February 27, 2009
Transport oriented development will help pay for the future Redcliffe Rail under an LNP Government, it was announced today. Shadow Minister for Infrastructure, Main Roads and Transport Fiona Simpson said: ?For too long Redcliffe residents and workers have put up with inadequate rail and false promises from the Labor Government.?
Ms Simpson said an LNP Government will establish a Redcliffe Rail Company to maximise returns on development at greenfield station sites in an innovative policy to cross subsidise services and bring the project to reality.
Together with LNP candidates - Bill Gollan (Redcliffe); Luke Mellers (Pine Rivers); Trevor Ruthenberg (Kallangur); Peter Flannery (Murrumba) ? Ms Simpson made the announcement in Redcliffe.
?The rail line will be built within the first term of an LNP Government if Federal funding is acquired but without this funding, we can still deliver it within a second term,? Ms Simpson said.
?We are not prepared to let this incompetent Labor Government?s mishandling of the State?s finances grind important projects such as this to a halt. However, to responsibly deliver it, it requires innovation such as appropriate private-public-partnerships. This will deliver benefits to commuters and the broader taxpayers of Queensland.
?A State LNP Government will deliver the Redcliffe Rail. Labor?s had 11 years and they?ve failed. It?s time for a change and new thinking to deliver what these communities deserve,? she said.
? What the general public does not realise is that Labor has been irresponsible with their infrastructure spending, leaving Queenslanders up to $65 billion in State debt with no repayment plan and now a $1.6 billion budget deficit. Our focus is on getting value for money for Queensland taxpayers by delivering better public transport.
?In light of the Queensland ALP Government?s financial crisis and looming multi-billion deficits, this important project cannot be guaranteed for full delivery in the first term. However its future development must be protected so it can be delivered within a second term LNP government.
?There is a real danger than under another term of Labor, the land will be sold.
?Only the LNP can responsibly deliver this project by ensuring the rail corridor and land around identified station hubs is protected from government sell-off and incorporated into a Redcliffe Rail Company for appropriate transport oriented development for when the rail line comes into operation.
?This will ensure appropriate land uses in the immediate vicinity of the stations are maintained and provide for future cross subsidisation of this important rail link.
?Labor has been flogging off airports. The Redcliff Rail land and associated government land is next unless it is protected. Without this corridor, it would be a disaster for the Moreton Bay Regional and Brisbane North areas which have fought for this link. The LNP will protect this land to deliver and operate the rail and integrated transport services.?
Ms Simpson said other related infrastructure such as the upgrade of the North Pine River Rail Bridge on the North Coast Line was required for this Redcliffe rail link to be able to operate.
? An LNP Government will upgrade this bridge within a second term for the purposes of improved capacity on both the North Coast Line as well as Redcliffe rail link.?
Redcliffe Rail Position PaperThe LNP will:
? If Federal Funding becomes available for both these two projects (Redcliffe Rail and the North Pine River Rail Bridge upgrade), an LNP Government will bring their construction forward to build within the first term.
? First term ? Design scope Redcliffe Rail ready for market expressions of interest
? Set up Redcliffe Rail Company ? to protect the rail corridor from government sell off and to protect Transport Oriented Development around potential stations in order to cross subsidize rail in future
? Second term ? upgrade the North Pine River Bridge on the North Coast Line to allow capacity for Redcliffe Rail and also other North Coast Line increased patronage
? Second term ? BUILD REDCLIFFE RAIL