Indooroopilly - Platforms 3 and 4 open early!

[ozbob]

Due to the overhead problems at Sherwood trains on the Ipswich line were on the main lines today (31 Oct 2008).

The platforms are due for a handover tomorrow (1 Nov 08).  Only platform 4 was fully operational, platform 3 was not open as paint was wet.

The mural (artwork) is great!  Some photographs, lucky turn of events!

Platform3 closed, an Up service passes through.



Down stopping service on platform 4.






There is a train information device, that gives audible time alerts when you press the button!
For example the Ipswich train will arrive in 3 minutes on platform 1!
Correct name for this is ODC ? On Demand Console
Has text information as well.



Some views of the mural.























Photographs R Dow 31st October 2008

[Otto]

When I went past on a GCL trip yesterday, I counted about 10 painters busily working on the platform and another 5 painting the white fence along the road black.

[ozbob]

It is official  -->  http://servicechanges.translink.com.au/db/servicechange.php?id=228

Monday 3 November 2008
Reason for service change    Platforms 3 and 4 will be re-opened.

TransLink representatives and QR staff will be on hand during peak hours to assist customers with any problems they may experience.

TransLink and QR would like to advise that the subway remains closed for refurbishments at this time, entry and exit from the station is via the concourse only. For more information regarding the change, please call 13 12 30.

go card

You will need to touch on and touch off using the go card readers located near the entry and exit on the station concourse.

[ozbob]

Full project details --> http://www.citytrain.com.au/indooroopilly/faq.asp

Some of the features of the upgrade include:

    * A new concourse level adjacent to the Westminster Road bridge
    * Three lifts and three sets of stairs to the concourse level
    * New toilet facilities
    * Compliant ticket counters at the concourse level
    * Tactile paving
    * New shelters and seats on each island platform
    * TIPS ? a train information passenger system where scrolling information is provided
    * Improved CCTV and enhanced lighting
    * A new, kiss and ride zone at Railway Avenue
    * A modern finish to the design elements of the station, including paint and landscape improvements
    * Artwork has been included as a potential design element.

[ozbob]

Monday 3rd Nov, I intend to catch 6.11am down service from Oxley, arrives at Indooroopilly at 6.22am.

Have a quick look around and then get the infamous 6.55am service to the CBD (the 6.44am from Oxley) (if I can get on ... LOL).

[ozbob]

These threads document the various aspects of the upgrades.

Indooroopilly Station Upgrade

Indooroopilly Station Upgrade - platforms 3 and 4 updates

[david]

Can we expect any service changes soon with the opening of these platforms now? Perhaps cutting the fat out of the express services (namely the Darra to Roma Street expresses) could be a good place to start. Also rescheduling the express services to stop on platforms 3 and 4 like they used to before?

[ozbob]

My daughter travelled on a limited stop service from Darra this morning and she said it went on the main down.  So I expect that the normal patterns are re-established.

Next major changes are Feb 2009 apparently.  Hopefully the CAB-IPS corridor will receive a number of extra services.

[O_128]

wow that is a narrow platorm. Has any money been spent making the platforms level with the trains?

[mufreight]

The eastern end of platform 4 has been raises by about 150mm but it still should have been raised to carriage floor height as should have all platforms as part as the refurbishment.
No doubt the excuse will be used that the platform height could not be raised to carriage floor level because there is a curve in the track through the platforms but that excuse is just so much mushroom fodder as they managed to raise the platform level on platforms 5 and 6 at Central to carriage floor height and they are both in part on a curve so it is not a clerance problem.
It will be interesting to see if the new platform at Oxley is built to carriage floor height and if the new platform at Darra and the existing plarforms 1 and 2 at Darra are raised when they widen that platform.

[ozbob]

http://www.citytrain.com.au/indooroopilly/

Indooroopilly Station Nears The Finish Line

With the multi-million dollar upgrade of Indooroopilly railway station near complete, QR Passenger has unveiled one its largest mural art projects adorning the wall adjacent to Platforms 3 and 4.

Peak hour services through Platforms 3 and 4 reopened for normal service on Monday 3 November 2008.

The mural, spanning 250 metres, portrays the artistic collaboration of more than 200 students from local schools St Peter's Lutheran College, Brigidine College, and Indooroopilly State High School along with eight local artists.

The mural was unveiled by student representatives from each of the schools and Executive General Manager QR Passenger Paul Scurrah.

Mr Scurrah said the mural was a spectacular feature and one of the largest of its kind to be erected at a Brisbane railway station.

?The artwork reflects the true colours of Indooroopilly incorporating the bright colours of the new-look station, taking more than three months to design and paint,? Mr Scurrah said.

?The mural forms an integral part of QR?s positive pARTnership art project initiative with local schools and brings a sense of vibrancy and diversity to the station,? he said.

Artist Oliver Walker who directed the mural project, assisted by Project Coordinator Julia Bell, Wade Schaare, Danielle Pearce, Silke Savran, Lee Hardnen, Rory Young, Michael Newman, and Clare Hawes says the mural is a great way to bring local images to life and create a better environment for those using the station.

?The mural is made up of more than 200 boards painted by students from three local schools, giving local teenagers a great sense of pride in their community,? Mr Walker said.

?The theme is based on imagery dealing with water movements including catfish and splashes of water inspired by the local reaches of the Brisbane river.

?Other parts of the mural reflect the sun, local bridges, indigenous dreamscapes, and exploration of the area through patterning,? he said.

Following the mural unveiling Mr Scurrah joined students from Holy Family Primary School to plant over 70 native plants at the station along the new kiss n ride zone on Railway Avenue.

?The planting enabled the students to get their hands dirty while improving the aesthetic look of Indooroopilly station,? Mr Scurrah said.

?The students had a great time learning about the types of vegetation they were planting, the importance of water conservation and how to maintain the plants down the track.

?The event also promoted team building and encouraged students to take community ownership of the new-look station,? he said.

Work on the $26.5 million dollar Indooroopilly station upgrade project began in November 2007 and will be completed late next month providing a new concourse with lift access, and improved accessibility, lighting, and seating.

The new station will also feature a permanent heritage exhibit on the concourse level displaying historical images and a history of the railways from yesteryear.

For more information on QR Citytrain services call 13 12 30 or visit www.translink.com.au 

[ozbob]

Called into Indooroopilly this morning to check out the subway which is now open.



Few shots of the subway

Looking up to platform 1 and 2



Subway proper





Subway entrance (up side)



Photographs R Dow 20th December 2008

[ozbob]

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Paul Lucas
11/01/2009

Indooroopilly station goes green in $26.5 million revamp

The first "green" train station on South East Queensland's urban rail network was unveiled by Acting Premier and Minister for Infrastructure and Planning Paul Lucas today.

Mr Lucas said the $26.5 million revamp of Indooroopilly station included solar panels, a rainwater tank and a redesign to make public transport even more eco-friendly.

He said the revamp of the busiest station outside the Brisbane CBD - with an average of 1700 passengers passing through the station each peak hour - set the standard for future infrastructure projects.

"Trains are already an environmentally friendly way to get around and now our stations are becoming greener too," Mr Lucas said.

"Indooroopilly is the first station on the urban rail network to use solar panels which feed back into the power grid and features a rainwater tank providing water for toilets as part of its design.

"The design maximises use of natural lighting and improves ventilation to reduce air-conditioning usage in the station building."

The revamped station also includes a new concourse level and ramp from Coonan Street, three lifts and sets of stairs, a new 'kiss 'n' ride' zone and access to Coonan Street and Railway Avenue via a refurbished subway.

Other features include improved lighting, CCTV technology and customer signage, new waiting shelters and seats, and platform upgrades.

"It's hard to remember what the station looked like before the upgrade - it is now much safer and easier to access for all passengers," Mr Lucas said.

Mr Lucas said together with local schools, QR also planted 280 plants around the station to enhance its appearance and benefit the environment.

The station also features a mural, spanning 250 metres, that was the artistic collaboration of more than 200 students from local schools St Peter's Lutheran College, Brigidine College, and Indooroopilly State High School along with eight local artists.

Mr Lucas said the Indooroopilly station upgrade was an integral improvement to the urban rail network and thanked local residents and businesses for their cooperation during construction.

"Across the board we are looking at ways to help manage environmental impacts more effectively and we take this responsibility very seriously," Mr Lucas said.

"Simply by using the rail network, people are showing their commitment to the environment."

A short section of subway owned and controlled by Brisbane City Council is expected to be upgraded later this year.

Mr Lucas also said a new morning peak-hour service on the busy Ipswich line would be introduced from tomorrow to help ease passenger demand ahead of further service enhancements early this year.

Mr Lucas said the new service would depart from Darra station at 6.35am and arrive at Central station at 7.04am would be trialled to help alleviate pressure on early morning Ipswich line services.

"This new six-carriage service will provide an extra 450 seats and further room for 300 standing passengers during the height of peak hour," Mr Lucas said.

"This new 'sweeper' service will depart Darra station six minutes before a busy service leaves the same station at 6.41am - the new service is designed to pick up passengers beforehand to help ease demand."

Mr Lucas said the TransLink Transit Authority and QR were undertaking a huge amount of work to improve access to public transport by upgrading infrastructure and bolstering services.

"Public transport patronage across the TransLink network had soared almost 40 per cent in the past four years and we are committed to boosting public transport amid this unprecedented growth," Mr Lucas said.

Mr Lucas said clearly people were voting with their feet when it came to public transport, with more than more than 220,000 go cards now in circulation.

"People are telling us what they think of this convenient and flexible system the only way that counts - by using it," Mr Lucas said.

"More than 15 million journeys have been taken on the go card and over $41 million has been loaded on to the cards.

"TransLink's go card makes using public transport quicker and easier as passengers no longer need to carry change or waste time queuing for tickets.

"South East Queensland is just the second Australian public transport system to successfully roll out smart card technology and it is the largest network in the world."


Bold emphasis mine - Admin

[ozbob]

There is a problem in the subway at Indooroopilly station. 

At the Coonan Street end, water and sewerage leakage permeates the last 20 meters or so.  Is this healthy?  School is to resume soon and there will be a lot of school children tracking through this putrid mess.

In the Deputy Premier's Statement above there is this

" ...
A short section of subway owned and controlled by Brisbane City Council is expected to be upgraded later this year."

This is no doubt the section of the subway that is being inundated with effluent and drain seepage.

It stands in stark contrast to the rest of the clean and well finished subway and the general high standard of the station.

Shouldn't the council fix the mess?

I have been contacted by some concerned citizens who use the subway.  I stopped off there on the way home today. There has been no rain for days.

Here are some photographs of the mess that is the cause of their concerns.











Photographs R Dow 19th January 2009

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!


http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/ffximage/2009/01/20/350indro.jpg

Indooroopilly station 'festering in sewage'

Indooroopilly station 'festering in sewage'
Tony Moore | January 20, 2009 - 2:45PM

A section of the upgraded Indooroopilly Railway Station is festering in sewage and dirty water because the State Government claims it is Brisbane City Council's responsibility.

Commuters are horrified the State Governemnt spent nearly $27 million on the station upgrade, but ignored the 10-metre section of subway.

Brisbane City Council said it was "very childish" of the State Government to neglect such a small section of the subway.

At the official launch last week, Acting Premier Paul Lucas said the "environmentally friendly" station was a first for South-East Queensland.

Rail lobby group Rail: Back on Track alerted brisbanetimes.com.au to the dirty water and sewage in the subway which runs under Coonan Street and comes up near the Eldorado cinema.

Both levels of government have expressed their "surprise" at the state of the subway.

Commuters Danielle Wong and Acacia Yupite from Indooroopilly said they were embarrassed the governments' disagreement had delayed the completion of the station upgrade.

Ms Wong said the upgrade should run right through the full length of the rail subway.

"The drains just look very unhygienic and it's not really lit up and the walls and very mouldy," she said.

"That side is all done up and really pretty, but this side is just ... awful."

Ms Yupite said she could not understand why different levels of government were responsible for different sections of the train station.

"That just doesn't make any difference," she said. "They should just finish the job."

Rail: Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said it was ridiculous the rundown old subway remained because the two levels of government could not work together.

"On behalf of thousands of commuters, we just think it is unacceptable," Mr Dow said. "It appears to be a problem between QR and Brisbane City Council. It really should be cleaned up. It's awful, it's unhygienic and it's embarrassing."

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said he had only just learned of the situation and promised to have the issue investigated.

Jane Prentice, Brisbane's public transport committee chair and the Indooroopilly ward councillor, said the State Government's refusal to upgrade the whole subway was "childish".

"I just can't believe that the State Government would spend over $26 million providing one lift and so-called retro-facelift and they wouldn't fix that problem as well," Cr Prentice said. "I think it is very childish."

Cr Prentice said the State Government should explain why it did not finish the full subway and bill Brisbane City Council section of the work.

She said the work would be completed.

"We did not have the project listed, but obviously if there is a leaking pipe we will fix it, but it is a train station and if you have a budget of $26 million, I would have thought you have have fixed the extra six or so metres of it in the project cost."

She accused the State Government of ignoring a public reference committee set up 10 years ago.

Queensland Transport is investigating why the subway was not completed as part of the $27 million upgrade.

[ozbob]

Indooroopilly gallery at Brisbanetimes --> click here!

[ozbob]

Article at Brisbanetimes updated ..

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Indooroopilly station 'festering in sewage'
Tony Moore | January 21, 2009 - 4:45AM

A section of the upgraded Indooroopilly Railway Station is festering in sewage and dirty water because the State Government claims it is Brisbane City Council's responsibility.

Commuters are horrified the State Governemnt spent nearly $27 million on the station upgrade, but ignored the 10-metre section of subway.

Brisbane City Council said it was "very childish" of the State Government to neglect such a small section of the subway.

At the official launch last week, Acting Premier Paul Lucas said the "environmentally friendly" station was a first for South-East Queensland.

Rail lobby group Rail: Back on Track alerted brisbanetimes.com.au to the dirty water and sewage in the subway which runs under Coonan Street and comes up near the Eldorado cinema.

Both levels of government have expressed their "surprise" at the state of the subway.

Commuters Danielle Wong and Acacia Yupite from Indooroopilly said they were embarrassed the governments' disagreement had delayed the completion of the station upgrade.

Ms Wong said the upgrade should run right through the full length of the rail subway.

"The drains just look very unhygienic and it's not really lit up and the walls and very mouldy," she said.

"That side is all done up and really pretty, but this side is just ... awful."

Ms Yupite said she could not understand why different levels of government were responsible for different sections of the train station.

"That just doesn't make any difference," she said. "They should just finish the job."

Rail: Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow said it was ridiculous the rundown old subway remained because the two levels of government could not work together.

"On behalf of thousands of commuters, we just think it is unacceptable," Mr Dow said. "It appears to be a problem between QR and Brisbane City Council. It really should be cleaned up. It's awful, it's unhygienic and it's embarrassing."

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said he had only just learned of the situation and promised to have the issue investigated.

Jane Prentice, Brisbane's public transport committee chair and the Indooroopilly ward councillor, said the State Government's refusal to upgrade the whole subway was "childish".

"I just can't believe that the State Government would spend over $26 million providing one lift and so-called retro-facelift and they wouldn't fix that problem as well," Cr Prentice said. "I think it is very childish."

Cr Prentice said the State Government should explain why it did not finish the full subway and bill Brisbane City Council section of the work.

She said the work would be completed.

"We did not have the project listed, but obviously if there is a leaking pipe we will fix it, but it is a train station and if you have a budget of $26 million, I would have thought you have have fixed the extra six or so metres of it in the project cost."

She accused the State Government of ignoring a public reference committee set up 10 years ago.

Queensland Transport is investigating why the subway was not completed as part of the $27 million upgrade.

[ozbob]

Not interested in who is at fault.  We would just like it fixed please.

This will probably require another closure of the subway Coonan St end again!

[ozbob]

Further update from Brisbanetimes click here!

Fix it, council told

Fix it, council told
Tony Moore | January 21, 2009 - 12:58PM

The State Government has issued a blunt warning to Brisbane City Council to upgrade a section of Indooroopilly train station that is under centimetres of sewage and dirty water.

But the council said any upgrade of the subway may have to wait until work starts on the nearby El Dorado cinema.

The State Government spent almost $27 million upgrading the railway station and most of the underground subway which runs underneath it, except for a 10-metre section closest to the cinema.

Queensland Rail late last night issued a statement about the work.

"QR is committed to continuing discussions with BCC about upgrading their remaining portion of the subway," the statement said.

"We recognise this is an important issue for our customers and we are working hard to resolve it as soon as possible."

A spokesman said Brisbane City Council had repaired a leaking pipe, but that work on the subway might have to wait.

Rail lobby group Rail: Back on Track alerted brisbanetimes.com.au to the dirty water and sewage in the subway which runs under Coonan Street.

Both levels of government have expressed their "surprise" at the state of the subway.

Yesterday, commuters Danielle Wong and Acacia Yupite from Indooroopilly said they were embarrassed the governments' disagreement had delayed the completion of the station upgrade.

Ms Wong said the upgrade should run right through the full length of the rail subway.

"The drains just look very unhygienic and it's not really lit up and the walls and very mouldy," she said.

"That side is all done up and really pretty, but this side is just ... awful."

Ms Yupite said she could not understand why different levels of government were responsible for different sections of the train station.

"That just doesn't make any difference," she said. "They should just finish the job."

Meanwhile some traffic concerns about the train station upgrade emerged this morning.

Corinda man John Long said traffic coming from the University of Queensland over the Westminster Street Bridge at Indooroopilly could not see pedestrians stepping from the footpath onto Coonan Street because the walls are opaque at an angle.

"The railing, or the fence that they have put up is see-through from the front, but opaque from the sides, so a motorist driving is confronted with a blank wall from which these motorists emerge," Mr Long said.

He also said there was not enough room for cars to stop between the pedestrian crossing and Coonan Street while they waited for extra pedestrian traffic.

He predicted major problems with school traffic returning next week.

This issues were also raised yesterday by local councillor Jane Prentice.

"They have also caused major problems with pedestrian flow which we, as a council, are now going to have to fix up," Cr Prentice said.

"Putting the elevator up on the Westminster (Street) end, where it is the worst traffic position, that is now attracting the majority of the pedestrian flow.

"It is in an area where we don't have wide footpaths and we have traffic problems and we as a council are now going to have to fix the traffic problems."

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

City Council, Qld Rail at loggerheads over human waste smell

City Council, Qld Rail at loggerheads over human waste smell
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Alison Sandy

January 21, 2009 11:00pm

A SEWAGE leak at a train station in Brisbane's west has caused a big stink as BCC and QR blame each other for failing to clean it up.
Despite a recent $27 million upgrade by the State Government, passengers are forced to still step over human waste in a pedestrian tunnel adjoining Indooroopilly train station because both sides are denying responsibility.

Transport Minister John Mickel said the council owned the affected portion of the Coonan St Pedestrian subway.

He said QR was willing to clean up the council's mess but was not given permission.

"BCC's continual refusal to grant permission for QR to carry out the work or to resolve the problem is leading to an unacceptable situation for all pedestrians," he said.

"If BCC do not have the expertise to carry out the work then the Queensland Government will carry out the work for them.

"I call on BCC to either provide QR the authority for us to get on with the job at minimal cost to them or for them to get on and do the work, on their pedestrian link, themselves before it gets any worse."

A spokesman for BCC transport chairwoman Jane Prentice said the council had never refused QR permission to do the upgrade and would in fact welcome it.

"It's an insult to the travelling public that the State would play politics with this," he said.

"Council agreed to maintain the infrastructure. This isn't a maintenance issue - it's a massive upgrade by the State to benefit rail passengers."

"The sole purpose of this tunnel is to provide access to Indooroopilly train station, so any reasonable person would see it as part of the station's infrastructure."

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said yesterday he would get to the bottom of the situation.

"I'm certainly going to investigate that and we'll do whatever we have to do to sort this one out," he said.

"It sounds like it's an unacceptable situation for the travelling public and local residents and we need to address it."

It's the second time the council and QR have been at loggerheads in the past few months, with Cr Newman giving the transport body a spray for the amount of graffiti in and around train stations.

[ozbob]

The Minister is quoted in the article above as:

Transport Minister John Mickel said the council owned the affected portion of the Coonan St Pedestrian subway.

He said QR was willing to clean up the council's mess but was not given permission.

"BCC's continual refusal to grant permission for QR to carry out the work or to resolve the problem is leading to an unacceptable situation for all pedestrians," he said.

"If BCC do not have the expertise to carry out the work then the Queensland Government will carry out the work for them.

"I call on BCC to either provide QR the authority for us to get on with the job at minimal cost to them or for them to get on and do the work, on their pedestrian link, themselves before it gets any worse."

Thanks Minister.  I think you have nailed it.

Cheers
Admin

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Council demands developer pays for subway

Council demands developer pays for subway
Tony Moore | January 22, 2009 - 5:20AM

Brisbane City Council will force commuters to walk through sewage, dirty water and past mouldy, unlit walls at Indooroopilly train station for 12 months because it wants a private developer to pay to upgrade its section of the subway.

It has refused five months of State Government requests to improve its section of the subway beneath the train station.

It has even rejected an offer from the State Government - an offer made in September 2008 - for the State Government contractors to complete their section of the subway and for Brisbane City Council to be billed for their work.

This would have allowed the new station and the subway to be completely finished when the $26.5 million upgrade was opened earlier this month.

As it is, the upgrade is marred by a pokey, unhygenic, mouldy 20-metre section where sewage and dirty water flows across the subway floor which leads up into the Indooroopilly retail area.

Brisbane City Council, as reported on Monday and Tuesday, believes the station is a "Queensland Rail asset" and that - despite this 20-metre stretch of subway being owned and managed by Brisbane City Council - QR should pay for the complete project.

Council has refused to pay for its section of the subway and wants QR, or a developer, to pay.

The plea to developers is made clear in a letter from Brisbane City Council to Queensland Rail in November 7, 2008.

In the letter Brisbane City Council rejects a plea from QR to pay for their section of the subway upgrade.

"Council's Civic Cabinet has decided that Council will not bring forward upgrade work on its section of the Coonan Street Pedestrian Tunnel," the letter says.

"Council will continue with the process whereby a Developer (sic) will provide a contribution towards the upgrade.

"Minor maintenance and cleaning will be carried out until the time of the upgrade, which is expected to be about mid-2009."

Yesterday a council spokesman said a leaking sewage pipe had been discovered and a groundwater problem was being investigated.

But he said subway work would not start until the nearby El Dorado "Village" complex development application was finalised.

The El-Dorado cinema is being upgraded to be part of a five-storey mixed use residential complex, by PCN Projects Pty Ltd.

A development application for the project has been lodged, and a company source said they were hopeful the project could be approved early in February.

The source indicated the company was aware of requests for a contribution to the subway project and were surprised at the continued delays to the project.

A clearly-frustrated Transport Minister John Mickel said Brisbane City Council should accept one of two options immediately.

"If BCC do not have the expertise to carry out the work then the Queensland Government will carry out the work for them," Mr Mickel said.

"I call on BCC to either provide QR the authority for us to get on with the job at minimal cost to them or for them to get on and do the work themselves on their pedestrian link,  before it gets any worse."

He said the Queensland Government could not work on the site without Brisbane City Council's approval.

The State Government's claims were rejected by Cr Jane Prentice, Indooroopilly's local councillor and Council public transport chair.

"Council agreed to maintain the infrastructure," Cr Prentice said.
"This isn't a maintenance issue - it's a massive upgrade by the State to benefit rail passengers," she said.

"The sole purpose of this tunnel is to provide access to Indooroopilly Train Station, so any reasonable person would see it as part of the station's infrastructure."

Local LNP candidate for Indooroopilly Scott Emerson agreed, saying it was ridiculous that Queensland Rail was not paying for the complete project.

"There is a QR sign there as you walk down the steps. It is QR's. It is a QR project. Let's not be childish about this."

Attempts to contact PCN projects representative Dr Solly Preller yesterday were unsuccessful.

[Derwan]

"Council agreed to maintain the infrastructure," Cr Prentice said.
"This isn't a maintenance issue - it's a massive upgrade by the State to benefit rail passengers," she said.

I would suggest that leaking sewage is a maintenance issue.

[ozbob]

It would now seem that misinformation and untruths abound ....

Very disappointing that QR has been made a scape goat by BCC.  Some might say appalling.

I am glad that the many attempts by QR to fix this issue have come to light and Minister Mickel is clarifying the situation.

Thanks for sticking up for the punters QR!!

Admin

[ozbob]

Spot on Derwan, thanks for pointing that out.

[mufreight]

It would seem that once again QR is being portrayed as the bad guy for the failings and incompetence of others with the LNP council members expecting others to pay for facilities that the council is obliged to provide and maintain.

From the statement made by Councillor Prentice it woud seem that she would rather that the constituents of her electorate wade through effuluent and risk their health rather than spend council money to maintain a council built and owned section of infrastructure, in her statement councillor Prentice also noted that that the council had agreed to maintain the infrastructure and that an internal council communication advised that a leaking sewerage pipe had been discovered and a groundwater problem was being investigated so why has this council which can spend billions on road tunnels and is seemingly incapable of maintaining a pedestrian subway not rectified the problem.

That the council is not prepared to pay to maintain a pedestrian subway or repair its sewerage system tells much, the subway was provided to allow pedestrians to safely cross the heavily trafficied Coonan Street and the comment by the LNP candidate for the seat smacks of political opportunitsim as if QR spent its money on the reconstruction of council infrastructure he would then be one of the first to complain that QR was spending money needlessly on council owned infrastructure that the council has clearly failed to maintain.

That the council should attempt to force the developer of the El Dorado project to pay to maintain or rebuild an existing peice of council built and owned peice of infrastructure would seem to border on extortion and perhaps should be investigated by the CMC.

It is well past time for playing politics and is now time that the problem was fixed.

[ozbob]

I stopped off at Indooroopilly on the way home this evening.

Had a look at the subway.  There has been some attempt to clean it up a bit, still not really satisfactory but some of the obvious gunk and muck has been washed away. 

Had to laugh, I watched a Lady walk through in high heels.  I think she must have been reading some of the articles, she sort of tippy-toe'd (as is possible in high heels) her way through the dirty section.  Funny to watch .... 

Here is the subway as it was this afternoon.



Photograph R Dow 22nd January 2009

[ozbob]

From Brisbanetimes click here!

Sewage infested subway: just fix it

Sewage infested subway: just fix it
Tony Moore | January 23, 2009 - 4:08AM

Former Labor MP Ronan Lee has accused the State Government of letting an argument with Brisbane City Council force people to walk through sewage to catch a train.

An argument between Queensland Rail and Brisbane City Council has left a 20-metre section of the Indooroopilly train subway in an appalling, rundown condition, despite a $27 million upgrade of the station.

--------------------------------------
GALLERY: Indooroopilly underpass shame  External Link @ Brisbanetimes
--------------------------------------

Mr Lee, who put the Indooroopilly rail station on the upgrade agenda with former premier Peter Beattie, said he was "absolutely ropeable" at the outcome at the Indooroopilly train station.

"What's worse is that the Deputy Premier (Paul Lucas) came to the station, but didn't tell any of the people in the community who had been providing advice, encouragement or feedback that there was going to be an 'opening' of the railway station," Mr Lee said.

"He (Mr Lucas) declares it is all systems go, and then says to the community it is perfectly acceptable to the State Government that you have to wade through human sewage to catch a train, because we are not prepared to spend any money on a portion of subway that belongs to the Brisbane City Council.

"Now that is a complete joke if that is what the State Government finds acceptable."

Queensland Transport dispute this point, reporting yesterday that it offered several times last year to finish the work for Brisbane City Council, an offer which had been refused.

Mr Lee said Queensland Rail should finish the work and then argue with Brisbane City Council.

"They should both stop passing the buck - and that goes for both the State Government and BCC - and the State Government should simply finish the upgrade immediately," he said.

Mr Lee resigned from the ALP last year because he was unhappy at the way green-issues were being handled by the State Government and joined the Greens.

The Indooroopilly train station has solar panels and water tanks and has been modernised under its $27 million upgrade. It was opened earlier this month by Deputy Premier Lucas.

Mr Lee said rail commuters deserved better from both the State Government and Brisbane City Council, who refuse to pay for their section of the subway .

"The city council is 'umming and aahing', and the local councillor - who is responsible for public transport matters - is saying it is not her problem.

"The State Government ought to say, 'well if the Brisbane City Council doe not want to do a reasonable upgrade to the subway then - that's fine - the State Government will'.

"Rail passengers should not be forced to wade through human sewage to catch a train."

Brisbane City Council said earlier this week is staff had repaired a leaking sewage pipe, but groundwater problems remained.

The subway land closest to the El Dorado cinema on Coonan Street is maintained by Brisbane City Council.

They want a developer - most likely the developer of the El Dorado Village complex - to pay for the subway.

Rail lobby group, Rail: Back on Track also said it was embarrassed for commuters.

Spokesman Robert Dow said the entire process was embarrassing.

"Statements blaming Queensland Rail, when in fact Queensland Rail have been attempting to fix the problem, are not well received by our members, and I suggest the community at large," he said.

"Can someone show some leadership and organise a fix urgently please?"

[SockGap]

Mr Lee said Queensland Rail should finish the work and then argue with Brisbane City Council.

You've got to be joking...   Since when has anything ever worked that way in Government.  If QR had paid for it they'd never get the money back from BCC.  Or BCC would whinge about being overcharged...

And what if they had started work on BCC property and then someone had been injured?  Where does Workers Compo stand when you're working on a site without the permission of the owner???

[ozbob]

From the Courier Mail click here!

Indooroopilly train users left to step around human waste

Indooroopilly train users left to step around human waste
Article from: The Courier-Mail

By Alison Sandy

January 23, 2009 11:00pm

RAIL passengers are being forced to step around human waste after a sewage leak at a Indooroopilly train station in Brisbane's west.

Despite a recent $27 million upgrade by the State Government, sewage continues to seep into a pedestrian tunnel at Indooroopilly train station.

Transport Minister John Mickel said Brisbane City Council owned the affected area and Queensland Rail offered to fix it, but was not given permission.

"BCC's continual refusal to grant permission for QR to carry out the work or to resolve the problem is leading to an unacceptable situation for all pedestrians," he said.

"If BCC do not have the expertise to carry out the work then the Queensland Government will carry out the work for them.

"I call on BCC to either provide QR the authority for us to get on with the job at minimal cost to them or for them to get on and do the work on their pedestrian link themselves, before it gets any worse."

A spokesman for BCC transport chairwoman Jane Prentice said the council had never denied QR permission to do the upgrade and would in fact welcome it.

"It's an insult to the travelling public that the state would play politics with this," he said.

"Council agreed to maintain the infrastructure. This isn't a maintenance issue - it's a massive upgrade by the state to benefit rail passengers."

Rail Back on Track administrator Robert Dow said he thought the problem was a maintenance issue.

"The subway is an important thoroughfare for not only rail commuters but local residents and Brisbane Transport bus passengers," he said.

"It makes the failure of the council to move forward with a permanent solution even more puzzling."

Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said this week that the situation was "unacceptable" and he would certainly investigate the issue and "do whatever we have to do to sort this one out".

But when asked about it again two days later, Cr Newman still did not know anything about it.

"I'm not aware of the details of that," he said.

[ozbob]

Blog comments:

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) first publicly raised the matter of the problems with the Indooroopilly Railway station subway last Monday (19th Jan) because we were, and we are still concerned about the obvious health issues and of course the failure to have the subway completed as part of the overall station upgrade.

I again visited the subway late afternoon on the 22nd January.  It was pleasing to note that some attempt had been made to clean the subway section.  It is still dirty and seepage is still occurring though. It is now clear from the comments made by the Minister for Transport, that Queensland Rail have tried repeatedly to have this issue fixed up but due to a reluctance by Brisbane City Council nothing was done.   Thank you Queensland Rail Passenger for looking after not only rail commuters but the citizens of Indooroopilly and suburbs.

Leaking sewage and pipes is in fact a maintenance issue and is sufficient justification for Brisbane City Council to fix it forthwith in our opinion.

and

The subway is indeed an important thoroughfare for not only rail commuters but local residents and Brisbane Transport bus passengers. Large numbers of school children also use the subway.

It is apparent too that there has been misinformation put forward during the week about this situation, particularly the statements blaming Queensland Rail when in fact Queensland Rail have been repeatedly attempting to fix the problem.

[ozbob]

On a sad note I noticed yesterday some graffiti had been done on the western end of the mural which had been cleaned off.  Unfortunately some residue of the graffiti remains.   

[ozbob]

The plea to developers is made clear in a letter from Brisbane City Council to Queensland Rail in November 7, 2008.

In the letter Brisbane City Council rejects a plea from QR to pay for their section of the subway upgrade.

"Council's Civic Cabinet has decided that Council will not bring forward upgrade work on its section of the Coonan Street Pedestrian Tunnel," the letter says.

"Council will continue with the process whereby a Developer (sic) will provide a contribution towards the upgrade.

From http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/developer-should-pay-demands-council/2009/01/21/1232471395490.html

Brisbane Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said he had only just learned of the situation and promised to have the issue investigated.

Jane Prentice, Brisbane's public transport committee chair and the Indooroopilly ward councillor, said the State Government's refusal to upgrade the whole subway was "childish".

"I just can't believe that the State Government would spend over $26 million providing one lift and so-called retro-facelift and they wouldn't fix that problem as well," Cr Prentice said. "I think it is very childish."

From http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/indooroopilly-station-festering-in-sewage/2009/01/20/1232213625429.html

And

Establishment and Coordination Committee (Civic Cabinet)
Chairperson:    Lord Mayor Campbell Newman
Deputy Chairperson:    Councillor Graham Quirk
Members:    Councillor Amanda Cooper
           Councillor Geraldine Knapp
             Councillor David McLachlan
             Councillor Jane Prentice
           Councillor Adrian Schrinner
           Councillor Peter Matic

from http://www.brisbane.qld.gov.au/BCC:BASE:909201433:pc=PC_7

I will let the reader draw their own conclusions.

[ozbob]

Article from the Sun Herald 25th January 2009 page 7

Now online Brisbanetimes click here!

Private sector to rescue railway

Private sector to rescue railway
Tony Moore | January 25, 2009 - 7:01AM

PRIVATE developers are under pressure to foot part of the bill to boost Brisbane's straining Citytrain network, while commuters use substandard facilities.

A subway under Indooroopilly Station, where a $27 million upgrade was recently completed, was tainted with sewage for months while Brisbane City Council (BCC) and the State Government sqabbled over who should pay to fix it.

On November 7, the council rejected Queensland Rail's offer to complete the subway, saying it wanted a private developer to pay.

''Council's Civic Cabinet has decided that council will not bring forward upgrade work on its section of the Coonan Street pedestrian tunnel,'' the BCC wrote.

''Council will continue with the process whereby a developer will provide a contribution towards the upgrade.''

The delay means commuters must use the dilapidated thoroughfare for a further 12 months.

Deputy Mayor and infrastructure committee chair Graham Quirk said sewage problems had been fixed but passengers must still wait for the subway to be completed.

''We do want to see this work completed, but it would be appropriate for Queensland Rail to fund the upgrade,'' Cr Quirk said.

''However, in the absence of any funding from them, council will do whatever it can to limit the cost to ratepayers.''

Greens MP for Indooroopilly Ronan Lee said commuters were being ignored.

''The State Government ought to say, `Well, if the Brisbane City Council does not want to do a reasonable upgrade to the subway then that's fine  the State Government will','' he said.

''Rail passengers should not be forced to wade through human sewage to catch a train.''

A doorman at the nearby Indooroopilly Hotel said the subway was a major issue.

''Some nights standing on the door at the hotel, if the wind was coming up from the direction of the train station the stench was enough to make me want to vomit,'' he said.

''Regular patrons to the hotel would always comment on the strench wafting up from the train station. And to think commuters had to walk through that tunnel of sewage.''

The squabble over the station highlights how the State Government and BCC are tripping over themselves to secure private sector funding to boost transport networks.

Private transit-oriented developments (TODs) have been approved for Milton, Albion and Buranda; proposals are being developed for Taringa, Exhibition and Woolloongabba.

Rail lobbyist Robert Dow, of Rail: Back on Track, said private investment  if well directed  could lead to better facilities, particularly in the expensive area of disabled access.

He said Taringa was among several stations that required significant upgrades to meet disability discrimination access (DDA) criteria.

''Taringa ... [is] often quoted as having one of the highest public transport rates in census data, yet Taringa is not a DDA-compliant station,'' Mr Dow said.

Taringa station had narrow platforms and no lifts or ramps, he said.

''There is a subway at one end but that is a bit difficult for people who are disabled.''

Mr Dow said private funding should be tested, but must meet guidelines from Queensland Transport.

''If you can accelerate the upgrade of stations by linking them in with TODs, it is a win-win,'' he said.

He said poor project management was responsible for the situation at Indooroopilly.

Reading Property Partners has lodged a development application to build two commercial towers and two residential towers up to 14 storeys on the Morrow Street side of the station.

Their development promises improvements to Taringa station, but the exact details are yet to be finalised.

Queensland Transport said its priorities for upgrading Brisbane's rail network were not shaped by developers' commercial objectives. It was starting talks with the developers of the Milton and Albion TODs and had requested further information on the developer's plans for Taringa.

''Any interface between the proposed development and the railway station at Milton will have to be DDA compliant,'' a spokeswoman said.

''This will be the responsibility of the developer.

''With regards to the Albion development, the Government is proposing to upgrade the existing pedestrian footbridge with a new DDA-compliant footbridge, connecting to the station platforms, including a contribution from the developer.'

[ozbob]

This is a very intriguing situation with the subway.  One has to wonder why the council has not moved to fix it long before Indooroopilly station upgrade.  And why did they reject offers from the Government and QR to fix it as part of the upgrade? Maybe they are not sure of the actual problem and hope that the costs may be shunted to others. 

One would assume that proper sewage plans exist?  Surely it would be a simple matter to locate the problems?   I noticed a distinct sewage smell and observed what appeared to me to be effluent in the subway during this month.  Many patrons and staff at the Indooroopilly hotel have long complained about the odours coming out of the subway.  It would be interesting to know if any coliform counts* were done, wouldn't it?

Many people use the subway.  It is not only for rail commuters!



*Coliform count is a bacterial count of faecal bacteria.

[ozbob]

Pedestrian access across the Walter Taylor bridge has been closed for six months and will remain so for another 6 months or so.

This is the sign directing pedestrians to use the Jack Pesch bridge and the subway.  This bridge and the walkway finish adjacent to the entrance to the subway.  The subway is an important link for people to cross over from Chelmer to go to Indooroopilly shops.  The subway is part of the BCC plan for pedestrians ...



Here is a section of the sign expanded.  Certainly confirms the subway is part of the BCC plan.




The Jack Pesch Bridge, and walkway and where it starts/finishes adjacent to the subway entrance.







Photographs R Dow 26th January 2009

[ozbob]

There are Brisbane Transport bus stops both sides of the subway.  A number of bus routes pass by the station, and bus passengers do use the subway.  Some of the routes are 106 107 427 438 432 598 599.

[ozbob]

A spokesman for BCC transport chairwoman Jane Prentice said the council had never refused QR permission to do the upgrade and would in fact welcome it.

"It's an insult to the travelling public that the State would play politics with this," he said.

"Council agreed to maintain the infrastructure. This isn't a maintenance issue - it's a massive upgrade by the State to benefit rail passengers."

"The sole purpose of this tunnel is to provide access to Indooroopilly train station, so any reasonable person would see it as part of the station's infrastructure."

http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,24944466-3102,00.html

The State Government's claims were rejected by Cr Jane Prentice, Indooroopilly's local councillor and Council public transport chair.

"Council agreed to maintain the infrastructure," Cr Prentice said.
"This isn't a maintenance issue - it's a massive upgrade by the State to benefit rail passengers," she said.

"The sole purpose of this tunnel is to provide access to Indooroopilly Train Station, so any reasonable person would see it as part of the station's infrastructure."

Local LNP candidate for Indooroopilly Scott Emerson agreed, saying it was ridiculous that Queensland Rail was not paying for the complete project.

"There is a QR sign there as you walk down the steps. It is QR's. It is a QR project. Let's not be childish about this."

http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/news/queensland/developer-should-pay-demands-council/2009/01/21/1232471395490.html





Which sort of confirms the old adage Don't believe everything you read ...

The subway IS part of the BCC plan for pedestrians ...

[ozbob]

The good news is Council has agreed to fix the subway.

Amazing how the misinformation is still peddled ... LOL

Article Courier Mail 28th January 2009 page 7

Pledge to fix flow of foul filth

[mufreight]

If it was not sewerage effulent then why did the council not release the coliform count from their tests surely they must be aware that a sample of the fluid was collected and will be analysed independently so a little less effulent from the council and a bit more action and honesty from those elected might be appreciated by those who elected them.