Cross River Rail Project

[nathandavid88]

From the Brisbane Times this morning...

Inland rail likely to trump Cross River under Abbott
Date May 20, 2013 - 6:07AM Tony Moore

A $4.7 billion plan for an inland freight rail line from Melbourne to Brisbane via Parkes and Toowoomba will push aside Brisbane's Cross River Rail project, Shadow Infrastructure Minister Warren Truss said.

Mr Truss over the weekend confirmed Opposition Leader Tony Abbott's plans to ask the Queensland Government to try to fund Cross River Rail, Brisbane's underground rail.

Queensland's Transport Minister Scott Emerson has continually said the Queensland Government does not have the $5 billion to fund Cross River Rail.

Mr Truss said the Opposition wanted to concentrate on improving freight into the ports of Melbourne, Brisbane and Sydney.

''We have indicated that we see urban public transport as being a state and local government responsibility,'' Mr Truss said.

''We will be investing in rail, but our priority will be in the traditional area of commonwealth responsibility which is interstate rail freight transport,'' he said.

Mr Truss said the Coalition wanted to support the inland Melbourne to Brisbane Inland Rail project.

''We will continue to be supportive of that because it is an interstate rail freight network,'' he said.

Mr Truss said that a preferred route and economic study in 2006 had been produced by the now-opposition before they lost office in 2007.

The 2006 study showed Melbourne-Brisbane freight market would more than double from 30 per cent to 67 per cent by 2029 with an operative inland rail corridor.

The study said the inland rail was needed by 2020, about the same time as Brisbane's Cross River Rail, Mr Truss said.

He said the most difficult and expensive part of the project was the stretch from Toowoomba to Port of Brisbane, because of need to traverse the Great Dividing Range.

''In fact it takes over half of the total of the $4 billion cost of the project [to fund] the 100 odd kilometres from Toowoomba down to Brisbane.''

Mr Truss said the new owners of the Port of Brisbane was interested in being a partner in the project.

'They see it as being a new market for the Port of Brisbane, bring in freight from northern New South Wales into Brisbane," he said.

''But also there is coal traffic coming in and out of the Port of Brisbane on an antiquated and inadequate line.

''And if that traffic is to be sustained and indeed enhanced with any new coal mines on the Darling Downs, then they will need a much, much better railway line than they have now.''

However this project schedule estimates the cost is $12.7 billion.

Private sector funding was one avenue to make up the shortfall, Mr Truss aid.

The current Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese, meanwhile, has committed $300 million to the next stage of planning in July 2012, although no final route has been chosen.

Read more: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/inland-rail-likely-to-trump-cross-river-under-abbott-20130519-2just.html#ixzz2Tmi3k1bd

[#Metro]

"The private sector will fund it" is what you say when you have a big funding shortfall and no other plausible way of getting the funds.
It doesn't remove the need for a payment to come from government to pay off the loan and debt interest payments, plus a profit margin, and indeed may increase the overall cost because private sector borrows at higher rates than governments do (though may be slightly better with gov't backing).

Why not just create a private shell company and offload all govt's debt costs to this "debt corporation" and then just authorise payments to and from this intermediary? It would, on paper, make government debt free.

Oh, that's right, it already exists and is called a bank

At least with freight et al there is some chance that genuine returns may be gained. However, more freight being fed into the suburban rail system is likely to mean more problems with competing for train paths on the QR network.

[ozbob]

LOL ...  what a basket case it all is ...  guess it is Segway or bust ...

Freight rail is clearly very important in the big picture.

CRR in its present form unlikely to be built.

Might be best to go back a step, swing it under UQ St Lucia and make it really work ...  it adds two more under river crossings but might be worth it in the end.

[#Metro]

Just load everyone into freight trains and coal bins. More people per carriage.

[ozbob]

Interview on 612 ABC re Cross River Rail now ...

Good interview with Dr Matthew Bourke GU.  He also the mentioned the fail re the gateway rail corridor and the fact that coal trucks will be running down Kessels Road soon ...    shock horror for some ...

Hopefully will be up on blog later.  He said there is a consensus amongst transport planners in Brisbane that CRR is essential and outlined why.

612 ABC Brisbane Mornings with Steve Austin

How Vital is the Cross River Rail Project to Queensland?

20 May 2013 , 10:41 AM by Heather Stott

During the Federal Budget there was a lot of talk about transport infrastructure in Qld. There is the 50/50 funding deal between the Federal and State governments for the proposed Cross River Rail project.

How vital is this project and what would it actually do?

Dr Matthew Burke
is the Senior Research Fellow for Griffith University's Urban Research Program

Click --> here!

[somebody]

Shane,
*cough* books in the oven *cough*.

Funding costs being not that much different isn't a reason, it's adverse against the private sector doing.

Govts sectors are notorious for costing more to do the same in longer time for less efficency. Note a rule, but close to it historically.

Yes, that's why they contract out the actual construction in most cases.

[#Metro]

The reason you get the private sector to do and usually save money is because their borrowing costs are not that different, the companies building this are not your corner store and with almost gaurenteed returns by the state the risk is considered very low. The private sector benefits from multiple ownerships and similar projects over the world thus enabling internal learnings.

Govts sectors are notorious for costing more to do the same in longer time for less efficency. Note a rule, but close to it historically.

How is this any different to how it is normally done where the gov't goes out, borrows (either by drawing funds or bond issue sold by treasury) and then call for tenders and then construct it? The only difference seems to be the interest rate (will be slightly higher for privates as risk is transferred) and that the fact the borrowings appear in a company ledger.

No one suggested that public servants go out with shovels and start digging, I don't think they ever have (at least in recent history). My point is, what is the purpose of doing the borrowing from a private off-balance sheet account?

Remember, in any borrowing, the WHOLE LOAN has to be paid back PLUS interest.

[somebody]

A couple of good comments in the Brisbane times by Grumpy.

[#Metro]

Let's look at Investopedia

http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/cookthebooks.asp

Definition of 'Cook The Books'
A buzzword describing fraudulent activities performed by corporations in order to falsify their financial statements. Typically, cooking the books involves augmenting financial data to yield previously non-existent earnings.

Examples of techniques used to cook the books involve accelerating revenues, delaying expenses, manipulating pension plans and implementing synthetic leases.

Techniques:

Accelerating revenues - not seen here (but Gillard Gov't with the mining tax might have this claim levelled at it)

Delaying expenses - QLD Gov loves this one, I would say that the CRR separation of the scope into two parts definitely fits into this category. Would also be suitable for other transport projects as well, especially ones with cut corners.

Pension plan manipulation - maybe - QIC seems to be buying up a whole lot of QLD govt assets. Seems strange.

Synthetic leases - this looks a lot like the "Private sector funding" - purpose seems to be soley to keep the debt off the gov't balance sheet. Importantly, a debt is a debt whichever sector it is incurred in, and always requires loan to be paid back by interest. The fact that a private (shell corporation?) is an intermediary doesn't change the simple fact that future repayments must be paid off using taxpayer funds.

[#Metro]

Queensland. Big State. Big Failure.


Auckland, NZ's Cross River Rail project

Just use the funds earmarked for CRR to fly everyone out to NZ. It's actually cheaper.

[#Metro]

My point is simple.

1. Government ------> Private Shell Company ------> Loan
2. Government -------> Loan

What's the difference? In both cases a loan is generated, and must be paid off, principal and interest. In the first case there are fees, admin and profit margin plus higher interest rate added. In the first case the debt appears on a company balance sheet, in the second, a debt appears on the government's.

Debt obligation is debt obligation. The documents for CRR (ICRCS) clearly show that a BCR/NPV calculated from a private sector perspective will generate a NEGATIVE return. A BCR calculated from a public sector perspective will generate a positive return (mainly time savings x value of time x people that benefit). Nobody is going to make money from CRR unless they act as a lender, thus CRR is not commercially viable. The only money to be made is if you are a shell company which takes out a loan, adds a profit margin and admin fees, and then charges these inflated interest payments to the gov't.

No rational company invests in something with negative NPV.

[#Metro]

If the gov't wants it privately funded, then why can't it be 100% private sector funded? As Scott Emerson this, and I am sure we will uncover the truth very quickly.

There is no private sector free lunch.

[johnnigh]

The reason the feds can fund quite easily is 1) AAA credit rating that is not going anywhere soon - the big funds, international as well as Australian - need AAA repositories and these are pretty scarce due to the meltdown in Europe and the US. The ratings agencies are in the pay of the funds and do what they are told. And interest rates are very low, excellent time to borrow up big, despite the austerity/debt-horror mongers. 2) CRR and other economic infrastructure yields improvements in income and thus income tax and GST to name but two. These are collected by the feds, not the states, so finances the interest payments. And, by the way, even if the original bonds are repaid, they are simply replaced by new ones. No idea why the old UK consols haven't been adopted, perpetual bonds, never repaid: now would be a great time to issue them.

Emerson's argument that the state can't afford is thus half-true: rational policy would see feds supplying the money because they directly get the income generated, but they could pass it on to the state to pay the interest. This is partly done via GST and partly by the normal Loans Council or more recent institution that distributes federal income to the states.

[#Metro]

Govt could have built Airtrain, but they didn't. Privately funded and operated and hence higher cost as no subsidy. They had to write off a bit of capital intially, but I think longterm the line will be profitable on the investment.

This is a different model to what is proposed for CRR.

The point I am trying to get at is probably best done by analogy - if I take out a $1 000 000 loan directly, then I have to pay back $1 000 000 plus interest.

If I get a private family member to take out a $1 000 000 loan on my behalf, then I have to pay back $1 000 000 plus interest plus any fees and profit margin they put on top of that.

Who took the loan out is not important. I still have to pay it back. So ultimately while it could be called "private sector financing" its still a debt that needs to be paid for in full plus interest.

Any private sector involvement for revenue by shops, offices etc will probably not exceed 1% of the project cost. Why? The infrastructure is incredibly expensive even some major banks don't make enough profit in one year to pay for CRR so what hope on earth does a coffee shop or a supermarket or even 200 x The Milton multistorey developments have to pay for even a fraction of CRR?

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail 21st May 2013 page 12

Rudd joins fight over rail project

[ozbob]

The reason the feds can fund quite easily is 1) AAA credit rating that is not going anywhere soon - the big funds, international as well as Australian - need AAA repositories and these are pretty scarce due to the meltdown in Europe and the US. The ratings agencies are in the pay of the funds and do what they are told. And interest rates are very low, excellent time to borrow up big, despite the austerity/debt-horror mongers. 2) CRR and other economic infrastructure yields improvements in income and thus income tax and GST to name but two. These are collected by the feds, not the states, so finances the interest payments. And, by the way, even if the original bonds are repaid, they are simply replaced by new ones. No idea why the old UK consols haven't been adopted, perpetual bonds, never repaid: now would be a great time to issue them.

Emerson's argument that the state can't afford is thus half-true: rational policy would see feds supplying the money because they directly get the income generated, but they could pass it on to the state to pay the interest. This is partly done via GST and partly by the normal Loans Council or more recent institution that distributes federal income to the states.

Thanks John.  The states will not be able to fund directly now or in the future.  Stalemate. 

Taxes used to fund roads but not rail.  Hopeless ...  massive failure looms ...

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

Twitter

Jake Saulwick ‏@JakeSaulwick 2h

Tony Abbott repeats view today the federal govt should fund major roads, not commuter railways. Won't fund Brisbane's cross river rail.

[#Metro]

Brisbane City Council will have to fund Cross River Rail 

That's going to set the cat amongst the pigeons!

[ozbob]

BCC already has a major ' legacy ' around the ratepayers necks ...

I am looking forward to the ' 2000 express buses daily ' ....

What a mob of incompetent fools - council, state and federal governments ...

Do you think Prof would like to paint Dinos on the trains and buses?

[ozbob]

From the ABC News click here!

Abbott denounces Government's Brisbane rail funding pledge

Abbott denounces Government's Brisbane rail funding pledge
By Brad Ryan

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has dismissed the Federal Government's budget pledge for Brisbane's Cross River Rail plan.

Last week, Treasurer Wayne Swan promised $715 million for the $5 billion project.

But federal Labor is locked in a funding stoush with the Queensland Government.

Member for Griffith Kevin Rudd says the State Government is playing politics with the budget offer, which was precisely what it had asked for.

Meanwhile, west of Brisbane today, Mr Abbott has said the Federal Government is not being "fair dinkum".

"It's more of the kind of wild stuff that we get from a desperate Government," he said.

"Now, our position is that the number one infrastructure priority for the Commonwealth here in Brisbane is the Gateway Motorway upgrade.

"We've committed $1 billion to that."

The Queensland Government says some of the promised funding would end up redirected through the GST process.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls has described the funding pledge as smoke and mirrors.
'Deeply political'

But the Federal Government says it is based on a dollar-for-dollar deal it struck with State Transport Minister Scott Emerson.

Mr Rudd says the project is vital to take pressure off Brisbane's Story and Captain Cook bridges.

He revealed correspondence he says proves the State Government has been offered exactly what it sought.

"What has happened here is deeply political and it's got nothing to do with the truth," he said.

"What they've done is to try and rewrite the history, rewrite how much they asked for, rewrite the conditions under which they sought that $750 million and here's their problem - it's here in black and white."

Mr Rudd says Mr Emerson wrote to Federal Infrastructure and Transport Minister Anthony Albanese, asking for a contribution "estimated in the order of $750 million dollars and that this would be matched by the Queensland Government".

"One letter from Scott Emerson in his own handwriting, signed, and one from Albo's office going back to him saying we accept all your conditions, including on the GST," Mr Rudd said.
Gesture, not policy

The Federal Opposition has promised no funds for the project.

Speaking today at Ipswich, west of Brisbane, Mr Abbott has said the Federal Government's offer is not genuine.

"If it was fair dinkum, it would have made a commitment that actually enabled the thing to go ahead," he said.

"And as the State Government has made crystal clear, the commitment as it stands is not enough to make it go ahead so it's really a gesture, not a policy.

"It's more of the kind of wild stuff that we get from a desperate Government.

"Now, our position is that the number one infrastructure priority for the Commonwealth here in Brisbane is the Gateway Motorway upgrade.

"We've committed $1 billion to that."

Mr Abbott says that project will be underway "within 12 months of a change of government".

The Federal Government has also committed $718 million for the Gateway Motorway between Nudgee and the Bruce Highway.

Mr Emerson has pledged to lobby both sides of politics for federal funding for the Cross River Rail project.

He has previously expressed disappointment that the Federal Coalition had pledged no funding.

But Mr Abbott says the Commonwealth should only pay for major road and freight rail projects, to avoid funding fights between federal and state governments.

"We should stick to that which we have traditionally done, so that the Commonwealth does its thing, the state does its thing and we don't have the kind of opportunities for buck-passing and blame-gaming that have flourished under this Government."

The Cross River Rail project involves running trains under the Brisbane River between Yeerongpilly and Victoria Park.

The proposed funding arrangements would also require contributions from the private sector.

[#Metro]

The situation truly is TERMINAL. Idiot politicians left, right, centre, couldn't even organise a BBQ!
Fire them all!

Time to call for redirection of funding to an emergency citizen exit programme, fly everyone out of Brisbane, give them political asylum in Auckland NZ. Whole of NZ has about 4 million people, plenty of space, food, etc. No visa required and full work rights offered.

[ozbob]

CRR is dead.  It was mortally wounded when the former ALP Government shunted it back in time.  The Vic ALP  mob in contrast stuck to their guns and RRL is full steam ahead.

As far as any meaningful improvements from the present state government I am not really confident.

They haven't really delivered on anything yet.  Fares stuffed, buses stuffed, rail stuffed, infrastructure stuffed.

Blame politics for infrastructure funding failures, but things they can do something about, they seem unable or unwilling.

Brisbane is going to be a nice place to leave in the not to do distant future.  Road congestion issues will be terminal.

[#Metro]

Replace tram with CRR..

[ozbob]

Until the vertical funding imbalance is changed urban public transport projects are dead.

MBRL will continue as it is already commenced.

The problem now of course is a massive one, more demands on the core sections of the network.  We will see some stop gap solutions, signalling, altered train paths, peak fare penalty.

TMR hopefully have learned a few lessons from the Gold Coast light rail but are still labouring with old thinking in the main.  I really think there is a need to clear out some of the rail planners out of TMR.  At least a new position was advertised a while back.

I think the next rail tunnel in Brisbane will be a true metro tunnel, instituted as a result of the transport meltdown that will progressively impact over the next 5 to 10 years.

Vale CRR!

[ozbob]

From the Couriermail click here!

Petty politics must not prevent progress

Petty politics must not prevent progress

    by: Anthony Albanese
    From: The Courier-Mail
    May 22, 2013 12:00AM

THE 2013 federal Budget provided more funding for Queensland transport infrastructure than any budget since Federation, a fact missing from LNP state MP Scott Emerson's piece in these pages on Monday.

This year's Budget provided support for both road and rail funding in Brisbane, with new investment in the Cross River Rail project, the Gateway North upgrade and the Darra to Rocklea section of the Ipswich Motorway. This is a strong, smart and fair investment to keep Brisbane moving.

And this builds on the federal Labor Government's nation-building investment, which has seen the upgrade of the Ipswich Motorway between Dinmore and Goodna and improvements to the Pacific Motorway delivered. Promised, funded, built and opened.

Other federally funded projects are also under way, such as the long-overdue Moreton Bay Rail Link and the Legacy Way project. These projects are creating thousands of jobs and will help Brisbane grow.

We are also making a record investment in the regions, with $5.7 billion for Queensland's most important road, the Bruce Highway, and we have quadrupled funding to improve the Warrego Highway.

This is real money, for real projects, that will make a real difference to communities right across Queensland.

The Federal Government has established an orderly and considered approach to infrastructure investment. We established Infrastructure Australia to undertake independent assessments. We have worked closely with the Queensland Government to make sure we respond to its key priorities.

The Cross River Rail project is a case in point. It was identified as ready to proceed by Infrastructure Australia. I worked through funding arrangements with the Queensland Government - $715 million from each government upfront. Then a 50-50 split on future availability payments. A Federal Government guarantee on private debt.

The Queensland Government's final request, after the funding profile was agreed, was to ask for the project to get concessional GST treatment. The Federal Government agreed.

Queensland asked and the Federal Government delivered. All done in writing, through an exchange of letters. Now, the Queensland Transport Minister is complaining in spite of the fact he got exactly what he asked for. It is extraordinary the Queensland Minister is now seeking to create a fake argument rather than deliver this critical project.

The counterproductive position is even more inexplicable given Tony Abbott and the Federal Coalition have made clear they will not fund any urban rail projects - even a project such as Cross River Rail, which will transform and shape the way this great city works and grows.

This is a project that would take 14,000 cars off Brisbane's roads. It would allow an extra 17,000 people to travel on the rail network during peak hours. A project that would allow more services to the western and northern suburbs as well as the Gold and Sunshine coasts.

If Cross River Rail does not proceed, Brisbane will be in gridlock.

Federal Labor knows it and is prepared to act. Some in the Queensland Government know it too, but are looking to distract attention from their loss of an internal LNP argument.

It is time for petty politics to be put aside and for this critical project to be delivered. The people of Brisbane deserve nothing less.

- Anthony Albanese is the Federal Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development.

[#Metro]

The Federal Government
The State Government
The BCC

Could not organise a BBQ!

[ozbob]

The Federal Government
The State Government
The BCC

Could not organise a BBQ!

How about a birthday party at the Golden Arches?  Probably fail on that one as well ...

  <-- the solution

[Stillwater]

CRR - Innovative project killed off by politics.  Now dead in the water, as Coalition is likely to get up at the next election in September.  The state government has scored an F fail mark for fare review, the next stage of the train timetable overhaul, the bus review you have when you don't have a bus review and then give it to someone else, now an F on the big game changer for public transport in Brisbane.  Can't Mr Emerson see the price we have to pay while he plays politics?  He sees it as a game, but it is not Monopoly money he is losing.

[ozbob]

There has been a media get-together this morning with Abbott Newman and Emerson.

Re-announcing funding for gateway.  Some tweets here --> http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=8248.msg126503#msg126503

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Abbott rules out funding Cross River Rail

Abbott rules out funding Cross River Rail

Opposition Leader Tony Abbott has revealed the Coalition will not fund Brisbane's Cross River Rail project if it wins government, prompting an early election issue for the people of south east Queensland.

The project, in planning for five years, would provide a second rail crossing from Brisbane's southside to its northside.

The city's only rail crossing will become choked in 2016, both political parties have agreed.

In Tuesday's budget federal Labor agreed to a written request from the Queensland Government to provide $715 million over the next four years, plus a 50 per cent concession on GST payments in order to start the project.
Advertisement

The Queensland Government proposed to match the $715 million offer.

However, this morning Mr Abbott told reporters in Brisbane the Opposition believed it could not afford the project and it was off the party's agenda.

"I am not saying it is not an important project," he said.

"Of course it is an important project, but each level of government has got to stick to the things that are it's prime area of responsibility."

Mr Abbott said he understood why Queensland Premier Campbell Newman and Transport Minister Scott Emerson wanted to push ahead with the project.

"And we will continue to study that and, were the fiscal situation very different, we might be in a position to help.

This morning Mr Abbott repeated the promise he made twice last year to provide $1 billion to widen the Gateway Motorway to six lanes from Nudgee to the Deagon Deviation Road.

[SurfRail]

[Derwan]

The BT story has been updated with Campbell's response:

"Premier Newman said he would not accept Labor's offer for the project after hearing that Mr Abbott would not fund a portion of the $5 billion project."

So that's pretty much it. He won't accept Labor's offer and the coalition won't offer anything.  CRR is officially scuttled!

[colinw]

I would like to say I am surprised, but sadly this has played out about how I expected it to once Newman was elected Premier. It appears that the once great Liberal party has fallen prey to a form of madness akin to the Tea Party movement in the USA.  Even Thatcher's conservatives as their worst didn't skimp on critical infrastructure.

Anyway, I'm all done here.  There is quite simply no point in continuing.

See you all on the roads (although given that I have just started applying for jobs overseas that is unlikely to be a Brisbane road).

My official position is that Brisbane & SEQ can rot in hell for all I care.

[ozbob]

I hear ya Col.  I am saving up for a Segway   

I have started to look at property on the Belgrave to Gembrook line (Puffing Billy).  I figure that will have more regular rail services than most of Queensland, steam hauled except for total fire ban days ... lol

[curator49]

This is a disaster for Queensland and Australia. You need reliable public transport to the financial districts of each capital city and that does not mean more roads for a bus service that is broken.

I was going to vote for the Coalition but not anymore.

[somebody]

I would like to say I am surprised, but sadly this has played out about how I expected it to once Newman was elected Premier. It appears that the once great Liberal party has fallen prey to a form of madness akin to the Tea Party movement in the USA.  Even Thatcher's conservatives as their worst didn't skimp on critical infrastructure.

Me too but I also think that it isn't all over yet.

Anyway, I'm all done here.  There is quite simply no point in continuing.

See you all on the roads (although given that I have just started applying for jobs overseas that is unlikely to be a Brisbane road).

My official position is that Brisbane & SEQ can rot in hell for all I care.

I hear you, but then Sydney* is little better.  Melbourne has cr%p weather, Auckland is Auckland, Christchurch had the quake (and wasn't good before it), Adelaide is a bit of a hole.  That leaves Perth or Wellington, I guess.

* While you can put in a bus lane and even take an existing general purpose lane while building a toll road alternative, you can't actually run too many buses in it.  In Brisbane you can run as many empty buses as you like, but you can't put in any bus lanes.  That's only one example.  Both places share an infrastructure fetish to a degree, although its many times worse here.

[#Metro]

I think what will happen is that this will force businesses out of the CBD (Business Exodus) as there will simply now be no way for workers to get into the CBD.

Places around Carindale, Garden City and other office might take off as firms relocate to suburban office parks like 8 Mile Plains etc. Not necessarily a bad thing.

This is a pretty major development, it is going to change the composition of Brisbane in a very major way.

http://blogs.crikey.com.au/theurbanist/2013/05/01/what-if-no-new-city-centre-rail-lines-were-built/

[colinw]

I hear you, but then Sydney* is little better.  Melbourne has cr%p weather, Auckland is Auckland, Christchurch had the quake (and wasn't good before it), Adelaide is a bit of a hole.  That leaves Perth or Wellington, I guess.

I'm looking somewhat further afield than that.  The culture of this country s**ts me off big time.

[colinw]

Places around Carindale, Garden City and other office might take off as firms relocate to suburban office parks like 8 Mile Plains etc. Not necessarily a bad thing.

I work in the tech park at Eight Mile Plains, in an office of some 120 people.  To the best of my knowledge I am one of two bus users in our entire office.

The reality is that the busway station is a long & unpleasant walk, particularly in bad weather (most direct path not even sealed & turns into a quagmire).

The 299 service to the Tech Park runs the wrong way (Tech Park to Busway in morning, busway to Tech Park in afternoon).  I can't say I've ever seen it carrying a passenger.

The 152, which stops at the door, dies before 5PM.

The 545 also runs past. It is vaguely useable, and if upgraded to BUZ would be a winner.

The 150 is sort of within range (Multicap stop, Padstow Road) but is also a very unpleasant walk.

I use the 554 to EMP busway station, and put up with the walk and mud on my shoes in wet weather. Once I have my license (not long now) that will be over, and I'll join the masses on the road - that is assuming my OS applications don't pay off beforehand.

Without a major improvement in services, and a reliable walkway to the busway, the working masses will continue to do as they do now and drive.  We now have insufficient parking the tech park and people are parking in all sorts of crazy places, including in the never used bus stops for the 299 on Brandl St.

Welcome to State Development & Town Planning SEQ style.

[somebody]

I hear you, but then Sydney* is little better.  Melbourne has cr%p weather, Auckland is Auckland, Christchurch had the quake (and wasn't good before it), Adelaide is a bit of a hole.  That leaves Perth or Wellington, I guess.

I'm looking somewhat further afield than that.  The culture of this country s**ts me off big time.

I struggle with getting the legal right to work, and don't speak any languages other than English.

[SurfRail]

It honestly starts looking like the Gold Coast will start to be more attractive to business than the capital city.  How profoundly rooted is that?

- New high-frequency bus routes (about the only good part left in the TransLink network review)
- Rapid transit and an operator committed to building extensions at its own cost, and damn the torpedoes when it comes to objections
- A council that believes in public transport
- PT operators that aren't at war with each other and the system manager
- Patronage goals and looking like the implementation of the means to actually achieve them

Gold Coast Gold Coast, uber alles...