Luncheon at Landsborough 18th August 2018 - a #2tracks celebration

[ozbob]

A few of us will be gathering at the Landsborough Pub for lunch on Saturday 18th August 2018, for a light celebration of the progress made with the project for the duplication from Beerburrum to Landsborough of the Sunshine Coast line.

Landsborough Pub > http://www.landsboroughpub.com.au/

> Menu  PDF

I plan to travel to Landsborough on the 8.37am Nambour service ex Central for arrival at Landsborough at 9.58am.

All are invited to join us for lunch (pay for own meal) and a toast to #2tracks!

[ozbob]

There are no planned track closures at this stage for the weekend 18-19th August 2018

> https://www.queenslandrail.com.au/forcustomers/trackclosures/12monthcalendar

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Historic and friendly feel

ORIGINALLY known as Mellum Creek, Landsborough was first settled in 1871 after Isaac Burgess established a need for a stop-over town after gold was discovered in Gympie in the 1860s. Cobb & Co also used the town as a stopping point for their coach service en route from Brisbane to Gympie.

Existing Aboriginal tracks were developed into Gympie Road which ran from Caboolture to Gympie, through the Glasshouse Mountains. Burgess selected 120 acres alongside Gympie Road and in 1877 bought more land and a hotel, store and butcher shop were built with the Post Office opening years later. The North Coast railway line was extended in 1890 and so became the Caboolture Landsborough line which was 32km. The construction of the railway dramatically changed the focus of the town.

In that same year, the town was renamed Landsborough after William Landsborough, a Scotsman and explorer who was the first to cross Australia from the Gulf of Carpentaria to Melbourne. Landsborough also led the search to find Burke and Wills and had purchased his property, Loch Lamerough, in Caloundra in 1881 which is where he retired and then passed away in 1886.

Upon entering the township of Landsborough an immediate sense of its history overcomes you. The buildings show their many stories, it's quiet and you can just imagine what it was like in the 1800s with horse drawn carts, old steam trains and the makings of Caloundra's history.

The Landsborough Historical Museum hosts a display of more than 4000 items which showcase local pioneering history. Local residents are well serviced with the town centre offering a number of retail shops, newsagency, hair salons, supermarket, cafes and restaurants and the Landsborough Medical Clinic.

There is also a fantastic true country-style bakery and the historic Landsborough Hotel.

Formerly known as The Mellum Club Hotel in the late 1800s, the Landsborough Hotel is the local "watering hole" and was once used to offer accommodation to workers in the Gympie goldfields and as a stop-over for Cobb & Co coach passengers.

Amid the buzz and hype of the newly established railway line, the pub was relocated from its original position on Gympie Road to its current location opposite the train station. This process took two weeks as it was moved at night so it could remain open for business during the day.

Word has it, not a single bottle fell off the shelves during the move.

It was renovated in 1929 and has kept much of its original shape.

Local of about 10 years, Alan Lyall retired in Landsborough and rebuilt an old Queenslander he now calls home.

"I decided to retire up here after I accidentally found Landsborough. I've been up to the pub many times and I thought this might be the place for me so I bought a place down the road (from the pub) and still got it," he said.

He can see his home from the verandah of the pub which he is a regular.

"I come up here around 11 o'clock in the morning, have a couple, read the paper and have a talk to the people...it's a very friendly community, it's a very good town to live in."

Mr Lyall jokes that the hotel is the hub of Landsborough but it is the railway station that makes the town.

"It's just so handy the railway station, that is what makes it really 'cause it's always been a railway town," he said. "As soon as the railway came here, I think it opened up the Coast."

Having lived in Brisbane all his life, Mr Lyall has been visiting Landsborough and the surrounding regions since the 1950s and often came to the pub.

"Everything was gravel around here, I can't remember the bitumen and the main road, the Bruce Highway, was just over the (rail) line...she was a bit of a trip up here in the '50s I can tell you," Mr Lyall said.

With multi-dwellings starting to appear around town he said more people are moving to Landsborough.

"We are getting a lot of new people in town, it's just so handy here. You can drive to Beerwah, jump on a bus, go to Caloundra. You can go where you like from here," he said.

A rural community, property in Landsborough ranges from affordable houses within the town to prestigious properties in the surrounding area. Styles of homes also vary from modern lowset brick and tile through to quaint Queenslander cottages.

Landsborough is located at the gateway to the Blackall Ranges and also the Mary Valley with the surrounding areas providing many rural properties with spectacular views across mountain ranges, with many attracting million dollar plus price tags.

There is plenty to do in the area with the Landsborough Sportsground and Recreation Centre offering sporting club facilities and also Ewen Maddock Dam and the Big Kart Track being a short drive away.

The Mellum Club Hotel


Picture Queensland http://hdl.handle.net/10462/deriv/33678

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1017974512355180545

[ozbob]

Menu

[ozbob]

[Fares_Fair]

Steak sandwich is looking good 

[aldonius]

Hopefully I can be there!

[ozbob]

Steak sandwich is looking good 

I was thinking Thai Snapper fish cakes followed by a cattleman's grill ..       Been a lot of bull around about #2tracks, seems right! 

[ozbob]

Hopefully I can be there!

Great   

I will be meeting our Sunshine Coast members on the platform at Landsborough when the arrive from the north at 11.06am (well that is the scheduled time ..  )

[ozbob]

Ready for the big day!   

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1027466389567631360

[ozbob]

Looking forward to Saturday!

[Fares_Fair]

It'll be a conservative 20% Labor state funding theme, with a generous 50% federal Liberal topping.

If there is a change in the Federal Government we may be back to just 20% State Govt total. 
The Deputy Premier, the Hon Jackie Trad has said that it will be built - so I take her at her word.


We just need $230 million more and it will be #2tracks to go.

See you there.
Nine years in the making.

Here's to #2tracks soon.

[aldonius]

Alas, I must drop out - rehearsing for November's performance of Mahler 8 takes priority.

[ozbob]

Alas, I must drop out - rehearsing for November's performance of Mahler 8 takes priority.

Thanks.  Hope the performance goes well!

[ozbob]

I plan to travel on the 8.37am Nambour service out of Central.  Will be in the last carriage.

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

15th August 2018

Sunshine Coast Rail Duplication: Beerburrum to Landsborough aka #2tracks

This Saturday, the 18th August 2018, RAIL Back On Track members will meet at Landsborough for lunch.  The occasion is to acknowledge the slow progress with the upgrade and track amplification of the Sunshine Coast Railway north of Beerburrum.

It was first promised in August 2005 in a statement by then Transport Minister, Mr Paul Lucas.
Construction was to be carried out by the TrackStar Alliance, a consortium comprising Thiess, United Group Infrastructure, Aurecon and AECOM.

The contract price for the Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication was $300 million in 2008. Move forward 10 years later and those costs have doubled.

These were ambitious times filled with ambitious lines in the years 2005 and 2006.

In 2005, in a media announcement, Mr Lucas promised rail lines would be in Caloundra by 2015 at a cost of $480 million to do work on two (CAMCOS) sections.

One "We will establish the line from Beerwah to Caloundra by 2015 and (two) up the coast to Maroochydore by 2020, bringing rail to the Sunshine Coast," he said.

On 8 August 2006, Mr Lucas told Parliament "The second part of the corridor (Beerburrum to Landsborough) will start in early 2009 and be completed by mid-2012.".  Unfortunately the project was cancelled in 2009 following the State Election in that year.  RAIL Back On Track has been campaigning ever since.

Today, more than 13 years on from those grand empty announcements, the Sunshine Coast is still waiting. The beautiful Sunshine Coast is experiencing massive growth, putting pressure on both the Highway and the winding, freight shared, bus substituted, infrequently serviced, single track, rail line.

On 9 June 2018, 10 years after killing off the project, the State Government boldly announced a $161 million contribution towards the $780 million Sunshine Coast rail duplication. The Federal Government has made a committment of $390 million Commonwealth Govt, a 50% contribution to the project. The State Government happily announces that they will start the works knowing the kitty is 30% short of the dollars.

A great concern is that if Labor win power at the next federal election, where will that leave this critical rail project?
Federal Labor have made zero $ commitments to the Sunshine Coast line to date.

The Sunshine Coast arguably has the most under-privileged inadequate public transport rail service in the nation.

We will raise a glass on Saturday to #2tracks and progress, however slow.

Let's hope that the next time we have a luncheon in Landsborough actual construction is underway!

Contacts:

Jeff Addison
Sunshine Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

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

The 2tracks Campaign T shirt: NO MORE BOTTLENECK

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1029475077467717632

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1029476591313674240

[Fares_Fair]

GOOD TO GO

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/738307989472321536


https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/738304332769071104

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/781658355295068161

[ozbob]

 

[ozbob]

Letter to the Editor Queensland Times 17th August 2018 page 11

Lunch to celebrate rail success, however slow

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1030213415015333888

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1030544984552890369

[ozbob]

Marvellous luncheon!

Interviews with 9News Sunshine Coast Too!

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1030667932416729090

[Fares_Fair]

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/1030712071346765824?

[Stillwater]

SCD 16 August page 8

https://www.pressreader.com/australia/sunshine-coast-daily/20180816/281758450127646

[ozbob]

Advocates to mark a decade since promise broken

Sunshine Coast Daily 16 Aug 2018

SHADOW Treasurer Tim Mander will call for the Palaszczuk government to deliver 50 per cent of funding needed for North Coast Rail duplication, two days before advocacy group Rail Back On Track marks a decade since Queensland Labor broke a promise to build the link itself.

The LNP deputy Opposition Leader has accused the government of slamming the on new jobs on the Sunshine Coast, declaring it only focused on Brisbane.

"Unemployment is rising on the Sunshine Coast thanks to a Labor Government that's only focused on Brisbane," Mr Mander said.

"The LNP is backing the vital Sunshine Coast Rail Duplication to the hilt but the project is stuck in the sidings because Annastacia Palaszczuk won't commit the cash it needs.

"Yet while the Sunshine Coast is starved of funding, Labor is paying 100 per cent of the costs of Brisbane's $15 billion Cross River Rail project."

The coalition Federal Government has committed $390 million as a half share of duplicating the rail line to Landsborough with the Palaszczuk government putting in $160 million as part of its 2018-19 Budbrakes Mr Mander claimed Sunshine Coast unemployment had risen by 0.7 per cent to 5.7 per cent over the past year with youth unemployment increasing by 4 per cent to 14 per cent.

He is on the Coast for a meeting with Caloundra Chamber of Commerce members.

Meanwhile Rail Back On Track Transport advocates would meet at Landsborough on Saturday to mark a decade since a 2005 state Labor government promise to build the link north to the town at a cost of $300 million, a price that has now doubled to more than $700 million.

Advocate Robert Dow said in a 2005 media announcement then Transport Minister Paul Lucas had promised a rail link from Beerwah to Calounget. dra by 2015 and to Maroochydore by 2020.

He said 50-50 funding for the link to Landsborough was a good outcome, given a state Labor government had once promised to pay 100 per cent. Mr Dow said the North Coast Rail may be part of the national freight line but was also a very important passenger link.

The duplication, he said, would deliver more frequent and reliable services regardless of whether or not Cross River Rail was finished.

[achiruel]

CRR is $15 bil now? Did some massive increase in the scope of the project occur recently?

[ozbob]

The train IMU 173 had the toilet locked I discovered as we departed Landsborough after lunch.  This meant an increasingly uncomfortable journey for me and I had to detrain at Petrie and seek out the toilet.  I discovered that there is a lack of handy PIDs around Petrie station.  There are PIDs on the platforms, but PIDs should be available up top on the walkway to clearly indicate what platform trains will be departing from.  I did tweet a request to QR for a toilet break at Caboolture (they have done this in the past) but there was no response.

It is a constant issue. E.g.

23rd Aug 2017

Queensland Times --> LETTER: No toilet on train not good enough

THE Nambour to Ipswich train, an approximate two-and-half hours journey in total, if there is no delay or hiccups, often has no public toilet aboard.

Many of the toilet facilities on smaller stations are closed weekends or public holidays. Translink patrons are treated with contempt as far as public transport facilities go.

This is a disgrace, knowing many who may travel all the way, especially families with children and the elderly, need to have the convenience of such a facility in emergencies.

The incident on the Caboolture line, where passengers were stuck on the train for three hours without amenities is unconscionable. It's often "pot luck" which trains have one or not.

When will Translink and councils acknowledge that weekends in particular are when many choose to travel for recreation to and from Brisbane and further, with the convenience of public transport which they like to promote? Once aboard, passengers have no idea if there is a toilet facility for their long trips.

With the 2018 Games, Translink had better lift its game for public transport.

One guard at Nambour station responded with "It's not my fault", when the lack of such a train facility was reported.

That's apparently the same nonchalant Translink attitude which exacerbates the dilemma for tourists and commuters alike.

This is not a third world country, or is it?

E ROWE

Marcoola

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1030690330356547584

[techblitz]

PIDs should be available up top on the walkway to clearly indicate what platform trains will be departing from

yep.......one along the top walkway would be very handy...

[ozbob]

I was bit p%ssed  off when I had to get off the train.   But I hadn't realised that it is a bit confusing if you are not familiar with the platforms etc. at Petrie.  Why is it that time and time again they botch things?

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1030686656578252800

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1031025884776423424

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1030982112076214272

[not_available]

Petrie is very much a tale of two halves.
On one side, you've got nice new full height platforms for the full length, the screen PIDs on platform and at the entrance on the east side, and on the side with the bus interchange...

If you really want to take a photo that demonstated this, take it from the southern end of 4/5.

PIDs should be available up top on the walkway to clearly indicate what platform trains will be departing from

yep.......one along the top walkway would be very handy...

Every pid should be one of those screen ones, it's a junction....

[ozbob]

Yes, coming from the east seems OK.  It is the other direction where it is a bit uncertain.



This is where a proper PID needs to be placed.

[ozbob]

All in all though it was a beaut day out yesterday.  Hope the 9 News interview gets a good run.

We aimed to highlight the need for the upgrade to get going, and I think we managed to do that.

The pub at Landsborough does excellent meals.  Beer wasn't too bad either .. 

Despite the urgent pit stop, I managed to get back to Goodna just in time for the service there ..

https://twitter.com/Robert_Dow/status/1030718947862052864

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

20th August 2018

#2tracks now!

Good Morning,

It was an interesting day at Landsborough on Saturday.  Thanks for the support from the local media, we are hopeful that we have again raised why this project needs to commence immediately.

Every time I venture out on the Sunny Coast line, it seems to be a bigger basket case than the previous time.  Freighters jammed in everywhere.  It must be a difficult task for control to plot the movements of trains so that some sort of passenger service can be maintained.  With the infrastructure constraints it is not surprising that there are constant alterations to services. It must be very inefficient for the freighters too, run a while, stop, start moving again, stop and so forth.   Stations with temporary platforms ( 9 years old  now originally with an expected life of ~ 18 months ) rotting.  TMR seems to be unable to manage rail effectively.  It really needs to removed into a proper authority.

All are tired of vague plans with ever moving timelines.  Plans must be translated into action now.

Best wishes,
Robert

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

Sent to all outlets:

15th August 2018

Sunshine Coast Rail Duplication: Beerburrum to Landsborough aka #2tracks

This Saturday, the 18th August 2018, RAIL Back On Track members will meet at Landsborough for lunch.  The occasion is to acknowledge the slow progress with the upgrade and track amplification of the Sunshine Coast Railway north of Beerburrum.

It was first promised in August 2005 in a statement by then Transport Minister, Mr Paul Lucas.
Construction was to be carried out by the TrackStar Alliance, a consortium comprising Thiess, United Group Infrastructure, Aurecon and AECOM.

The contract price for the Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication was $300 million in 2008. Move forward 10 years later and those costs have doubled.

These were ambitious times filled with ambitious lines in the years 2005 and 2006.

In 2005, in a media announcement, Mr Lucas promised rail lines would be in Caloundra by 2015 at a cost of $480 million to do work on two (CAMCOS) sections.

One "We will establish the line from Beerwah to Caloundra by 2015 and (two) up the coast to Maroochydore by 2020, bringing rail to the Sunshine Coast," he said.

On 8 August 2006, Mr Lucas told Parliament "The second part of the corridor (Beerburrum to Landsborough) will start in early 2009 and be completed by mid-2012.".  Unfortunately the project was cancelled in 2009 following the State Election in that year.  RAIL Back On Track has been campaigning ever since.

Today, more than 13 years on from those grand empty announcements, the Sunshine Coast is still waiting. The beautiful Sunshine Coast is experiencing massive growth, putting pressure on both the Highway and the winding, freight shared, bus substituted, infrequently serviced, single track, rail line.

On 9 June 2018, 10 years after killing off the project, the State Government boldly announced a $161 million contribution towards the $780 million Sunshine Coast rail duplication. The Federal Government has made a committment of $390 million Commonwealth Govt, a 50% contribution to the project. The State Government happily announces that they will start the works knowing the kitty is 30% short of the dollars.

A great concern is that if Labor win power at the next federal election, where will that leave this critical rail project?
Federal Labor have made zero $ commitments to the Sunshine Coast line to date.

The Sunshine Coast arguably has the most under-privileged inadequate public transport rail service in the nation.

We will raise a glass on Saturday to #2tracks and progress, however slow.

Let's hope that the next time we have a luncheon in Landsborough actual construction is underway!

Contacts:

Jeff Addison
Sunshine Coast Region Spokesperson for RAIL Back On Track

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

The 2tracks Campaign T shirt: NO MORE BOTTLENECK

[Fares_Fair]

https://twitter.com/Jeffrey_Addison/status/1031526015250522112?

[Stillwater]

  Hmmm, Bill Shorten as PM and federal Labor in power?  What then?   :conf 

[ozbob]

Hmmm, Bill Shorten as PM and federal Labor in power?  What then?   :conf 

These sort of things remain funded.  If Labor gets in then there will be some moolah too for CRR no doubt, freeing up some $$$ for the Sunny Coast Line.  Win!