Article: Second lashing for SEQ transport planning

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From the Brisbanetimes click here!

Second lashing for SEQ transport planning

Second lashing for SEQ transport planning
TONY MOORE
September 3, 2009 - 8:41AM

A second independent report in six months into South East Queensland's transport system has identified that Brisbane's transport projects are poorly co-ordinated between different levels of government.

Two studies claim a new single body is necessary to coordinate transport planning across the region.

The Infrastructure Partnerships Australia report released last month looked at current projects in South East Queensland and estimated traffic congestion would cost Brisbane $3 billion each year by 2020.

It said congestion costs would jump to $9 billion each year by 2050 if improvements were not made.

The report stated: "Create a single, cross-jurisdictional transport planning body for South East Queensland."

It's major recommendation included: "A centralised authority for all modes of transport is a concept worth considering further. The merging of State Government Department of Transport and Department of Main Roads is a positive step, but more may need to be done to integrate planning across the other tiers of government."

In June, the Auditor-General of Queensland made exactly the same finding.

"To effectively manage the transport network in SEQ, including urban congestion, an integrated government response involving entities working across portfolios, agency boundaries and tiers of government is necessary," the report said.

It said poor co-ordination meant there was no guarantee traffic congestion would be tackled effectively.

Referring to Queensland's $18.2 billion allocation to transport projects, it said: "The approval of this major spending program based on immature plans does not provide comfort that the expenditure will address urban congestion in an effective manner."

While an Urban Congestion Management CEO Committee was set up in 2008 and includes most government departments, it does not include the Brisbane City and Gold and Sunshine Coast councils.

In June this year brisbanetimes.com.au also identified State Government ministers were "wagging" meetings of the Regional Co-ordination Council, which is designed to co-ordinate council and state projects.

Brisbane City Council is responsible for urban roads in Brisbane, building the $2 billion Clem 7 tunnel, the $370 million Hale Street Link bridge and the Northern Link tunnel from Toowong to Bowen Hills.

While Lord Mayor Campbell Newman yesterday agreed with most of what IPA had to say, he said did not see the need for another level of bureaucracy.

"There has been an almost unprecedented level of co-operation between the Council and the State Government over the past few years," he said.

"The real issue for infrastructure in South East Queensland is a lack of funding and that's why South East Queensland needs a bigger share of the Infrastructure Australia program funding."

Transport Minister Rachel Nolan's office did not reply to the question of whether a new single coordinating body was necessary.