Article: Traveston rail stop on death row

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

26 May 2012

Some comments on Traveston rail station

Greetings,

Traveston railway station is in the news.  It presently does have a small pax loading, but with the re-population of the Mary Valley it will become an important station, particularly with the new roads in the area.

The annual cost of maintaining the station as reported in the Couriermail today (see below) included the once of costs of repairs following a termite attack.  The termites gained a path to destruction because placement of the go card equipment was faulty.  This has now been sorted and a number of RAIL Back On Track members visited  Traveston on the 22 Nov 2011.

The actual ongoing maintenance costs are  trivial.  In view of the repairs now completed it would not make much sense now to waste that investment, and better to look forward as the Mary Valley is re-populated following the Traveston Dam/Mary Valley failure.

Support for the community is needed.  To this end I congratulate our new Transport Minister Mr Emerson who has commented  "While I won't be closing Traveston, the LNP Government will ensure spending on the Queensland Rail network ensures better value for money for taxpayers," Mr Emerson said. ".  We agree.

There is more to the Traveston story than what has been reported.

Best wishes
Robert

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org
RAIL Back On Track http://backontrack.org

From the Couriermail click here!

Traveston Station averages four passenger movements a week but cost $128,000 last year to maintain

Traveston Station averages four passenger movements a week but cost $128,000 last year to maintain

    by: Robyn Ironside
    From: The Courier-Mail
    May 26, 2012 12:00AM

QUEENSLAND Rail is being forced to shell out $2500 a week to maintain a train station which only four people use.

Traveston Station north of Nambour remains open, despite repeated requests by Queensland Rail to close it.

Translink confirmed to The Courier-Mail the station averaged only four passenger movements a week between February and April this year.

"Traveston is the only station in the Translink network to record an average of less than five passengers a week," a spokesman said.

A Queensland Rail spokesman said they had approached the former government and Translink several times since 2009 requesting the station be closed because of low patronage and safety and amenity concerns.

Although Translink supported the recommendation, former transport ministers Rachel Nolan and Annastacia Palaszczuk insisted it remain open and ordered work be undertaken to improve safety.

As a result "Queensland Rail spent $128,546 on the maintenance of Traveston Station in the last year", a spokesman said.

"This included carpentry work in the waiting area of the station, to ensure the facilities were compliant with safety regulations."

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said it was ridiculous the Labor Government spent $128,000 upgrading a station for just a few people.

"While I won't be closing Traveston, the LNP Government will ensure spending on the Queensland Rail network ensures better value for money for taxpayers," Mr Emerson said.

Despite its infrequent use, The Courier-Mail found two people who used Traveston station, albeit irregularly.

Jamee-Lee Penman, 19, of Traveston, said she sometimes caught the train home from university in Brisbane to visit her mother Jo.

"It does seem like a big deal for the crew to stop here and let me off," said Miss Penman.

Local Councillor Julie Walker said her son used the station "four or five times a year".

"All we need is the platform to get on and off," Cr Walker said.

[ozbob]

4KQ News have followed up on Traveston railway station.  Thanks for the interest!

[Stillwater]

It is disappointing that the Courier-Mail has published only half of the story.  Its article gives the impression that the $128,000 spent last year is a recurring cost, year on year.  It is not.  Queensland Rail is not 'shelling out $2500 a week to maintain the station'.

The $128,000 spent last year went mainly to rebuilding the station, which had suffered a severe termite attack.  The station building is on the Queensland register of historic places, so Queensland Rail had an obligation to restore it.  If Queensland Rail had not spent the money, the state government would have been obliged to provide the funds from other sources.  The $128,000 is not money that could have been 'saved', as the Courier-Mail purports.  And it certainly is not a saving to be made each and every year.  It was a one-off expenditure.

The reason why Traveston station has such low passenger numbers is that it is the station on the North Coast Line closest to the Mary Valley.  The Traveston Dam site is just down the road.  The Mary Valley population decreased dramatically when the Bligh Labor Government bought up much of the farmland and houses in low-lying parts of towns for the now defunct Traveston Crossing Dam.  So the Traveston station restoration must be seen in the context of the Mary Valley revitalisation which, unlike the previous government, the LNP has taken seriously.  The Mary Valley community is impressed with Mr Jeff Seeney's recent visits to the area.  (Anna Bligh said she would talk to the locals about bringing the valley back to life, but never showed up!)

Mr Seeney has foreshadowed that he will pass special legislation to re-parcel land in the valley into viable farming blocks, each with its own water allocation.  Villages will have new town blocks.

It is the best news in years for the Mary Valley.  The Courier-Mail did not write its story in the context of Traveston station being part of the Mary Valley revitalisation package.  Mr Emerson understands that by undertaking to keep the station operational, he is keeping Traveston station going until the population returns to the valley.  The LNP has pledged to pay more attention to that task than did the previous government.

The issue is an interesting story, it's just a pity that the Courier-Mail focussed on one aspect and did not place the Traveston station restoration in its full context.  http://www.gympie.qld.gov.au/documents/PDCK001.01.pdf

[ozbob]

Opposition statement:

OFFICE OF THE LEADER OF THE OPPOSITION
26 MAY 2012

EMERSON RIDICULES TRAVESTON LOCALS

Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says Transport Minister Scott Emerson has embarrassed himself in his rush to blame the Labor Party for a decision he supports.

Ms Palaszczuk said as Transport Minister she backed locals who wanted to upgrade and retain Traveston Station, a decision Mr Emerson ridicules.

"Those pushing for the station to be kept open included LNP Member for Gympie, David Gibson," she said.

"Mr Gibson made representations on behalf of locals to retain the station.

"The decision to keep Traveston Station open was taken because Mr Gibson and the local community recognised that as the area develops, the station's passenger numbers will grow.

"Mr Emerson thinks it is 'ridiculous' to respond to such requests from local communities.

"He is, in effect, ridiculing the local community and rail transport advocates who see value in holding on to Traveston as a working railway station.

"It just shows the Newman Government is out of touch and after just two months in office has already stopped listening to local communities, and its own MPs apparently."

Ms Palaszczuk said Mr Emerson had been caught out by his desire to join in the Newman Government's blame game.

"The Newman Government tries to find something every day and blame the Labor Party for it," she said.

"People can see through this exercise that will culminate in its politically motivated very predictable 'audit' of state finances led by LNP mate Peter Costello.

"Mr Costello is receiving $3,300 a day to deliver a report attacking the Labor Party.

"The Costello audit will have very predictable findings and will be yet another taxpayer-funded indulgence by the LNP," she said.

For Traveston Station background see also:
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/11/24/historic-station-saved-queensland-rail-traveston/

[Stillwater]

Once again, Mr Emerson is showing that he is yet to flick the switch from Opposition transport spokesperson to the Minister responsible for the things he is criticising.

If Mr Emerson wants to address waste and costs, he should turn his mind to the temporary station platforms on the Sunshine Coast Line.

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sunshine-coast/k-per-year-to-maintain-temporary-station-platforms/story-fn8m0yxo-1226259711723

http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/sunshine-coast/fungi-stuff-found-growing-from-platform/story-fn8m0yxo-1226267051225

http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5363.0

[BrizCommuter]

Does Traveston really require 2 go-card readers?

If Mr Emerson want's to get rid of waste, maybe he should be concerned about the number of trains sitting at Mayne throughout most of day doing nothing, and make use of them.

He should also check out the track between Oxford Park and Mitchelton at around 5:22pm on weekdays for a fine example of waste.

[Stillwater]

Perhaps we should help Mr Emerson by contributing to a discussion thread on waste within QR

[somebody]

If Mr Emerson want's to get rid of waste, maybe he should be concerned about the number of trains sitting at Mayne throughout most of day doing nothing, and make use of them.

Indeed.  There is a clear correlation between off peak frequency and cost recovery.

[colinw]

I note that Traveston station is on a crossing loop, and many trains are quite likely to be halting there anyway. May as well keep a platform so people can get on & off. In any case, the very low patronage numbers come in a time of economic difficulty for the area, with de-population of the Traveston catchment due to the aborted dam project.

I wish the Courier-Mail would do some proper analysis with these kinds of articles, rather than their ridiculous dog whistle "wooot, waste! we're all dooomed" confected outrage style of reporting. It really does wear thin after a while, and whenever it concerns any issue or industry that I know about it rarely comes even remotely close to being an accurate representation of the facts.

[ozbob]

What would be interesting to know is that did Queensland Rail explain fully what the expenditure details actually were in terms of a break up, or simply presented it as on going maintenance cost, which lead to the misleading nature of the article?  The CM may well not be directly to blame for this.

The carpenters had to replace individual timbers and  boards one by one to replicate the the station building (it is a heritage structure).  This made the rebuild costly, it is a replica of the original before the termites had their super-size meal.

[ozbob]

For anyone reading this and not familiar with Traveston railway station.  It is a single platform of one carriage length with a small waiting shelter.

A recent photograph can be seen at the Couriermail --> here!

University semester is coming to an end soon, which means I might have a bit more time up my sleeve.  I think I will go to Traveston for the day middle - late June to check out the finished station.

[p858snake]

Where did this "4 customers a week" thing come from? go card swipes?

Because I'm betting more than 2 people use that station on a common basis.

[Fares_Fair]

Regarding the $128.5k quoted, and as SW pointed out, it is less than half the cost of the $300k 7 no. temporary railway platforms along the Sunshine Coast line, which IS an ongoing annual rental and maintenance costs yet to be added on top.

The figure in the C-M story is NOT a regular ongoing cost, is it?

It, I assume, was mainly the one-off reconstruction cost caused by the Go card reader installation inviting termites up into the structure.
Something best taken up with the Cubic installers perhaps.

Queensland Rail have obviously been under pressure to reduce costs.
To go public with this shows that pressure, it is a QR official spokesman after all, not just a source.
The patronage figures quoted are from within QR too, since the Translink Tracker doesn't publish any patronage figures from Yandina to Gympie North.

Lets reduce services to the areas most in need of something uplifting, after the Traveston Dam fiasco.
To close it would be a further travesty.

[ozbob]

Yes, complete distortion.  $2500 per week to maintain Traveston station ... HAHAHAHA!

It was the cost of the rebuild due to the termites essentially, and some minor upgrades for accessibility, dressed up as an ongoing weekly maintenance.  Obvious bull.

Anyway, the good thing is the station is to remain extant.

There is an obvious lets bash rail and Queensland Rail agenda at work it does seem, though at times Queensland Rail has a penchant for accidental discharges to both feet ...

[Stillwater]

To what extent does Mr Emerson's office liaise with Mr Seeney's office regarding such announcements as his Traveston station pronouncement?  The government has pulled off something of a public relations coup among the very cynical and suspicious people of the Mary Valley over plans to bring the valley back to life.

This story is from today's Gympie Times: http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2012/05/26/valley-welcomes-new-hope/

In seeking to hit Labor, Mr Emerson has cast doubt on his own government's Mary Valley Plan, or his bit of it.  The 'gotcha' campaign the CM is running hasn't helped.

The people of Queensland voted to get themselves out of the politics and catcalling by one side against the other.  People just want the government and ministers to get on with the job.  By their deeds they shall be known.

[HappyTrainGuy]

There has to be two card readers minimum incase one fails. Also offers better maintainence/planning incase one fails and someone has to travel there to manually fix it.

[Stillwater]

The tin shed replacement was not possible, rttr, because the heritage listing relates to the station in situ -- the listing is for the Traveston station and its immediate environs.  Yandina is a similar case in point.  QR recently restored the old goods shed there, not because it houses goods, but because the building has an historic listing and QR, as owner, is responsible for its upkeep.  QR could be a bit imaginative, mind you, and find uses for these buildings.  Yandina, for instance, could be a tourist information centre or gift shop.

[Fares_Fair]

The tin shed replacement was not possible, rttr, because the heritage listing relates to the station in situ -- the listing is for the Traveston station and its immediate environs.  Yandina is a similar case in point.  QR recently restored the old goods shed there, not because it houses goods, but because the building has an historic listing and QR, as owner, is responsible for its upkeep.  QR could be a bit imaginative, mind you, and find uses for these buildings.  Yandina, for instance, could be a tourist information centre or gift shop.

..or used for stabling facility equipment storage. 

[Stillwater]

 

[Fares_Fair]

This story has struck a nerve, 96 comments on it thus far.
It's clear there are issues with the figures quoted in the 'story.'

Perhaps clarification is required, with a good follow up example of the ongoing costs of the 7 temporary platforms at Mooloolah, Eudlo, Palmwoods, Woombye, Eumundi, Pomona and Cooran.

Now there's a story worth telling, it's costing around $300,000 per year, every year for rent alone.
Maintenance adds to this, perhaps the QR spokesman can inform the Courier-Mail what that totals.

The Co-Ordinator Generals reports states a benefit of rail duplication from Landsborough to Nambour (which would eliminate 4 of the 7 the temporary platforms) is $4.57 BILLION in output generation to the Qld economy.
That's a figure worth writing about.

->http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=7534.msg89211#msg89211

[Stillwater]

Maybe it's time for a 'lets love Traveston station' picnic lunch day out, on the Gympielander.

[ozbob]

Maybe it's time for a 'lets love Traveston station' picnic lunch day out, on the Gympielander.

Indeed,  how does  Thursday 28th June 2012 sound?

[colinw]

Comments on the CM article are interesting.  Looks to me like the majority posting comments are not buying the spin or the CM's distortions.

IMHO there is a direct link between this kind of "blame game" Government press release, the CM's style of reporting of these issues, and the culture of dysfunction in administration of this state.  All are part of the same rotten culture.

[Stillwater]

Thanks to Ozbob, I suspect, Gympie Times is proposing a story tomorrow that seeks to set the record straight re Traveston.

[ozbob]

 

[Stillwater]

Comments from a local, from the CM website:

Jo Penman of Traveston:

$128,000 in the past year, $2500 a week to maintain, really? I have only ever seen maintanance done on the Traveston Train station once in the nine years I have lived here. ( and that was just recently ) I actually live just behind the train station, so I would put my hand up for that pay packet! Traveston is a growing area and the usage of Traveston Train station will only increase. Traveston is actually a very historic place and as "Johno of Bayside" said the station should be Heritage listed. To Marie of Brissi, I would like to see you catch the train from the next station down, which is a 5klm plus walk on dirt roads and if on the bitumen road would be a death wish because there is NO pedestrian side walk and the speed limit is 80-90klms,......this is the country, not down town Brisbane with all the amenities and we don't have Taxis or buses that come and pick us up from our front door. Traveston Train Station is and always will be a very important service for the people in this area and the surrounds. I would like to really see what it costs to maintain this station, because what is being said doesn't add up to the work or lack off.

[Stillwater]

Article in today's Gympie Times sets the record straight:

http://www.gympietimes.com.au/story/2012/05/30/station-on-right-track-gympie-brisbane/

[ozbob]

From the Gympie Times click here!

Station on right track

Station on right track

30th May 2012 5:33 AM

LONG-time Traveston residents have rallied together in defence of their small historic train station after a newspaper report suggested it was a waste of money.

The small community was backed by people who lived in the Mary Valley and members of a Brisbane-based organisation, Rail Back on Track (RBOT).

"It's nothing more than a beat-up," RBOT founder and spokesperson Rob Dowe told The Gympie Times.

Saturday's Courier Mail contained an article claiming the station cost $128,000 last year to maintain, when in fact this was a one-off cost to restore the heritage-listed structure.

Locals said this was the only time any significant work had been carried out on the station in decades - a decision celebrated last November in The Gympie Times (go to our website and search for Traveston Station).

It was no secret Traveston Station was the most under-utilised station in south-east Queensland's rail network.

It had been condemned by Queensland Rail, which planned to bulldoze the dilapidated shelter before RBOT and locals, backed by Member for Gympie David Gibson, had the decision reversed on historical and practical grounds. The station was also cited as crucial to the Mary Valley recovery plan.

"Traveston Station has long-term potential," Mr Dowe said. "As the Mary Valley community resettles, I think it will be better used.

"Passenger numbers may be small now but I think patronage will build from here."

Mr Dowe said the article misrepresented the actual cost of maintaining the station because it averaged the one-off sum of money over just one year.

Carlo Riva, a Traveston resident for 25 years, said it was the first time the station had received any major repairs.

"It gets used by more than four people," he said, rejecting the newspaper report, which used Translink records from a two-month period to justify its claims.

As the new midday service between Brisbane and Gympie (achieved by years of lobbying by Mr Gibson) stopped in Traveston yesterday, railway enthusiast Howard Jones disembarked for a brief stopover.

"I saw the article in the paper and thought I'd increase the number of trips to the Traveston Station from four to six," he joked.

"I'm meeting my brother - who lives in Gympie - for a picnic and then I'll head back to Beaudesert."

RBOT's Mr Dowe said he was pleased with the Transport Minister's decision to leave the station alone.

"Although he had a crack at the former government and costs...we congratulate Mr Emerson on stating that it will remain open."

[Fares_Fair]

 

[ozbob]

Good Work Bob, why don't you now send to CM to see if they will print a correction. This is were having two major newspapers might help as one would love to have a dig at the other.

regards
Shane

They would have seen it.  No worries ...

[Stillwater]

The story above appeared on page 3 of today's Gympie Times, accompanied by a picture of Mr Howard Jones and his brother.  Page one contained a picture of 10 Traveston locals lined up at the station, similar to the crowds that greeted the daytime Gympielander at Pomona and Cooran stations on its first run north of Cooroy last year.

In addition, page 8 of today's paper featured pictures of four people, with their opinion of the value of the passengers services to and from Traveston station.  The editorial, also on page 8, emphasised the importance of the station in a contemporary and historical sense.

[ozbob]

From http://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=5795.msg58963#msg58963

First day Gympie Lander 6 June 2011

Locals greeting the train.

Pomona!





Cooran!









Gympie North











Roma St





Photographs R Dow 6th June 2011

[ozbob]

They won't is my guess.  I think they were given an annual cost for the station, with no break up.

A communication misfire all round.  Newspapers regularly distort issues I agree, eg.  Cliver Palmer story today re speeding fine.  Wrong as published but it will never be corrected either.

[Stillwater]

This interesting observation has appeared on the Gympie Times website as comment to the Traveston station beat-up story. 

[ozbob]

From the Gympie Times 30th May 2012

Page 1

Getting back on track



Page 3

Station on right track



Page 8 Editorial

Leave Traveston  as it is



Page 8 Quick Q&A

[Fares_Fair]

 

[Fares_Fair]

Premier
The Honourable Campbell Newman
Wednesday, July 18, 2012

MINISTERIAL MEDIA ALERT for Wednesday July 18

10.15am

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney will release the Mary Valley Economic Development Strategy.

WHEN: 10.15am
WHERE: Kandanga Railway Station
Main Street, Kandanga
CONTACT: Kate Haddan - 0418 373 516


12.00pm

Local Government Minister David Crisafulli is addressing Blackall-Tambo Regional Council as part of his state-wide tour of Queensland councils.

WHEN: 12pm – 2pm
WHERE: Blackall-Tambo Regional Council Chambers
6 Coronation St, Blackall, Q
CONTACT: Andrew Longmire - 0418 216 627

Please Note: There will be a media opportunity about 1.45pm before the Minister drives to Barcaldine.


1.30pm

Premier Campbell Newman and Health Minister Lawrence Springborg will be joined by Sunshine Coast MPs for a tour of the Nambour Hospital. Following the tour they will announce the winning bid for the development of the major new tertiary teaching Sunshine Coast University Hospital.

WHEN: 1.30pm
WHERE: Nambour Hospital,
Hospital Road, Nambour
CONTACT: Premier: Mitch Grayson – 0408 912 821
Health Minister: Clare Mildren - 0417 255 284

When guests and media enter the Hospital they must follow directions from A/Chief Executive Kevin Hegarty and from clinical staff. Pool arrangements apply for hospital walkthrough.

3.30pm

Local Government Minister David Crisafulli will address Barcaldine Regional Council as part of his state wide tour of councils.

WHEN: 3.30pm
WHERE: Barcaldine Regional Council Chambers
71 Ash Street, Barcaldine
CONTACT: Andrew Longmire - 0418 216 627



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Fares_Fair]

Deputy Premier, Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning
The Honourable Jeff Seeney
Wednesday, July 18, 2012

New vision for Mary Valley's future

The Newman Government has unveiled a 'blueprint' to reinvigorate the Mary Valley, based on maximising economic development opportunities rather than just selling off property.

Deputy Premier and Minister for State Development, Infrastructure and Planning Jeff Seeney said the release of the Mary Valley Economic Development Strategy marked the start of a new future for the Mary Valley.

"There is a lot of work to be done to fix the financial bungling and huge land buy-up by the previous government," Mr Seeney said.

The strategy aims to create conditions to enable private sector investment and development.

Properties will be aggregated and water rights realigned to create economically viable land units under an initial two-year divestment program.

Mr Seeney said expressions of interest will be sought from investors and matched to land and water parcels.

"Labor's Traveston Dam debacle cost the state hundreds of millions of dollars, displaced scores of families and left the government owning almost 500 properties," he said.

"Front and centre of our new plan is a resolve to drive the area's economic development, create new jobs, support productive enterprises and create vibrant and stable communities.

"The initial phase will see agricultural and other economic land units brought to market to encourage activities such as beef production, horticulture, dairy and tourism enterprises.
"Alongside this work, the State will offer assistance and support to ensure this happens quickly."

The assistance would include: Aggregation of properties based on their suitability for economic activity and realignment of water entitlements to support new enterprises, briefings to financial institutions and valuers to ensure funding risks to buyers were minimised and an integrated approach to planning.

Mr Seeney said the Government would work with agricultural peak bodies and provide access to government resources to support the new strategy.

"To drive this program, I have appointed the Member for Gympie David Gibson to establish and chair the Mary Valley Economic Development Advisory Group.

"This group will engage with the community and harness local knowledge to assist the implementation of the strategy and to monitor new initiatives."

Mr Seeney said there'd be an initial two-year divestment program focussing on properties suitable for economic development.

He said there would also be better management of leasehold properties and leases would not be renewed on their expiry.

"The State faces some serious financial challenges in the years to come," he said.

"The Newman Government was elected with an overwhelming mandate to reduce ballooning debt and manage the public purse responsibly.

"This means ensuring value-for-money to taxpayers, taking financially prudent steps and removing liabilities from the balance sheet where it is sensible to do so.

"We do not have an endless bucket of cash to tip in, but we can prioritise activities and ensure we take action to support the establishment of productive industries and agricultural activities in this important 'food bowl' region.

"The Government is committed to ensuring the people of the Mary Valley can have confidence going forward, and have a real stake in their future."

[ENDS] 18 July 2012

[ozbob]

From the Herald Sun click here!

New farms key to Mary Valley revival

New farms key to Mary Valley revival
From: AAP
July 18, 2012 12:39PM

LAND in the Mary Valley will be sold to farmers in a bid to re-establish a Queensland community destroyed by the failed Traveston dam project.
Access All Areas - Digital Pass

The Mary Valley community, north of Brisbane, was dismantled when hundreds of homes were bought by the former Labor government to make way for the Traveston Dam, which was ultimately canned.

The former Labor government paid inflated prices for more than 470 properties. After spending $500 million, the federal government refused to grant environmental approvals in 2009.

Only a handful of the resumed properties have since been sold, and sales were stopped in April while a review was carried out.

Deputy Premier Jeff Seeney on Wednesday announced the first phase of a plan to rehabilitate the valley.

He's called for expressions of interest from farmers interested in buying land to set up new businesses in the area.

Farmers are being asked to say how much land and water they might need to produce crops, and decisions on land sales will be based on the level of economic benefit proposals will deliver.

Detailed proposals could be approved within weeks, Mr Seeney says.

It is hoped about 20 farmers will set up in the area over two years, and Mr Seeney says they will lay the economic foundations for a new community.

It's hoped that once the farms are established, demand for residential properties will increase.

"People need to know that the area has a future," Mr Seeney told reporters at Kandanga on Wednesday.

"And the future of this place is a very vibrant agricultural community."

He says the government will never recoup all of the money wasted on the failed dam project through the land sales.

"This is about re-establishing the economy and re-establishing the community," he said

[ozbob]