Article: Feds ignoring infrastructure advisor: Truss

[ozbob]

From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Feds ignoring infrastructure advisor: Truss

Feds ignoring infrastructure advisor: Truss
Tony Moore
April 17, 2009 - 6:10AM

The Federal Government is bypassing the key advisory body for setting Australia's infrastructure agenda, says Queensland MP Warren Truss.

Mr Truss, the Opposition's transport and regional development spokesman and Federal Nationals Leader, said Infrastructure Australia had slowed down the decision-making process.

"I think Infrastructure Australia was an idea that might appeal to the hearts and minds of people, but in practice it has been bypassed in most of the important decisions," Mr Truss said.

"It wasn't consulted about broadband, which is a $40 billion decision," he said.

"It wasn't consulted about the list of project to be funded under Auslink (road and rail projects) between 2009 and 2014, they weren't consulted about that.

"They weren't consulted about either of the stimulus packages.

"The only thing they're being consulted on is this is these current package, that is now being delayed."

Mr Truss' comments came after confirmation from Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese's office that projects considered by Infrastructure Australia "were being considered as part of the budget process."

Mr Truss said no new Federal Government road and rail projects had been funded for 18 months.

"I fear that Infrastructure Australia may have slowed the process down, rather than speeding it up," he said.

While the Queensland Government has not changed their submission, Infrastructure Australia has reduced the 90 projects received Australia-wide down to "between 20 and 28", according to sources.

The $20 billion budget for the projects has also slumped to $12.6 billion because of the economic slowdown.

Despite a COAG (Council of Australian Governments) meeting at the end of this month, sources suggest no announcements will be made until the Federal Budget on May 12.

In South East Queensland, the projects include Brisbane's inner-city rail study, Brisbane's Eastern Busway project, the Port of Brisbane Motorway, widening Kingsford Smith Drive, the Darra to Ipswich transport corridor and Gateway Motorway links north and south of Brisbane.

Outside the south east corner, the projects could include the Abbott Point freight road near Bowen, the Peak Downs Heavy Vehicle route and Toowoomba's second Range crossing, a major Australian freight route.

A spokesman for Infrastructure Minister Anthony Albanese rejected claims the decisions had been delayed.

"We received the national priority list at the end of March from Infrastructure Australia as required," the spokesman said.

"So we have got the list now, but it will be considered by Federal Cabinet and the timing of its release will be determined by government," he said.

"But what we have said is that we would be announcing our allocations during the course of 2009.

"These deliberations are going on as part of the budget."

Premier Anna Bligh yesterday inspected progress on an early stage of one State Government project seeking future funding, a section of the Eastern Busway from Boggo Road to the University of Queensland.

The A$226 million Boggo Road Busway connects the University of Queensland and the Eleanor Schonell Bridge to a new busway station near Park Road rail station and the Boggo Road Urban Village.

It links to the $140.8 million Stage 1 of the Eastern Busway which will have 600-metre busway linking the Boggo Road Busway to the South East Busway at Buranda and a link to the Princess Alexandra Hospital.

They will both open in August.

Queensland wants help to fund stages two and three of this busway project.

[O_128]

meh the whole point of rail is to stop at stations. buses are to get people to the stations. The main problem with them is traffic lights you have to wait 10misn to get from myer centre to cultural center just in traffic