The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

[ozbob]

 

[Stillwater]

Perhaps Mr Chester could be invited to read this item on the Sunshine Coast Daily website.

http://www.coolum-news.com.au/news/did-this-man-solve-our-rail-crisis/3036623/

[ozbob]

Perhaps Mr Chester could be invited to read this item on the Sunshine Coast Daily website.

http://www.coolum-news.com.au/news/did-this-man-solve-our-rail-crisis/3036623/

[Stillwater]

Statement from Mark Jamieson, Mayor of the Sunshine Coast:

"The single track 1880s alignment of the North Coast Rail Line between Beerburrum and Nambour is a joke for a State that wants to position itself as a leading edge economy that generates jobs.

"Infrastructure Australia [has] identified the upgrade of the North Coast Rail Line from Beerburrum to Nambour as a priority project that, if not addressed in the next five years, will have a material impact on national productivity.

"The State Government has seen fit however, to make no firm commitment to this project at this time."

https://www.sunshinecoast.qld.gov.au/Council/News-Centre/State-Infrastructure-Plan-falls-well-short-for-the-Sunshine-Coast-140316

Page 76, Australian Infrastructure Plan
http://infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/projects/files/Australian_Infrastructure_Plan-Infrastructure_Priority_List.pdf

What Infrastructure Australia says:

"The existing rail line is operating above capacity, and failing to support current levels of passenger and freight demand.  The configuration of the route as a single track with limited passing loops severely limits capacity of the line. Modelling undertaken suggests that passenger demand on this route could grow by between 5 and 8 per cent per annum out to 2031.

"In the absence of any rail network enhancements, a significant increase in traffic on the already constrained Bruce Highway is likely to occur, to cater for increased commuter movements from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane.

"Economic modelling suggests that improvements to this line to increase capacity and efficiency could yield $150 million and $300 million in passenger and freight benefits respectively."

Next step: Business case development

The North Coast Line Capacity Improvement Project, advice to the State Infrastructure Investment Committee:

"The results of the project identified that there is NO "DO NOTHING" APPROACH if rail is to have a future in this corridor and therefore there is a need to investigate a range of
other mechanisms to encourage a mode shift to rail."

-   Simon Cook, General Manager Passenger Services, TransLink Division

[Fares_Fair]

Spot on comments by #SunshineCoast Mayor Mark Jamieson.
Clearly he has a very good grasp of the issues we face.. and the infrastructure we don't have.

[Fares_Fair]

Textbook 101
How to antagonize locals against #2tracks rail duplication...
'Eliminate' level crossings, not replace them.



Powell Media Release – Rail 'consultation' causes confusion and unnecessary alarm (2 June 2016)

http://www.andrewpowell.com.au/powell-media-release-rail-consultation-causes-confusion-unnecessary-alarm-2-june-2016/


Andrew Powell MP
Member for Glass House
2 June 2016

Rail 'consultation' causes confusion and unnecessary alarm

The future North Coast Rail Duplication is one of the biggest issues for residents of the Sunshine Coast with community members, particularly daily commuters, calling out for a financial investment to see the duplication delivered.

Member for Glass House, Andrew Powell MP, has been campaigning on behalf of his constituents for the seven plus years he has been the local MP and is frustrated that this vital project continues to be left unfunded by the current Government.

"The most recent call for community feedback by the Government is misleading and is causing people to get excited about a project that quite frankly will be decades away under the existing Government.

"They are holding information sessions to talk about a project that is only in the business case phase and people need to understand this is not a sign this duplication will actually be built any time soon.

"What's most concerning is the literature that has been distributed in the last week that refers to the 'elimination' of the level crossings in Landsborough and Barr's Road.

"Understandably the community has gone into shock over the use of the word 'elimination' and I really don't blame them.

"I met with Queensland Department of Transport officials last week and made it very clear they should stay away from using this sort of language and instead reaffirm their commitment to finding safer alternatives than what we already have in place – it's about "replacing" these level crossings, not "eliminating" them.

"It is clear from the outraged constituents that have contacted me they did not take my advice.

"I would like to reassure the community that I will work with them and the Department to ensure there are safe crossings at these sites – whether it be through overpasses, underpasses or something similar.

"I would urge community members to share their own feedback on this issue directly with Translink at this email – B2N@tmr.qld.gov.au or by phone 1800 785 974," Mr Powell concludes.

Ends – 2 June 2016
#Powell4GlassHouse

[Stillwater]

Is this a repetition of what's happened at Beerwah -- a town divided?  Are we able to get our hands on the 'latest literature'?  And where are the meetings being held?

Okay, found it ... see page 18  of the local paper.

http://www.gcnews.com.au

More info: https://www.collaborativemap.com/B2N

Andrew Powell's site, reproducing info: http://www.andrewpowell.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/May-2016-TMR-rail-info-sheet.pdf

[Fares_Fair]

Yep, there's a TMR document titled May 2016 TMR Rail Info Sheet that can be downloaded from AP website in the link above.
It's a 4 Mb PDF document so too big to post here.

[Stillwater]

So, what do people think?  Close Caloundra Street level crossing and make a new connection to Steve Irwin Way via Gympie Street North and Cribb Street?  Is the objective to take traffic travelling to and from the Blackall Range out of Landsborough CBD?  Relocate interchange to eastern side of railway track?   New overpass?

[Fares_Fair]

It's all academic really, with no funding for it at this point in time.
This 'consultation' is just for the business case, nothing more than that.

It appears to me to be a deliberate attempt to antagonise the locals against the rail duplication - no true consultation when you say 'eliminate' and not replace or state an alternative.

Has anyone seen the equivalent consultation for Cross River Rail Mk III ?
#askingforafriend

[Stillwater]

^^Agree with your conclusions FF.  They will portray a 'need for further community consultation' as a delaying mechanism to hide the lack of money for construction and a lack of preparation for business case ... and certainly to keep CRR business case as the only one in play, and not have the two (SCL duplication and CRR) on the table at the same time.

[Stillwater]

It would be good to have some clarity about the extent to which the following agencies are working together, or are involved, in developing the business case for the SCL duplication between Beerburrum and Nambour: Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR), Queensland Rail (QR), TransLink and Building Queensland.

If you want to find out information about this project, you are directed to the website www.tmr.qld.gov.au/B2N.  So, that is TMR.

If you go to the Building Queensland website, it proclaims: "Building Queensland, with the involvement of the Department of Transport and Main Roads, is leading the development of the business case for consideration by government."

So, Building Queensland is doing the leading, as the lead agency?  Well, TMR has a slightly different take on this: "Building Queensland is an independent statutory body tasked with finalising the development of a business case in partnership with the Department of Transport and Main Roads." It is a partnership.  However, it should be noted that QR is not mentioned as being involved.  It is not a 'partner'.

If you wish to send a letter to government regarding the preparation of the business case, the address given is that of the TransLink Division of TMR, GPO Box 50, Brisbane 4001.
Building Queensland's postal address is PO Box 15009, City East QLD 4002.

[ozbob]

Yep, there's a TMR document titled May 2016 TMR Rail Info Sheet that can be downloaded from AP website in the link above.
It's a 4 Mb PDF document so too big to post here.

Here you go > here!  PDF 1.0MB

[Fares_Fair]

Yep, there's a TMR document titled May 2016 TMR Rail Info Sheet that can be downloaded from AP website in the link above.
It's a 4 Mb PDF document so too big to post here.

Here you go > here!  PDF 1.0MB

Thank you Robert, appreciated.

[mufreight]

Again TMR strikes.  When construction on the Cabolture to Landsbrough duplication and realignment was halted at Beerburrum the planing had already been done for the Beerburrum to Landsbrough section and some earthworks had actually been started.
When the government of the day decided that they had to be seen to be doing something they handed the project over to TMR to prepare a business case (again) for the project (a delaying tactic to justify doing nothing) and TMR dumbed the project down to an alignment with a maximum track speed of 100kph from the already prepared plans for a 160kph alignment supposedly to save money, the cost of the re-engineering of the project could have been saved by simply continuing with the original planing and design and there was no justification for preparing a new business case for the Beerburrum to Landsbrough section as the original business case was still valid but again more delaying tactics and now the hand out to have the Federal Government foot the bill for the construction.
The current government has to date been just as bad as its predecessor and has done nothing practical just a lot of talk and no action following the advice of TMR.
With the failings of TMR in their administration of rail projects and it seems that there are more failings with the MBRL yet to become public it become more obvious that TMR not QR should be excluded from and rail projects and QR should once again become an independent department responsible to a Railways Minister.
The Beerburrum to Landsbrough duplication and realignment should be recommenced using the original planning for the 160kph alignment under the oversight of QR at least in not as the leading contractor for the actual works.
The government could start on the Beerburrum to Glasshouse section tomorrow which would add to the pressure on the Federal government for funding not as a passenger line but as the key freight route to the north of the state.

[Fares_Fair]

^ 

[Arnz]

The Beerburrum to Landsbrough duplication and realignment should be recommenced using the original planning for the 160kph alignment under the oversight of QR at least in not as the leading contractor for the actual works.
The government could start on the Beerburrum to Glasshouse section tomorrow which would add to the pressure on the Federal government for funding not as a passenger line but as the key freight route to the north of the state.

If I recall correctly, the proposed scaling down to 100km/h is for the Landsborough North to Gympie North section, stating it's more "expensive" on that section and they're trying to save $$$

The Beerburrum to Landsborough section is to keep the intended 160km/h proposal, in fact much of the alignment between Glasshouse Mtns and Landsborough is already 160km/h for the tilts (120km/h for the MUs). 

If they really want to save $$, getting Beerburrum to Glasshouse Mtns done on the 160km/h alignment, then Mooloolah to Palmwoods on the scaled down 100km/h alignment would address the freight loop issue north of Landsborough and also save travel time for both freight and passenger.

[Fares_Fair]

Hello Arnz,

The February 2015 Ranbury report p139, specifically addresses this by stating;

"Any duplication would likely include re-alignment to at least a 100kph standard, if not to a previously designed 160kph standard."

This quote is under the 28.3 SEQCI Conclusions and Comments section which covers the region up to Nambour.
It is talking directly about Beerburrum to Glasshouse Mountains, and desirably to Beerwah or Landsborough, in the immediate prior sentences.
No mention is made of any town or station beyond and including Nambour.

[Stillwater]

^^Thanks for the explanation Mufreight.

[Fares_Fair]

I found a copy of the South East Queensland Capacity Improvement (SEQCI) study on the TMR website under the Right to Information section..  it is referenced in the 255p Ranbury report,
unfortunately it has been heavily redacted - most notably, virtually everything relating to the Caboolture/Sunshine Coast lines along the North Coast Line.

Large swathes have been removed and are marked as being Not Relevant (assumed reference to the information request received by them).

Document found here: http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/search-results.aspx?query=+SEQ+Capacity+Improvement+Project+
See Doc RTI 135/03495  PDF, 5104 KB

[Stillwater]

Note that the report casts an eye forward to 2031 .... no CAMCOS corridor analysis mentioned in the bits that were not redacted.  Maybe worthwhile to lodge an RTI request for the SCL and NCL info.

Here is what we can gather from what's currently available:

Overall, the network is predicted to grow at an annual rate of 4.4 per cent between 2009 and 2021, and then at a slightly slower 3.8 per cent per annum between 2021 and 2031 ....  The growth is not uniform across the network.

The highest growth rates are expected on the Northern 'main' services (Caboolture/Nambour) followed by the Southern (Gold Coast/Beenleigh), the Northern 'suburban', with the Eastern (Manly/Cleveland) showing the lowest growth.

The SEQ rail network faces significant growth in passenger and freight demand, with a number of known constraints across the network potentially precluding the ability to service demand. To address this challenge the SEQCI project proposes a number of infrastructure and non-infrastructure options to deliver a cost-effective rail investment strategy for government.

Rail network modelling was undertaken for 2021 demand using the new OpenTrack model developed by Queensland Rail for numerous constraints in the outer corridors including on the North Coast Line, ....

Estimates of capital costs for infrastructure options were developed to assist in developing comparative option evaluation. Each option was then evaluated for its performance including the additional capacity provided, relative capital cost, longevity, reliability (where modelled) and passenger impact. ....

The resulting high and low train demand forecasts by corridor are presented in Table E.3 for 2012, 2021 and 2031. As can be seen even with significant improvement in peak spreading (from 65:35 currently to 50:50 by 2031) a number of corridors will experience significant forecast train demand growth over the next 10–20 years including Gold Coast, Beenleigh, Nambour and Caboolture services.

Passenger benefit options provide a performance/operational focus, with greater performance improvement for passenger and freight services compared to the 'cost focus' options.  'Passenger benefit options' provide an improved passenger service compared with the 'least cost focus' options.  The passenger focus options will generally be through faster services, more express running or simpler service patterns.  However, providing these corridor options may require more infrastructure or operational trade-offs .....

The operational focus options meet 2021 demand, but will require additional infrastructure investment above and beyond the 'cost focus' paradigm to improve operational efficiencies or reliability (ie, remove dead-running, reduce operational complexities to improve reliability, provide redundancy in cases of disruption, increase speed etc)


System-wide issue

Electrical feeder stations and power supervisory systems will require upgrade for a general increase in peak period train numbers, in conjunction with an asset renewal program for the current power supply infrastructure, and this needs to be the subject of a separate power systems study. The cost estimates for additional trackage included in the comparative project upgrade estimates include the relevant modifications to the power supervisory system, switching arrangements and extra overhead wiring or modifications. It excludes the need for major upgrades to existing feeder stations, or new feeder stations.

[#Metro]

The options for what should happen north of Caboolture are far too tame IMHO.
The 'radical' option for north of Caboolture:

SEQ Regional Rapid Rail

Brisbane to Caboolture - 22 minutes
Brisbane to Maroochydore - 49 minutes
Brisbane to Noosa - 68 minutes

Leaves the car for dead in terms of speed and motorway lane capacity. Puts an end to billions thrown at the Bruce every election cycle.

Higher speed - saving time saves labour cost
DOO operation - cuts labour cost by 50%
Radically shorter travel times - massive increase in patronage and fare revenue

http://tiny.cc/SEQHSR

[Arnz]

The Qld Government has one report suggesting a reduction from the initial proposed 160km/h (Tilt Train) speed on the Beerburrum to Landsborough upgrade to 100km/h, and yet this recent newsletter dated May 2016 (retrieved from Hon. Andrew Powell MP's website) stating that the Beerburrum to Landsborough corridor from the original proposal has been protected since 2011.

Also to add, Glasshouse Mtns North to Landsborough (one long straight stretch) is already rated at 160km/h (Tilts) - 120km/h for MUs.  That part only needs the second track laid next to the existing track.  A reduction in speed for the existing straight track would be a step backwards for both Tilts and the Interurban services.  If anything, the Beerwah to Landsborough stretch when duplicated should be moved up from the existing 120km/h to 140km/h for the MUs.

http://www.andrewpowell.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/May-2016-TMR-rail-info-sheet.pdf

[Stillwater]

The Moreton Bay Railway Line fiasco reveals an apparent shift in the administrative arrangements for building new rail infrastructure that may well become the focus of the independent review into this monumental stuff-up.  Let's hope the scrutiny occurs before this issue spills over onto the Sunshine Coast Line, where TMR is examining the business case for the line duplication and upgrade to Nambour.  What's clear is that TMR is looking to strip out costs, maybe by reducing the optimal operating speeds and skimping on alignment while keeping QR out of the picture.  Let's not forget this is Queensland's premier railway line (although you would not know it).  It generates freight revenue, it carries inter-regional trains and suburban trains, and it has considerable growth potential.  Stuffing it up now means the consequences will be felt for the next 100 years.  QR has got the be leading on this business case preparation for the SCL, not TMR.  We just can't trust them, sorry.

[Fares_Fair]

The Moreton Bay Railway Line fiasco reveals an apparent shift in the administrative arrangements for building new rail infrastructure that may well become the focus of the independent review into this monumental stuff-up.  Let's hope the scrutiny occurs before this issue spills over onto the Sunshine Coast Line, where TMR is examining the business case for the line duplication and upgrade to Nambour.  What's clear is that TMR is looking to strip out costs, maybe by reducing the optimal operating speeds and skimping on alignment while keeping QR out of the picture.  Let's not forget this is Queensland's premier railway line (although you would not know it).  It generates freight revenue, it carries inter-regional trains and suburban trains, and it has considerable growth potential.  Stuffing it up now means the consequences will be felt for the next 100 years.  QR has got the be leading on this business case preparation for the SCL, not TMR.  We just can't trust them, sorry.

You make a very good, and I say crucial point SW
Worthy of a MR IMHO.

[Fares_Fair]

Why it just got a lot cheaper to catch public transport

By Bill Hoffman | 13th Jun 2016 2:23 PM

PUBLIC transport is about to become a lot cheaper with saving up to more than $1000 annually for journeys to and from Brisbane.

Public transport across the region will also be made cheaper with the State Government decision to reduce the number of fare zones from 23 to eight.

Internal travel on the Sunshine Coast has been reduced to four fare zones from 10 eliminating an inequity which made it more expensive to track north south than to travel the same distance westward across the region.

Transport Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said the fare reform would not only make it more attractive for people to get out of their cars and on to public transport but it would also help ease road congestion.

"Modelling from the Department of Transport and Main Road shows this package will take seven million cars off our roads every year with more people using public transport," Mr Hinchliffe said.


2017 fare savings, based on 10 peak journeys per week for 48 weeks.
Contributed

Rail Back on Track spokesman Robert Dow, who was on the advisory panel to consider the changes, said the Sunshine Coast did very well from the the new fare schedules making local travel "much more affordable".

"It's made public transport affordable for everyone.'' he said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the Fairer Fares package would ensure almost all Sunshine Coast commuters would have cheaper fares and benefit from a range of incentives.

"We will continue the fare price freeze for the rest of this year, to allow implementation of the Fare Review, and in 2017," Ms Palaszczuk said.

An average Sunshine Coast customer travelling from Caloundra Bus Interchange to Brisbane CBD would save $1196.64 a year because their 15 zone trip would become a five zone trip.

"An average customer travelling from Nambour train station to Brisbane CBD would save $997.92 each year because their 17 zone trip would become a six-zone trip," Premier Palaszczuk said.

"Travelling from Gympie North train station to Brisbane CBD would also be $876.96 cheaper because the 23-zone trip would become an eight zone trip.

"Commuters travelling from Woombye train station to Cooroy Library will save $565.92 as their seven-zone trip becomes a three-zone trip.

"Most journeys across the Sunshine Coast will be within one or two zones for example commuters travelling from Coolum Beach Bowls Club to Mooloolaba Surf Club will travel in two zones instead of four zones saving $578.88 annually."

Minister for Transport Stirling Hinchliffe said the Palaszczuk Government's response to recommendations from the independent Fare Review Taskforce ensures the absolute maximum number of commuters benefit.

"Public transport fares need to be affordable, boost patronage and deliver a sustainable fare revenue stream to allow the network to grow," Mr Hinchliffe said.

"This relief package is the largest fare reform in a decade which will make fares fairer and lower the cost of living for many households."

Key changes to the SEQ fare structure from January 2017:
•Fewer zones: SEQ's 23 travel zones will be simplified to eight.
•Cheaper fares: Fares for all zones of travel will be slashed.
•Extending off-peak discount: Peak period won't start until after 6am in the morning to encourage earlier travel and give these users cheaper fares. The 20 per cent off-peak discount will now apply for all travel between 7pm and 6am, between 8.30am and 3.30pm Monday-Friday and all day on weekends.
•Kids go free on weekends: Children under the age of 15 will be able to travel free on the weekend on a child go card.
•Senior discounts: Seniors and pensioners will retain the 'One, Two FREE' travel.
•8 and 50 for commuters: The Government will scrap 'Nine + FREE' and replace with 8 paid journeys and 50 per cent off subsequent journeys per week to deliver higher travel savings to more customers.
•Concessions for Queensland job seekers: TransLink will work with Federal Agencies so jobseekers on Newstart or Youth Allowance will be able to access concession fares from early 2017.
•Concession fares for asylum seekers: In line with other states like New South Wales, Victoria and the ACT, asylum seekers in Queensland will be able to access concession fares to use public transport from early 2017.
•New Fares Advisory Panel: The Government will establish a Public Transport Fares Advisory Panel to provide independent advice on future public transport fares, products and ticketing.

[mufreight]

Now would be a good time for the Queensland Government to commence work on the realignment and duplication of the Beerburrum to Glasshouse section and to build new station at Glasshouse.
Queensland Rail is more than capable of administering the project and the construction of the Beerburrum to Glasshouse section would cut a couple of minutes off the running times to and from Landsbrough and make it possible for all passenger services between Caboolture and Landsbrough to be operated by rail instead of bus.
The federal government could no longer refuse funding once the project was started as it would facilitate freight operations.

[Fares_Fair]

The Qld Govt overtly campaigns for a sports stadium for Townsville long and loud, at a cost of $140 million to the state.. absolute bunch of hypocrites.

Building a negative benefit cost ratio facility over a positive benefit cost ratio project like #2tracks rail duplication to #SunshineCoast (2.28).

Knuckleheads.. 
More political machinations taking precedence over crucial infrastructure needs!

[Arnz]

Now would be a good time for the Queensland Government to commence work on the realignment and duplication of the Beerburrum to Glasshouse section and to build new station at Glasshouse.
Queensland Rail is more than capable of administering the project and the construction of the Beerburrum to Glasshouse section would cut a couple of minutes off the running times to and from Landsbrough and make it possible for all passenger services between Caboolture and Landsbrough to be operated by rail instead of bus.
The federal government could no longer refuse funding once the project was started as it would facilitate freight operations.

There's no need to build a new station at Glasshouse Mtns as it's part of the re-alignment and it already has 2 platforms.  All that Glasshouse Mtns stations needs is the raising of both platforms to door height on a stage by stage basis (temporary platform to the north whilst one of the platforms is being raised).

[#Metro]

More political machinations taking precedence over crucial infrastructure needs!

Getting themselves and their mates at Federal or Council level elected/re-elected is their HIGHEST PRIORITY.
Whatever is next is 2nd place or further down.

[ozbob]

The Qld Govt overtly campaigns for a sports stadium for Townsville long and loud, at a cost of $140 million to the state.. absolute bunch of hypocrites.

Building a negative benefit cost ratio facility over a positive benefit cost ratio project like #2tracks rail duplication to #SunshineCoast (2.28).

Knuckleheads.. 
More political machinations taking precedence over crucial infrastructure needs!

It really annoys me that TMR is peddling the bullsh%t that nothing can happen until CRR.

They are anti-rail, pure and simple.  We need a Minister for Railways and a department that is not road and sports stadiums obsessed!

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th June 2016

QLD Budget 2016 - rail

Good Morning,

Budget 2016 day. 

There is a notion going around that any further extensions to our existing rail network depend on Cross River Rail.  This is a false notion.  TMR is trying to suggest that everything has to stop until Cross River Rail is done?

Really?  What nonsense.  The State needs to keeping rolling out improvements to the transport network. No hesitation to keep rolling out roads hey? After Moreton Bay Rail Link, and the Coomera-Helensvale track amplification, there is nothing in the rail extension pipeline.

Funding for Cross River Rail will need Infrastructure Australia support as well as other approaches including but not limited to value capture & private investment, investment loans, and State funds.

We cannot just wait for the Cross River Rail dream wishing and hoping.  Extension of the Springfield Central railway to Redbank Plains South is a minor level project well within the states resources.  Similarly, works can begin on the Sunshine Coast Line to upgrade this key freight and passenger corridor.

We would like to see an indication in the budget for both of these projects to commence.  After all, if the state can invest in football stadiums with negative BCRs we are sure the state can invest in vital rail  transport infrastructure for the state with very positive BCRs ?

Best wishes
Robert

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

[Stillwater]

It is interesting to note that the SCL is now listed by TMR as having 'national rail network' status. (map, page 2)

https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/06739006-5b6a-470a-81fd-4d3cf6ca6111/resource/7527fc54-7998-40ea-bb78-e14566ee7bac/download/qtrip-2016-17-to-2019-20---07-north-coast.pdf

In 2016-17, TMR will spend $2.35m on NCL planning (Beerburrum-Landsborough), but nothing thereafter. (table, page 57)

[Fares_Fair]

Nice pick-up SW.
A state without funds welcomes Federal assistance - for sports stadiums 

Question is, do the Feds agree?

[#Metro]

Nice pick-up SW.
A state without funds welcomes Federal assistance - for sports stadiums 

Question is, do the Feds agree?

Yes, absolutely. This is why things like this need to be banned or at least given an extra layer of regulation such as send to ballot.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull delivers $100m stadium funding pledge to Townsville
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/news/prime-minister-malcolm-turnbull-delivers-100m-stadium-funding-pledge-to-townsville/news-story/cdb6d6c3915763a59a64572f55ca33b2

WE did it.

After a marathon battle involving three Premiers and four Prime Ministers Townsville will have a new stadium in the heart of the city.

Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull will today make history by guaranteeing construction of the city-defining project.

The Sunshine Coast needs to become marginal, or taken over by independents who hold the balance of power for anything to happen.

[Stillwater]

The National Land Transport Network -- rail component in Queensland.

http://investment.infrastructure.gov.au/whatis/network/images/QLD_National_Land_Transport_Network_Rail_Corridors_update_2014.pdf

Successive Queensland Governments have not requested any federal funding for this network, preferring instead to apply available federal funding to the Bruce Highway Upgrade.  As we now know, that strategy means that rail cannot compete for freight traffic against road south of Rockhampton.  Soon, the point at which rail freight becomes non-competitive will shift north to Mackay.

So far, no political party has picked up this line during the current federal election campaign .... the LNP has snubbed the electors of Capricornia (Rockhampton) by not investing in the NCL to improve rail freight operations .... meaning the people of Rockhampton will have to pay higher prices for goods delivered by road.  Rockhampton businesses that rely upon transportation of components and on-forwarding of their finished product will be at a disadvantage, meaning leaner times for industry and business and fewer people employed as they battle rising freight costs .....

[mufreight]

LD Transit in his post has pointed out the obvious that until such time as either party is forced into it they will do nothing towards providing the infrastructure on the NCL.
An active independent candidate standing in the next election either state or federal could well force both parties hands in relation  to a commitment to the NCL simply by standing for one of the Sunshine coast seats and if elected by continuously reminding the government that they lost the seat because of their failure to act.
Perhaps Stillwater might like to stand as an independent with the membership of RBoT providing his campaign funds and campaign workers, it would be an interesting exercise.

[#Metro]

LD Transit in his post has pointed out the obvious that until such time as either party is forced into it they will do nothing towards providing the infrastructure on the NCL.

An active independent candidate standing in the next election either state or federal could well force both parties hands in relation  to a commitment to the NCL simply by standing for one of the Sunshine coast seats and if elected by continuously reminding the government that they lost the seat because of their failure to act.

Perhaps Stillwater might like to stand as an independent with the membership of RBoT providing his campaign funds and campaign workers, it would be an interesting exercise.

Thanks mufreight. It is not necessary to win government, winning the balance of power on the cross bench would be enough, particularly if one refuses to pass budget supply on the issue.

Crowdfunding possible also these days through the internet. I'd donate a few $100 if such a candidate ran.

[James]

Thanks mufreight. It is not necessary to win government, winning the balance of power on the cross bench would be enough, particularly if one refuses to pass budget supply on the issue.

Crowdfunding possible also these days through the internet. I'd donate a few $100 if such a candidate ran.

I'd put Stillwater's chance of winning as pretty low, it'd rely on preferences flowing the right way and getting enough votes to at least beat The Greens. As a single-issue candidate, it's tough.

The biggest win would that it'd force the issue out into the open during sensitive times for governments (i.e. elections), hopefully leading to increased pressure for funding, with one of the major parties eventually picking up the policy and delivering it, with the threat of non-delivery leading to large losses of the vote in the following election.

[#Metro]

The biggest win would that it'd force the issue out into the open during sensitive times for governments (i.e. elections), hopefully leading to increased pressure for funding, with one of the major parties eventually picking up the policy and delivering it, with the threat of non-delivery leading to large losses of the vote in the following election.

Could be symbolic. There is a new electorate to be created on the Sunshine Coast apparently. Would be vacant of course! That's the best kind of start anyone could have - no incumbent to go up against!