Alex Somlyay MP : Sunshine Coast Line - Federal Infrastructure Meeting

[Fares_Fair]

Hello All,

I wrote to the Hon. Alex Somlyay MP, Federal Member for Fairfax on 19th December, 2010 to discuss the Federal issue of freight and infrastructure development along the Sunshine Coast rail line which would have the resultant effect of opening up the region to more passenger services, allowing increased frequency and commerce.
It also becomes increasingly more important in light of the State Government's proposals for 50,000 residents in satellite cities at Caloundra South / Palmview.

There are strategic and economic advantages in clearing the Beerburrum bottleneck so that commerce and trade may grow without restriction.
The Sunshine Coast / North Coast lines are an important element in our freight transport network.
The growth needs of this region needs to be accommodated in the planning and funding of improved rail infrastructure and the strategic benefits it brings to both passengers and traders.

I would endeavour to see this section of Sunshine Coast / North coast line become an important part of Infrastructure Australia planning and funding.
I shall meet with the Hon. Member for Fairfax next week.

Copy of my letter below.

Mr Alex Somylay, MP
Member for Fairfax
PO Box 1978
Sunshine Plaza Qld 4558

Dear Sir,

I am writing to you on behalf of the many Sunshine Coast commuters who have been adversely affected  by the current Queensland State government's neglect of the region's public transport (rail) services. Whilst this is a State government issue there are federal implications regarding funding.
Duplication of the rail line from Beerburrum to Landsborough and then on to Nambour is becoming a matter of national urgency.
I am writing to you as there are federal issues at stake here, in particular the freight services and improvement to them on the Sunshine Coast line.
A by-product of this would enhance the passenger services on this line, hence my reason for seeking federal assistance.

There is also lot of angst by Sunshine Coast rail commuters over the proposed 2011 rail timetable changes and these are to be addressed by a Public Forum in January. This forum will have up to 8 local Qld State MP's in attendance and is currently awaiting the Transport minister's response to her invitation to attend.
Such is the level of feeling over the Sunshine Coast rail services here.

The current State government once promised that duplication of the line would occur by 2012 to Landsborough and then by 2026 to Nambour.
Now all that has since been scrapped and it is part of the SEQIP (South East Qld Infrastructure Plan) for 2026-2031. An unfunded plan 20 years in the future.

I understand that this section of train line is shared by significant freight services and I would seek to investigate the provision of federal monies for the development of this infrastructure. The SC region's rail services have the most rail-bus services in the entire network. The only other rail line to have them is the Doomben line. Their use (52% of Sunshine Coast weekday services) indicates the extent of the problem.
There is no more room for any extra peak hour rail services on the line until duplication occurs or extra train stabling facilities are added
[as told by Queensland Rail (QR) in a Community Reference Group (CRG) meeting].

Rail Back on Track, of whom I am a member noted that a study entitled "2007 Brisbane-Cairns Corridor Strategy" authored by Queensland Transport and AusLink identifies congestion between Brisbane and Nambour as a key constraint on the Sunshine Coast line for passengers, freight and long-distance passenger rail services. (1, 2.)

1. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/publications/files/Brisbane_Urban_Corridor_Strategy.pdf

2. http://www.infrastructure.gov.au/transport/publications/files/Bris_Cairns_Corridor_Strategy.pdf

I would request an opportunity to discuss this issue at your earliest convenience and perhaps seek assistance in this matter with the Federal member,
the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP, Minister for Infrastructure and Transport and Member for Grayndler.
Thank you.

Yours faithfully,
______________


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Did Mr Somlyay give you a good hearing, FF? 

[Fares_Fair]

Hello Stillwater,

Yes, he did. A very good hearing IMHO.

I thought if I come out in 15 min's then it probably wasn't a successful meeting.
As it was, we talked for 3/4 hour (until his next appoinment turned up).

Discussed lots of political situations-old and current, preselections, political reality and the issue at hand.
He has offered to take my concerns to Federal Parliament next week.  

He also offered to have a meeting with myself and as many of our State MP's as I can muster on a Saturday morning.
He did this because when Federal Parliament is sitting, the State Parliament is in recess and vice versa.
A Saturday morning would allows us all to meet. Again it was gracious of him to offer his time like this.

I must confess I came away from the meeting with a lot of respect for him.
He has been in parliament for 21 years this year, and will be retiring at the next election.
When he became a Federal MP, Bob Hawke was the PM and Paul Keating was Treasurer. (the Treasurer we had to have- if you'll excuse the ironic pun).

He was frank and didn't beat around the bush nor raise my hopes.
I requested a meeting with both the Federal Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP
and the Minister for Regional Australia, Regional Development and Local Government, and Minister for the Arts, the Hon. Simon Crean MP.
He told me I wouldn't get a meeting with them as everyone wants a meeting with them.
I said I'll never know unless I ask.

I had invited Andrew Powell MP and Fiona Simpson MP to attend the meeting but neither could attend due to the State sittings of Parliament this week.
To be honest I was very impressed with him, and sincerely grateful for his time.
I await the outcome of what his presentation to Federal Parliament will entail.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Mr Somlyay is a a politician of the 'old school'.  Some other MPs more worried about their careers than their constituents could take a leaf out of his book.

[Fares_Fair]

I will be holding a follow up meeting with Hon. Alex Somlyay MP, Member for Fairfax in 2 weeks time.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

It is infathomable that the state government should consistenty, and with such blinkered arrogance, ignore every bit of advice to it about the need to upgrade the Sunshine Coast Line.  It is almost as though the government has a deliberate plan to disadvantage the region by denying it essential transport infrastructure.

The advice statement to government for the Landsborough-Nambour rail corridor says:

'It is likely that the region would experience adverse socio-economic effects should the NCL between Landsborough and Nambour not be upgraded. Increases in demand are likely to significantly challenge the ability of the current infrastructure to support an acceptable level of rail service in the future.

There are a number of potential economic benefits of the project during construction and operation, including:
•   job creation;
•   increased freight efficiency and use;
•   increased revenue through increased passenger and freight use;
•   increased exports as a link to the Port of Brisbane;
•   revitalisation of local rail-township economies;
•   delayed road infrastructure investment;
•   increased growth potential for the Nambour Major Development Area (MDA) and other railway townships along the corridor, supporting the SEQ Regional Plan desired regional outcomes;

The commissioning of the CAMCOS corridor from Beerwah to Maroochydore may also lead to increased attractiveness for people to live in the railway townships along this section of the NCL and work on the Sunshine Coast, and vice versa.'

The full document makes compelling reading, even if only to chronicle state government neglect towards this important infrastructure project supporting freight, as well as passenger, operations.
Advice to Government statement: http://www.dip.qld.gov.au/resources/project/landsborough-nambour/mp_landsborough_nambour_rail_IAS.pdf

[Fares_Fair]

 

[Stillwater]

How did the meeting go this morning, FF?