Cross River Rail Project

[Jonno]

The big challenge is that the Gabba area has very little open space it. It has great access to it but not much in close walking distance! I think the site could have more housing/mixed-use along Stanley Street and the open space more centrally located.. The one way roads also need to be addressed with Stanley Street returning to the sole main road role! This allows for the removal of the off-ramp connection to Vulture Street! 

Ultimate Councillor Sri hasid not saying these are the only choices but is asking for far better consultation/community collaboration than currently.

[verbatim9]

There are Parks close by e.g. Southbank and Woolloongabba Rotary Park, Moorhens Recreational Reserve, Raymond Park and Kangaroo Point. There are already provisions put on place for open areas outside the stations coupled together with retail offerings such as cafes. The new buildings being built will also have roof top areas and other common outside areas. But an all year Aquatic Centre would be good. One with spa and steam facilities that are quite common in NSW, VIC and SA. A new Aquatic Centre could also be used as a training facility for the teams that train at the Gabba as well as nearby schools. It would get a lot of use from 6am-10pm 7days 364 days of the year.

The Ian Thorpe Aquatic Centre at Pyrmont is a good example of an inner urban Aquatic Centre that can fit in well with the proposed redevelopment of the Woolloongabba Station Precinct.

[SurfRail]

I doubt that idea is much of a goer since there are 2 Olympic pool complexes within 2km at Musgrave Park and Langlands Park - plus a number of others such as the UQ/QUT complexes - plus the Streets Beach - plus a bunch of private schools with their own.  There's no shortage of inner city swimming.

[verbatim9]

I doubt that idea is much of a goer since there are 2 Olympic pool complexes within 2km at Musgrave Park and Langlands Park - plus a number of others such as the UQ/QUT complexes - plus the Streets Beach - plus a bunch of private schools with their own.  There's no shortage of inner city swimming.

But for the proposed population growth there would be. These pools you just mentioned are already heavily booked throughout the week with squads and polo teams. There is a critical needs for extra lanes for public lap swimming in the CBD and inner core as well as Toowong. If the State and Council.want to achieve their Active lifestyle charter? Then these things need to be considered as well as implemented and constructed, while there is a window of opportunity.

[red dragin]

Having managed inner city apartment complexes with lap pools, particularly around that area, the demand is low.

The complex that is closest to the station site would have spent ~$3000 a year on chemicals for maybe ten people.

[SurfRail]

Maybe it's just me, but having lap pools strikes me as more of a luxury than a need.  What's more important is getting people living on top of and adjacent to the station so they can use it easily.

[aldonius]

The way to get actual good parkland is for some combo of state, council and developer money to buy up 2 or 4 back-to-back mid-block houses.

The Gabba site is good for offices, housing, specialty retail.

[verbatim9]

Build Australia----Tunnel Boring Machines arrive in Qld for Cross River Rail Tunneling

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1291487638218665984

[ozbob]

http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2020/8/4/tunnel-boring-machines-arrive-in-qld-to-dig-cross-river-rail-tunnels

Media Statements

Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

Tuesday, August 04, 2020

Tunnel boring machines arrive in Qld to dig Cross River Rail tunnels

Two massive Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) have arrived in Queensland to be fitted out and deployed to dig Cross River Rail's twin tunnels under the river in early 2021.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was another significant milestone in the progress of this transformational project.

"We know that to continue rebuilding Queensland's economy, we must forge ahead with job-creating infrastructure like Cross River Rail," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"Both of these TBMs weigh 1350 tonnes which is about as heavy as four Boeing 747s.

"They are the same machines that dug the Sydney Metro. Now they'll get a full refit and refurbishment at Herrenknecht's north-side facility, to prepare them to dig Brisbane's first underground.

"More than a dozen people have started working on the refit of the Cross River Rail TBMs, and that will increase to up to 35 people during peak activity – local jobs at a local factory." 

"We're also ready to give the machines new names for their new task."

State Development Minister Kate Jones said the TBMs will be launched from the Woolloongabba Station site and will each dig a tunnel under the Brisbane River to the Albert Street Station.

They will then continue to the new Roma Street Station before emerging at the project's northern portal at Normanby.

"Herrenknecht are specialist TBM manufacturers with a long track record in Brisbane, having worked on the Clem Jones Tunnel and Legacy Way," Ms Jones said.

"Cross River Rail will transform the way we travel and it will also leave behind a legacy of skilled workers trained by world-leaders in specialist trades."

Today the Minister inspected work at the Herrenknecht base at Pinkenba.

Herrenknecht is a German company with a regional HQ in Brisbane and an additional port facility located in Melbourne. Herrenknecht also has a presence in Sydney as and when it is assisting with Sydney based projects

Currently 16 workers are refitting the Tunnel Boring Machines at Pinkenba (including 14 locals and two specialists from Germany).

An additional 15 to 20 workers are expected to be working on the TBM'S over the next 9 months, all of whom will be locals.

Tunnel Boring Machine fast facts:

Two TBMs have been delivered in pieces to the Herrenknecht facility
The TBMs were previously used on the Sydney Metro project
They will be refitted and refurbished to suit the Cross River Rail project
At the peak of refurbishment, work will be done 24/7
Each TBM weighs 1350 tonnes and is 165 metres long
The front of the TBM is called the 'cutterhead' which acts as a drill that can tunnel through rock harder than concrete.
The cutter head measures 7.2 metres in diameter

TBMs will work at a rate of 30 metres per day and will line each tunnel with curved concrete segments as they go.
The TBMs will generate 290,000 cubic metres of spoil as they make way for the twin Cross River Rail tunnels.

Saint Barbara is the patron saint of tunnellers and miners and traditionally a shrine to St Barbara is established at worksites prior to commencement of tunnelling works.
ENDS

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1291761908345839621

[ozbob]

Good Morning lurkers ..  here is a little ditty for you.  Have a nice day now!

[ozbob]

In Queensland --> Boring work, but Cross River Rail project is already producing a hole lot of dirt

Tunnelling for Cross River Rail will remove enough rock and dirt to fill the Gabba. But planners have other uses in mind.

Two massive tunnel boring machines are being assembled to start work on the underground crossings required for the Cross River Rail project.

The machines were used on the Sydney Metro and will start their Brisbane work at Woolloongabba, digging under the river to the proposed Albert Street Station, then on to Roma Street Station before re-emerging at Normanby.

In the process, the machines and workers will help excavate approximately 1.425 million cubic metres of rock and dirt, known as spoil. That is enough to fill the Gabba stadium.

Already, before the machines have even been put on track, spoil has been distributed across Brisbane. Some 21,600 banked cubic metres has gone to BMI at Larapinta, where an old sand quarry is being rehabilitated, while 17,700 cubic metres went to TradeCoast Central.

Another 13,850 cubic metres went to the Neilsen Group at Brendale to be repurposed for sale, while 6,400m3 was used to prop up a private development at Ellen Street Carina. The haulage contracts give priority to the spoil being put to good use.

Sites at Swanbank and Pine Mountain have also been earmarked to receive the spoil, as well as, potentially, Brisbane Airport and the Port of Brisbane, although neither have formalised any such plans.

State Development Minister Kate Jones, who recently inspected work by the company Herrenknecht to prepare the machine, said the underground would transform the aboveground and support other projects.

"Right across southeast Queensland, other projects are benefitting from the spoil that we're excavating at Cross River Rail," Jones said.

"Construction is vital to rebuilding our economy. This is what Labor governments do.

"Without the Palaszczuk Government, this project would not be going ahead – the LNP tore up the funding agreement and continue to talk down this project.

"We'll continue to invest in major construction projects that drive our economic recovery."

While the boring machines will excavate the bulk of material, workers with earthmoving equipment have already been busy removing spoil at Boggo Road (27,100 banked cubic metres), Woolloongabba (26,300 cubic metres), Roma Street (11,200 cubic metres) and Albert Street (9050 cubic metres).

However, in the process the CFMEU has raised concerns over the management of asbestos removal at Albert Street, which today led to work being halted on all sites for a three-hour safety audit. The union had previously warned of a COVID-19 risk after a n Australian Building and Construction Commission official flew from Melbourne to Brisbane for meetings.

Among the CFMEU's many concerns is the role of contractor CPB, whose work in Victoria prompted Jones to tighten the compliance and oversight regime on Cross River Rail. CPB has also been involved in an ongoing dispute over its performance on the Gold Coast Light Rail project.

[kram0]

It begins....

https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/cross-river-rails-huge-cost-blowout-as-experts-ignored/news-story/913437eaa5d137faef375a4f47c0a6c4

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Cross River Rail's huge cost blowout as experts ignored

The Palaszczuk Government ignored expert advice and proceeded with a new Cross River Rail station in Jackie Trad's electorate that was littered with engineering and safety problems, in a bungle that has seen work stopped at the site and could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, secret documents have revealed.

The Palaszczuk Government ignored expert advice and proceeded with a flawed new Cross River Rail station in Jackie Trad's electorate in a bungle that could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars, explosive secret documents have revealed.

The series of leaked briefing notes and confidential papers have exposed how bidders for the $5.4 billion project, along with its delivery authority and technical team, all warned the proposed Boggo Road station was littered with engineering and safety problems.

However, the Government forged ahead anyway with its plan to build at Boggo Road and redevelop the old Dutton Park Station, rejecting a proposal for a single station on land behind Princess Alexandria Hospital that was cheaper and safer.

The second-term Labor administration signed a multibillion-dollar contract with a consortium to build the much-hyped underground rail link in June last year despite knowing the alignment did not meet state legislation, national rail laws or engineering standards.

Among the 45 identified flaws were warnings of "traction loss" in wet weather, significant wear on rollingstock due to the slope and curve of the track near Boggo Road as well as ongoing platform gap issues at Dutton Park.

The situation has now deteriorated with the consortium chosen to build Cross River Rail, Pulse, ordered six months ago to "stop all works based on the original design" at the southern end of the project.

An interdepartmental committee is attempting to find solutions which insiders say could cost between $600 and $900 million more than the alternative plan.

Pulse and the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority (CRRDA) are now at loggerheads, with the consortium demanding compensation under the terms of its contract which stipulates it can be paid up to $2 million a day for delays.

In a briefing note to former deputy premier Ms Trad on 26 February 2019, CRRDA argued the alternative "New Dutton Park" station would resolve design flaws, cut costs, reduce noise, inconvenience commuters less and involve fewer resumptions.

"There are expected to be cost benefits associated with the New Dutton Park Station compared with the Boggo Road option," it said. "More detailed material will be provided at the meeting with you."

The documents show that when the Government's highest decision-making body, the Cabinet Budget Review Committee, officially approved the contract on June 30 last year, the material warned about a "212m horizontal track curve", a "3 per cent track grade at Boggo Road" and a "platform gap at Dutton Park".

"It was noted that these derogations would require QR consideration and approval of a derogation from certain QR standards," it states.

Ms Trad was stripped of her responsibility for the project in September after The Courier-Mail revealed she had failed to declare her family had bought an investment property near the Boggo Road site.

In an April 20 briefing note to new Minister Kate Jones, CRRDA warned design work on the southern end of the project had been halted, the consortium was seeking delay compensation and QR continued to reject modifications because of the "cumulative impact to safety and operational reliability".

"Pulse is able to claim delay costs however the demonstration of actual delays is required," the note states. "The delay costs is up to $2 million per day in accordance with the project agreement."

State Development Minister Ms Jones confirmed a solution had still not been found but any additional costs would result in changes to the project elsewhere.

"We know that the southern area is one of the most challenging sections of the rail network," she said.

"Any costs associated with the detailed design and the alignment must be absorbed within the existing budget allocation."

A CRRDA spokesman refused to say whether Pulse had received compensation.

Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington said taxpayers would foot the bill for Labor's decision to ignore the experts in an effort to help Ms Trad get re-elected.

"By ignoring independent advice, the Palaszczuk Government has left taxpayers exposed to a massive compensation claim by the contractor," she said.

"Annastacia Palaszczuk's priorities are all wrong when she is willing to give a marginal Labor seat a blank cheque but won't repair Paradise Dam and build the full sized Rookwood Weir."

TIMELINE: THE ROUTE OF ALL THE PROBLEMS

October 2017 – Cross River Rail board meeting briefed on challenges with proposed Boggo Road Station and tunnel.

February 2019 – Cross River Rail Delivery Authority recommends in briefing note to then deputy premier Jackie Trad that the Government progress with "New Dutton Park" station.

March 2019 – Briefing note warning Trad that the Government must make a decision on CRR bidders imminently or risk delays and cost blowouts.

April 2019 – Senior ministers ignore expert advice about engineering flaws and award contract that includes a Boggo Road Station.

June 2019 – Cabinet Budget Review Committee warned again of design flaws.

June 2019 – Winning consortium announced without Queensland Rail approval of design.

July 2019 – The Courier-Mail reveals Trad and her husband purchased a property near the proposed Boggo Road station which she has failed to properly declare.

July 2019 – Multi-departmental committee established to resolve technical issues with design.

September 2019 – Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk strips Trad of responsibility for Cross River Rail.

February 2020 – Pulse Consortium ordered to stop work on the southern end of Cross River Rail project.

April 2020 – Pulse Consortium files claim for compensation in relation to work suspension.

April 2020 – New Cross River Rail Minister Kate Jones warned QR would not approve proposed design changes at Boggo Road Station due to "cumulative impact to safety and operational reliability.

We have always known that there were issues at Boggo Road, particularly due to the location of the existing science precinct and a  constrained location. (Knew this many years ago). Appears that reality is starting to bite.  There are concerns with Cross River Rail and this is another.  Cross River Rail - resistant to public scrutiny.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1292843828357996544

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Cross River Rail bungle begging for independent inquiry

Cross River Rail will include two stations that are barely more than a stones' throw apart. One is difficult to upgrade to meet disability standards while the other leads to an engineering nightmare. With the cost implications massive, this issue is begging for a proper independent inquiry, writes Steven Wardill.

Is the Palaszczuk Government about to have a scandal of health payroll proportions?

The series of leaked briefing notes and internal documents into Cross River Rail's Boggo Road Station sure paint a picture of questionable decision making and intransigence that will come at a huge cost to taxpayers.

Experts were ignored and decisions taken and no-one seems able to adequately explain why.

On paper, what the Government is proceeding with certainly doesn't make a whole lot of sense.

Cross River Rail will include two stations, a redeveloped Dutton Park and a new stop at Boggo Road, that are barely more than a stones' throw apart.

Dutton Park is on a curve and is difficult to upgrade to meet disability standards while Boggo Road leads to an engineering nightmare.

The project's delivery authority, technical experts and bidders all came up with an eloquent solution that would have done away with these issues by building a single station in between at the back of Princess Alexandria Hospital on land already owned by Queensland Rail.

It would have given patients and visitors direct access to the hospital and delivered multi-modal solutions with Brisbane Metro.

But it was rejected and a multi-billion dollar contract signed despite well-known flaws.

Why?

Could it be something as simple as Labor promising repeatedly that Dutton Park station would remain when it opposed the LNP's alternative tunnel plan?

Did then minister, Jackie Trad, not want to explain why she was delivering only four stations, not five?

With the cost implications massive, this issue is begging for a proper independent inquiry.

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/ozbob13/status/1292845878617600000

[ozbob]

Like this one lurkers? 

#youarewelcome ....

[ozbob]

https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=2034.msg238713#msg238713

... State Development Minister Ms Jones confirmed a solution had still not been found but any additional costs would result in changes to the project elsewhere.

"We know that the southern area is one of the most challenging sections of the rail network," she said.

"Any costs associated with the detailed design and the alignment must be absorbed within the existing budget allocation." ...

Whoa ....  half baked service now arriving at Albert Street station ..

... June 2019 – Winning consortium announced without Queensland Rail approval of design. ...

Been there before hey?  Rail operator pushed aside will result in another expensive debacle.

Be worried, and very fuking concerned ...

I have zero confidence in the ability of the transport authorities to get this right. 

Bumblers are still there bumbling ...  no accountability in this state. 

[ozbob]

The Member for Chatsworth, Shadow Minister for Transport and Main Roads has just made a speech in Queensland Parliament ' Matters of Public Interest ' questioning the costs of Cross River Rail.  I think he indicated that he has written to the Auditor General's Office requesting an audit of the project (to be confirmed in Hansard).

Minister for Transport and Main Roads is responding, but not addressing the matters raised by the Member for Chatsworth, just politicking in the main.

Hansard will be available later.

From the provision Hansard: https://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/documents/hansard/2020/2020_07_14_DAILY.pdf

Cross River Rail

Mr MINNIKIN (Chatsworth—LNP) (2.38 pm): There is a complete lack of transparency by the Labor government around the Cross River Rail project. It leads to the conclusion that the stated cost of delivery has been significantly understated. Key elements have been removed from financial scrutiny and so there is a great deal about the project costs we do not know. What is the full cost of delivering the Cross River Rail project? Quite simply, we do not know. Let us try and develop a more complete picture of the full costs than the answer provided to question on notice No. 101 earlier this year which asked for the current estimated cost of delivering the entire project. The minister went on to indicate that the Palaszczuk government's commitment was $5.4 billion. This figure seems to be significantly understated when we consider all the ancillary parts needed for it to deliver the stated objective of simply allowing more trains to run more often. Just like the state budget, disclosure of the full costs involved to deliver Cross River Rail continue to be hidden away.

Cross River Rail clearly involves much more than 10 kilometres of new rail lines and a couple of tunnels. These are simply the foundations of the project, if you like—just like the foundations for a new house. We all understand that a new house needs a frame, a roof, electrical wiring, insulation and landscaping to make it fit for purpose. Similarly, to be fit for purpose and to activate the network, the Cross River Rail project will require new rolling stock, a signalling and train control system, an upgraded automatic train protection system, new underground stations as well as upgrades to existing stations, additional station/portal work, servicing the public-private partnership costs for operations—without even mentioning the provision for general cost overruns. I do not have the resources that the responsible minister and the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority have available. Nevertheless, given my business background, I have endeavoured to assign some indicative costings to the ancillary works required to enable more trains to run more often. For more trains to run, it is patently clear that we need to purchase more trains. New rolling stock of up to 40 new NGR train sets would cost in the vicinity of $3 billion. With the new train sets operating on the CRR, a new signalling and control system will be required. This is essential for signalling and rail traffic management. The European Train Control System, ETCS, will initially be rolled out between the Milton and Northgate and the Northgate to Salisbury track sections which incorporates the CBD surface and underground stations. The ETCS is estimated to cost $2 billion.

To ensure the integration and safety of the system, an automatic train protection, ATP, system will still be required for the legacy QR fleet to continually check that the speed of a train is compatible with the permitted speed allowed by signalling, including automatic stop. The cost to bring all this up to speed and to be compatible with the ECTS will involve a further $1 billion. The estimated cost of $2 billion for the PPP operations over the life of the tunnel have not been factored into the project cost, it would appear. The reason behind the need for CRR was to free up the network, particularly the bottleneck created on the Gold Coast line between Kuraby and Beenleigh. Without this upgrade, it is not possible to get above the current number of trains crossing this side of the river. The cost of the major upgrades for this section is estimated at up to $2.8 billion. It is not apparent that specific provision has been made for general cost overruns, estimated to be in the order of $2 billion. Beyond this, upgrades to many other stations will also be required to ensure their compliance. There will be more trains with more impact. Without the removal of these level crossings, motorists will obviously be stuck at these crossings for much longer than is presently the case. Assigning a cost for these would again be in the billions of dollars.

Whilst I would be happy for the government to challenge or correct these figures, it would seem the Cross River Rail project could end up being closer to $20 billion rather than the $5.4 billion as stated. Queensland is the only state to cancel its budget. This means the Palaszczuk Labor government has no economic plan. With no budget it means Labor is flying blind through the biggest economic crisis in almost a century. This can equally be ascribed to the financial situation of the Cross River Rail project. In Auditor-General's report No. 11, it says at page 1 that the financial performance of the Queensland government has been reduced over the last two financial years. The taxpayers of Queensland have the right to know the true cost of the CRR project. It is time for this Labor
administration to come clean on the project costs to avoid a Cross River Rail fail.

Today, I have written to the Queensland Auditor-General and requested he arrange for an urgent performance audit of the project so that Queenslanders will know how much of their money is to be spent. I now table a copy of this letter for the benefit of the House.


Hon. MC BAILEY (Miller—ALP) (Minister for Transport and Main Roads) (2.44 pm):

It is always an absolute pleasure to follow the member for Chatsworth—the member who is my shadow in this place and has not asked me a question since 2018. He comes in here and waxes lyrical. He waves around big figures. He ignores the facts. The facts are that the Cross River Rail project in its first iteration could have been built by Campbell Newman for $115 million a year over six years—in its full iteration a $8 billion project—and he said no. He said, 'I do not want to embarrass Tony Abbott, my mate.' He sold out Queensland to cut the Cross River Rail project. We saw nothing under the LNP government other than cuts. There was $600 million worth of cuts to road transport. They cut the Cross River Rail project. They cut people's jobs. They cut infrastructure. That is all we saw from them. The economy nosedived to 0.7 per cent growth. Unemployment skyrocketed into the sevens because they mismanaged the economy. They mismanaged public transport. Let us look at the history of the LNP when it comes to Cross River Rail. They opposed it. They cut it when they were in government. In opposition under the leadership of the member for Clayfield they still opposed it and railed against it all over the state. Then they kind of supported it. Then they opposed it again. Only 20 minutes ago we heard the member for Everton say that Cross River Rail is a waste of money. Now they oppose the project. It is difficult to keep up with the opposition. It depends on what day it is and on who is speaking.

We know that we cannot get public transport infrastructure built under the LNP because we know that they do not believe in it. They cut it when they were in government. They did not duplicate the rail line to the Sunshine Coast like we did. They did not build light rail on the Gold Coast like we did. They did not duplicate the rail line to Helensvale and Coomera like we did. They are not investing in Cross River Rail like this government does. If we want to bust congestion we have to deal with rail. That is what this government is doing. We will not be lectured to and have laughable figures bandied around by the member for Chatsworth who was the assistant minister for public transport under Campbell Newman. He was certainly responsible in part for ordering trains from overseas that were not compliant and led the then leader of the opposition to say that it would be 36 years before we got back to full timetable and then six weeks later we were back to full timetable. When it comes to the post-election shadow front bench I wish the member for Chatsworth good luck.

We cannot trust the LNP with public transport. What we saw under them was that no Queensland Rail train drivers started training for an entire year—2014. There was a net reduction of 48 drivers when they were in power. Knowing full well that they had six new stations and a whole new line starting in 2016 and we were holding the Commonwealth Games, they reduced the number of train drivers by 48. That is absolute incompetence. We have seen record recruitment under this government. At this point there has been a net increase of 168 driver and 213 qualified guards. That is a net figure. In terms of a gross figure, we have absolutely met the targets of 200 each as outlined in the Strachan report. What we have seen are 462 extra weekly services come into play between May and July 2019. We have added services multiple times throughout this term. Queensland Rail is now delivering 740 more weekly services than ever before in South-East Queensland. That has only been possible because of our record train crew recruitment. A total of 78 external candidates from the August 2017 campaign commenced driver training between the middle of last year and January this year. Nineteen ex-QR drivers have graduated and are out working on the network. We love their work. A total of 144 external applicants were also offered positions as guards. We will continue to recruit and manage the rail system in a way that is competent, unlike those opposite.

In relation to overtime, I inform the House of a few facts rather than a few furphies put forward by those opposite. In 2018-19 the average hours of overtime worked by an average train driver decreased by 18.09 per cent compared with 2016-17. In fact, overtime increased by 25 per cent in the last year of the Newman government. Why? That is because they were not training any train drivers. We saw a reduction of 48 drivers. It is not too difficult to work out. This government believes in transport infrastructure. We are undertaking the road upgrades that are needed. We are building the heavy rail projects that are absolutely critical for the whole of South-East Queensland, including on the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. We are building light rail on the Gold Coast. This government invests in jobs and invests in infrastructure for a growing South-East Queensland population. We cannot take a risk on those opposite who do not understand public transport, only know how to cut, only know how to sack and only know how to sell. Whatever promises they make, we know that that is in their DNA and that is what they will do if they get half a chance.

FWIW, I question the relevance of the answer given by the Minister. They have been in power for 5.5 years, and CRR has been wholly rescoped during their time in government, so they are entirely accountable for it.

Informed sources suggest the QAG has not agreed to Mr Minnikin's request for an ' urgent performance audit '.  They ignored our request to audit the NGR debacle too, so plenty of poor form there.  What is point of the QAG ?

[Stillwater]

We have been here before ... bungling leading to on-the-run solutions ... an inflexible fixed budget, meaning that the scope of works must be adjusted across the full length of the project, not just where the problem has been identified - identified well in advance, but seemingly ignored, with the consequences now evident. And a bill to the taxpayer, reportedly running at $2m a day.

These words are a worry: "QR continued to reject modifications because of the 'cumulative impact to safety and operational reliability'."

Behind the scenes, tremendous pressure will be placed on QR to accept a project where SAFETY and OPERATIONAL RELIABILITY are compromised. QR will be portrayed as 'holding things up' and blamed for being too hard-headed and inflexible. This should not be the case.  The project went ahead without QR approving the design!

What does an extra $900m to fix the problem do for the benefit-cost ratio?  No wonder the state government is refusing to reveal the rail system operational benefits of CRR and is pouring millions into a PR advertising campaign designed to make us feel good about CRR.  A glitz and glamour advertising campaign for CRR designed to make the government look good before a state election less than 2 months away is papering over the cracks.

It is questionable to have the public purse pay for this advertising so close to an election. The ads should have a tag line that says "written and authorised by the Queensland Labor Party".

Let's hope the Opposition shows its stuff in getting to the bottom of this with some meaningful detective work.  I will reach for the vomit bag is Deb Frecklington reduces this to just a 10-sec TV news grab along the lines of: "Well, Annastacia Palaszczuk has proven yet again that she can't be trusted to spend billions of dollars in taxpayer funds wisely. Labor has let Queenslanders down yet again.  .... blah, blah, blah.'

In the current setting, the politics will play big, when what is needed is some heavy wading through the sewer of ineptitude .. and that probably is happening frantically behind the scenes by the people who got us here in the first place.

At $2m a day additional cost and a $900m price tag overall, it is hard to see that little bits of savings can be found here and there across the project to fix the problem. More than likely, major projects elsewhere in SEQ will be put back years so the fire hose that spits dollar coins can be turned on this particular inferno.

[ozbob]

^

Well put Mr Stillwater ...

[kram0]

Now is the time to remind opposition of secret operational plan.

Keep it front and centre.

[Gazza]

Obviously, having a station at Boggo Rd is the correct choice because there needed to be a way to interchange with the Cleveland line/southbank/busway, and having a station on PAH land would have not allowed this.

Where it has gone to sh%t is the political insistence that Dutton Park remained unchanged, which has forced an excessive grade into the tunnel.

My personal view is that they could force dutton park further back to allow the grades to be eased.

[timh]

Obviously, having a station at Boggo Rd is the correct choice because there needed to be a way to interchange with the Cleveland line/southbank/busway, and having a station on PAH land would have not allowed this.

Where it has gone to sh%t is the political insistence that Dutton Park remained unchanged, which has forced an excessive grade into the tunnel.

My personal view is that they could force dutton park further back to allow the grades to be eased.

Honestly I think Dutton Park station is so close it's almost justifiable just to close it.

[kram0]

Obviously, having a station at Boggo Rd is the correct choice because there needed to be a way to interchange with the Cleveland line/southbank/busway, and having a station on PAH land would have not allowed this.

Where it has gone to sh%t is the political insistence that Dutton Park remained unchanged, which has forced an excessive grade into the tunnel.

My personal view is that they could force dutton park further back to allow the grades to be eased.

Honestly I think Dutton Park station is so close it's almost justifiable just to close it.

I know what you are saying, but the residents on the southern side of the PA in Annerley will argue otherwise.

I messaged a mate who is a senior engineer on CRR to get his no BS approach on what the paper has reported today.

I got a firm 'NO COMMENT' back which tells me 'this is a giant f%^k up in the making.

[BrizCommuter]

All of this wouldn't be an issue if the more sensible (and more expensive) Yeerongpilly Portal hasn't been removed from the plans by Newman et al.

[ozbob]

Update:  https://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/cross-river-rails-huge-cost-blowout-as-experts-ignored/news-story/913437eaa5d137faef375a4f47c0a6c4

THE Palaszczuk Government has defended its choice to build a problematic new Cross River Rail Station at Boggo Road, saying the New Dutton station would have inconvenienced too many people.

It comes in response to the Courier-Mail revelation that secret documents show the government ignored expert advice and proceeded with a flawed new Cross River Rail station in Jackie Trad's electorate in a bungle that could cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars.

The series of leaked briefing notes and confidential papers have exposed how bidders for the $5.4 billion project, along with its delivery authority and technical team, all warned the proposed Boggo Road station was littered with engineering and safety problems.

However, the Government forged ahead anyway with its plan to build at Boggo Road and redevelop the old Dutton Park Station, rejecting a proposal for a single station on land behind Princess Alexandria Hospital that was cheaper and safer.

But the Minister responsible for Cross River Rail, Kate Jones, told parliament on Tuesday she could confirm the government did examine the New Dutton station but decided against it and went for the "superior option".

She said people on the Cleveland line would have had to change stations, walking 9 minutes to connect to the Cross River Rail, under the New Dutton plan.

"For example, Bayside and eastern suburbs residents on the Cleveland line would have been significantly disadvantaged by the New Dutton station rather than the Boggo Road station," she said.

That was not a "suitable solution" for those residents, she said.

She said the Boggo Road interchange gave Cleveland and Gold Coast commuters a direct link to the CRR.

She said the engineers were now confident a design solution could be finalised.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey said separating the Cleveland and Gold Coast lines would have "forced commuters travelling between those lines who currently have an easy transfer option to walk 9 minutes".

"It would have been a disincentive to use the train at all," he said.

"Queensland Rail has confirmed all technical aspects have been resolved."

In Question Time, Opposition Leader Deb Frecklington asked why the government overruled expert advice against the Boggo Road station, which a whistleblower had suggested could cost the government up to $1 billion.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the government would build the project, create jobs and improve travel times.

"If the government had not pursued intermodal connection ... commuters would have had to walk 8 to 9 minutes to get to a station ... and the member of Cleveland would have been coming in here and complaining," she said.

Ms Jones said any costs associated with the redesign would be absolved into the cost of the entire project.

"This alignment is going to have to be dealt with and we are dealing with it appropriately," she said. ...

If the design has not been finalised how can Queensland Rail confirm that all technical issues have been resolved?

[ozbob]

All of this wouldn't be an issue if the more sensible (and more expensive) Yeerongpilly Portal hasn't been removed from the plans by Newman et al.

Yes,  a good solid plan, supported by IA.  Delaying the project (Labor) and then canning it (LNP) has been a bad bad thing.

Obviously, having a station at Boggo Rd is the correct choice because there needed to be a way to interchange with the Cleveland line/southbank/busway, and having a station on PAH land would have not allowed this.

Where it has gone to sh%t is the political insistence that Dutton Park remained unchanged, which has forced an excessive grade into the tunnel.

My personal view is that they could force dutton park further back to allow the grades to be eased.

That might be the best solution now.

[BrizCommuter]

...or just remove Dutton Park completely.

A new blog post on Cross River Rail's Board.
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2020/08/cross-river-rail-board-stupid.html

[Jonno]

Obviously, having a station at Boggo Rd is the correct choice because there needed to be a way to interchange with the Cleveland line/southbank/busway, and having a station on PAH land would have not allowed this.

Where it has gone to sh%t is the political insistence that Dutton Park remained unchanged, which has forced an excessive grade into the tunnel.

My personal view is that they could force dutton park further back to allow the grades to be eased.

Honestly I think Dutton Park station is so close it's almost justifiable just to close it.

I know what you are saying, but the residents on the southern side of the PA in Annerley will argue otherwise.

I messaged a mate who is a senior engineer on CRR to get his no BS approach on what the paper has reported today.

I got a firm 'NO COMMENT' back which tells me 'this is a giant f%^k up in the making.

Or this whole things is being blown up for political reasons not because the LNP care about the outcome or would prefer it to spent in building more freeways!! I be saying No Comment too!!

[STB]

To me, it makes far more sense for the new platforms to be located where it's being built, than the Engineers idea of sticking it at the back of the PA Hospital.  Frankly the residents who threw up a stink forcing the government to concede by keeping Dutton Park station rather than the original plan to remove it to allow the tunnel to not be as steep is where the problem first started.  Residents are not Engineers, they've got the alternative option of the 196BUZ instead.

[timh]

To me, it makes far more sense for the new platforms to be located where it's being built, than the Engineers idea of sticking it at the back of the PA Hospital.  Frankly the residents who threw up a stink forcing the government to concede by keeping Dutton Park station rather than the original plan to remove it to allow the tunnel to not be as steep is where the problem first started.  Residents are not Engineers, they've got the alternative option of the 196BUZ instead.

Yeah the platforms where they are makes the most sense. Dutton park station where it is doesn't make any sense (I thought it was barely justifiable even without CRR).

Moving it south to roughly where Fenton street is would work. May require resumptions though

Sent from my SM-G950F using Tapatalk

[ozbob]

...or just remove Dutton Park completely.

A new blog post on Cross River Rail's Board.
https://brizcommuter.blogspot.com/2020/08/cross-river-rail-board-stupid.html

Facebook > https://www.facebook.com/RAILBackOnTrack/posts/3648150715199089?comment_id=3681949785152515

https://twitter.com/railbotforum/status/1293012615656951809

[ozbob]

I think this project should be moved into Transport from State Development.

[kram0]

Obviously, having a station at Boggo Rd is the correct choice because there needed to be a way to interchange with the Cleveland line/southbank/busway, and having a station on PAH land would have not allowed this.

Where it has gone to sh%t is the political insistence that Dutton Park remained unchanged, which has forced an excessive grade into the tunnel.

My personal view is that they could force dutton park further back to allow the grades to be eased.

Honestly I think Dutton Park station is so close it's almost justifiable just to close it.

I know what you are saying, but the residents on the southern side of the PA in Annerley will argue otherwise.

I messaged a mate who is a senior engineer on CRR to get his no BS approach on what the paper has reported today.

I got a firm 'NO COMMENT' back which tells me 'this is a giant f%^k up in the making.

Or this whole things is being blown up for political reasons not because the LNP care about the outcome or would prefer it to spent in building more freeways!! I be saying No Comment too!!

He does not have a political bone in his body, so I can assure you when he come back with a comment like that, reading between the lines, I would suggest there are some serious issue in the background.

[Jonno]

Obviously, having a station at Boggo Rd is the correct choice because there needed to be a way to interchange with the Cleveland line/southbank/busway, and having a station on PAH land would have not allowed this.

Where it has gone to sh%t is the political insistence that Dutton Park remained unchanged, which has forced an excessive grade into the tunnel.

My personal view is that they could force dutton park further back to allow the grades to be eased.

Honestly I think Dutton Park station is so close it's almost justifiable just to close it.

I know what you are saying, but the residents on the southern side of the PA in Annerley will argue otherwise.

I messaged a mate who is a senior engineer on CRR to get his no BS approach on what the paper has reported today.

I got a firm 'NO COMMENT' back which tells me 'this is a giant f%^k up in the making.

Or this whole things is being blown up for political reasons not because the LNP care about the outcome or would prefer it to spent in building more freeways!! I be saying No Comment too!!

He does not have a political bone in his body, so I can assure you when he come back with a comment like that, reading between the lines, I would suggest there are some serious issue in the background.

i didn't mean to imply he did but when a project or work is being used as a political pawn by others I would stay quiet out of loyalty to the project

[ozbob]

https://twitter.com/brisbanetimes/status/1293018550446297088

[ozbob]

Just completed a pre-recorded interview with Steve Austin ABC Brisbane Radio Drive show.  Scheduled to be played around 5pm this afternoon (11th August 2020), but that could change.