new-infrastructure-funding/story-e6frfkp9-1227520112090

THE paralysed Palaszczuk Government has not asked the Commonwealth to co-sponsor any new infrastructure projects since winning office, raising questions about its plan to help kick-start the economy.

As business leaders urge the state to start digging and building to fire up the sluggish economy, the Abbott Government has raised questions about Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's economic vision given not one new infrastructure proposal had been received.

It comes as a "pretty angry" Ms Palaszczuk yesterday accused Prime Minister Tony Abbott of turning his back on the second stage of the Gold Coast Light Rail project.

Under the Abbott Government's asset recycling plan, states that sell existing assets to help fund new infrastructure projects also can receive extra federal funding.

Queensland has not signed up to the plan, precluding it from receiving cash from the Federal Government for its light rail project, which has been identified as productivity-enhancing infrastructure.

However, Queensland can put forward proposals to the Commonwealth to help fund other infrastructure projects, such as new roads or new freight rail corridors, which would spark jobs and inject money into the economy.
A spokesman for federal Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss said the Palaszczuk Government had no plan.

"Despite being elected back in February, the Queensland Government is yet to make any project proposal to the Australian Government seeking funding for a second stage of the light rail project, nor has Infrastructure Australia received the business case for the project from the Queensland Government," the spokesman told The Courier-Mail.

"You'd have to question how serious the Queensland Government is when the Australian Government has not received a single funding proposal from the Queensland Government on any infrastructure project across the state.

"Funding remains available for Stage Two of the Gold Coast Light Rail through the Asset Recycling Initiative and the Australian Government would welcome a proposal from the Queensland Government.

"The Queensland Government has refused to engage and outright rejected these funds. We would also be prepared to consider a proposal through the Asset Recycling Initiative from the Gold Coast Council ."

Ms Palaszczuk revealed yesterday Mr Abbott had written to her on Friday to say the Commonwealth would not help fund the Gold Coast project.

Last month the State Government said Mr Abbott had "opened the door" to consider providing funds at the Council of Australian Governments meeting.

"He opened the door but he's just written now to me saying that he does not intend to fund the second stage of the Gold Coast light rail," she said.

"He's just ruled it out and that is simply not fair.

"I'm pretty angry."

[ozbob]

Queensland Government 'politicking' over federal infrastructure funding

>> http://www.news.com.au/national/queensland-government-politicking-over-federal-infrastructure-funding/story-e6frfkp9-1227521785092

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

15th September 2015

A new beginning for Public Transport

Greetings,

Congratulations to the new leadership team of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party.

Prime Minister elect Malcolm Turnbull is a user and apparent supporter of public transport.  Mr Turnbull has posted many photographs of himself around public transport of late.

We join the calls of many:  it is time to fund public transport in the same way as roads are funded.   We need roads, but we need better public transport for the cities as well. After all most Australians live in the cities. Simple reality.

Prime Minister Abbott allowed his bizarre personal views such as "  ... there just aren't enough people wanting to go from a particular place to a particular destination at a particular time to justify any vehicle larger than a car .. " to distort policy.

A real demonstration of change would be for the Federal Government to look at immediately part funding two critical projects in SEQ.  Gold Coast Light Rail stage 2, and track duplication of the Sunshine Coast Line - next stage Beerburrum to Landsborough North, with passing loop improvements between Landsborough North and Gympie North.

All States should be invited to resubmit major infrastructure proposals for public transport to Infrastructure Australia for assessment and funding.

Best wishes
Robert

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


Reference:

Abbott scraps public transport investment
http://anthonyalbanese.com.au/abbott-scraps-public-transport-investment

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

15th September 2015

Infrastructure: Call for QLD Government to get house in order

Greetings,

The change of leadership signals a new approach to funding major projects. There is now a good opportunity that major transport works other than roads will be funded across Australia.

The Queensland Government should drop the politics and hit the accelerator on making the business cases for large infrastructure projects like Cross River Rail, the Sunshine Coast Line duplication and Gold Coast Light Rail.

Queensland has been starved of funds - the last thing we need is more petty politics causing Queensland to lose out on billions of infrastructure dollars. The designs need to be wrapped up, finalised and business cases done.

If we are too slow, other states will get in before us.

The Queensland Government is on notice - drop the politics, and get your house in order.

We don't want to miss out!

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

15th September 2015

A new beginning for Public Transport

Greetings,

Congratulations to the new leadership team of the Federal Parliamentary Liberal Party.

Prime Minister elect Malcolm Turnbull is a user and apparent supporter of public transport.  Mr Turnbull has posted many photographs of himself around public transport of late.

We join the calls of many:  it is time to fund public transport in the same way as roads are funded.   We need roads, but we need better public transport for the cities as well. After all most Australians live in the cities. Simple reality.

Prime Minister Abbott allowed his bizarre personal views such as "  ... there just aren't enough people wanting to go from a particular place to a particular destination at a particular time to justify any vehicle larger than a car .. " to distort policy.

A real demonstration of change would be for the Federal Government to look at immediately part funding two critical projects in SEQ.  Gold Coast Light Rail stage 2, and track duplication of the Sunshine Coast Line - next stage Beerburrum to Landsborough North, with passing loop improvements between Landsborough North and Gympie North.

All States should be invited to resubmit major infrastructure proposals for public transport to Infrastructure Australia for assessment and funding.

Best wishes
Robert

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


Reference:

Abbott scraps public transport investment
http://anthonyalbanese.com.au/abbott-scraps-public-transport-investment

[Stillwater]

It will be interesting to see who will be federal Infrastructure Minister, a post held currently by Warren Truss, the Nationals leader.  In a Coalition government, the Nats traditionally hold the Infrastructure/Transport/Regional Development portfolio, but that may not be the case under Malcolm Turnbull.  And there may be some changes in portfolio.  For instance, in Tasmania, transport is a part of the Department of State Growth.  Who knows, we might see an Australian Department of National Development or Urban and Regional Development.  Interesting days.

[Stillwater]

It seems Ms Palaszczuk read your statement, Ozbob:

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/liberal-leadership-spill-annastacia-palaszczuk-hopes-for-transport-funds-20150915-gjmqzv.html

She must follow through with proper proposals and business case studies for realistic proposals that conform with federal government strategies.  No more political bunfights please!

[ozbob]

^ I am very pleased Mr Stillwater that the Sunshine Coast line is being ' mentioned in dispatches '  ...



c. 1910 ...  it's time  ..

[Jonno]

All the evidence we need to redirect transport funding