The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

[Stillwater]

How many sleeps until the B2N business case is ready and an investment decision made?   

Santa Anna has an extra $2 billion in Queensland state coffers,

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/B/Beerburrum-to-Nambour-Rail-Upgrade-Project

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

14th December 2016

$2bn Qld Govt Surplus - Where is the money for transport infrastructure?

Greetings,

RAIL Back on Track notes that in the Mid-Year Fiscal and Economic Review, the Queensland government has announced $540 million to be spent on jobs packages for regional areas in North Queensland and for energy subsidies for low-income families [1]. RAIL Back On Track notes that this amount is almost the same as the amount required to duplicate the Sunshine Coast line (SCL) from Beerburrum to Landsborough - $532 million, according to estimates made by the former government [2].

Would this money not be better spent on an infrastructure project which will unlock vast benefits across the freight & passenger rail network?

The aforementioned section of the SCL is the most congested along the entire corridor from Brisbane to Cairns. The benefits of the duplication is not limited to pork barrelling in a few seats. The benefits will be wide-ranging, from reducing the road toll on the Bruce, providing much needed construction jobs and reduces the need to repair and upgrade the Bruce Highway. Duplication of the SCL is not only a vote winner on the Sunshine Coast - it is a vote winner for the whole state.

Queensland is in dire need of infrastructure funding after inaction on both sides of politics for the better part of a decade. The Sunshine Coast Line Duplication has had numerous studies commissioned, and is relatively cheap compared to Cross River Rail, busway extensions or Bruce Highway upgrades. Building new infrastructure not only provides jobs, but makes it easier for citizens to conduct business, and access new opportunities.

Best wishes
Robert

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

References:

1. http://statements.qld.gov.au/Statement/2016/12/13/revised-2-billion-surplus-for-201617--largest-in-a-decade
2. http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/queensland-state-election-2015/queensland-election-lnp-promises-sunshine-coast-train-line-duplication-20150113-12n1l5.html

[Fares_Fair]

How many sleeps until the B2N business case is ready and an investment decision made?   

Santa Anna has an extra $2 billion in Queensland state coffers,

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/Projects/Name/B/Beerburrum-to-Nambour-Rail-Upgrade-Project

BQ have told me that the business case for Rail Duplication to Landsborough and associated works (loop extensions, park and rides etc.) from Landsborough to Nambour MUST be completed by 31 March 2017.

[Stillwater]

   Just in time for the tweaking of the 2017-18 state budget ... good.

[Stillwater]

It would be interesting to see the LNP's reaction to any announcement of the Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication and works to improve the line, essentially on the current alignment, further north to Nambour; particularly as the works are in the electorate of Andrew Powell, the Opposition Transport spokesperson.  Nambour is the seat of the Speaker, Mr Peter Wellington.  (Labor needs to keep him on side.)

http://www.andrewpowell.com.au/powell-media-release-labor-short-changes-sunshine-coast-hinterland-rail-duplicationagain

http://www.andrewpowell.com.au/tag/north-coast-rail-duplication

The big mystery – what would Andrew do?  By the ALP announcing the works (starting B-L), the community expectation would be for Mr Powell to say the LNP in government would fund the full, continuous duplication to Nambour.  But Mr Powell probably would not do so, showing he 'can't deliver' for his electorate.  An opportunity for a political snooker shot by the Palaszczuk Government while providing a much-needed piece of infrastructure for the freight sector, and for passenger rail too.

[Stillwater]

Presumably Anna Bligh's promise of train travel to the Sunshine Coast in 'about an hour' still binds Labor.

The key issues is what is 'about an hour' and what is 'the Sunshine Coast'.  (In Queensland, we have to parse anything a politician says.)

About an hour's train travel north of Brisbane gets you to Caboolture -- not the Sunshine Coast.  The first town within the borders of the SCRC area is Beerburrum.  At a stretch, Landsborough is the 'Sunshine Coast'.  So a reasonable interpretation is that State Labor promises to get a train traveller to Landsborough in 'about an hour'.

'About an hour would be 70 mins' -- a reasonable interpretation.  To get to Landsborough in 65-70 minutes would require shaving 20 mins off the current journey, and we know that only seven minutes will be saved with duplication from Beerburrum to Landsborough.

We have been assuming that Anna Bligh was looking to the days when the Trouts Road corridor was operational, and maybe when Tilts performed the task.

Can Labor deliver 'train travel to the Sunshine Coast in about an hour' using existing trains and NGR on a duplicated and realigned track to Landsborough?  What's the LNP position?

[#Metro]

(In Queensland, we have to parse anything a politician says.)

Hey Stillwater, the way this is going, we should ask the gov what the definition of 'hour' is.

Maybe they are using non-standard definition, you know, the Queensland Hour or something like that.

[tazzer9]

They might do what V/line did with the regional fast rail. Because the RFR project didn't deliver the journey times promised for most journeys, they had 1 or 2 services which ran virtually express to southern cross which did meet those promised times.   Maybe QR might do they same and have a bowen hills - landsborough with a stop only at petrie.   You might be able to do it then.

[James]

I believe the promise of trip times of "about an hour" included the Trouts Rd corridor, tilting rolling stock and CAMCOS, and was made in the Connecting SEQ 2031 plan.

Current trip time from Landsborough to Central on the Gympie North express is 1hr14mins. SCL duplication from Beerburrum to Landsborough would bring this down by 7 minutes, to 1hr7mins. This could very well cut the mustard for trip times of "about an hour".

[tazzer9]

As said 77 minutes central to landsborough on the current fastest citytrain service.  Remove 7 minutes for SCL duplication.   remove 6 minutes by running express bowen hills - landsborough stopping only at caboolture.  remove 2 minutes of padding in the timetable.  62 minutes is close

[Stillwater]

Thanks to the insights of HTG in another thread, a clearer picture is emerging about recent developments re the SCL. 

Plans for full duplication to a superior alignment between Beerburrum and Nambour were prepared and projects were being worked up in anticipation of the SCL and NCL being part of a track leasing deal with the Australian Rail Track Corporation (ARTC).  LNP lost office, leasing became a bad idea, ARTC disengaged and - in circumstances where Queensland alone would have to foot the bill for any upgrades, the project was re-scoped back to duplication to Landsborough only and light realignment further north to Nambour, with extended passing loops at stations built largely where they are today.

The NCL remains part of the federal government's National Transport Network, yet it has not received a cent of federal money since that network was declared.  The administrative mechanism for providing any federal money is via an ARTC track lease arrangement, but grant money to Qld for rail track upgrades (as happens with the Bruce Highway) could still be possible.

It is strange that one state government hoping to get some contribution from the feds would say that full duplication was necessary in order to accommodate the passenger and freight operations on this track, but another argues a different case when it faces the upgrade bill alone.  Thus we have the Queensland 'double truth' issue.

CRR is another example of projects being developed on a shared-cost basis with the feds, the moving sands of funding commitments being made and withdrawn, blue-team, red-team politics, altered positions over private sector involvement etc.  It smacks of desperation planning on the run that has the construction sector exacerbated and has resulted in private money going south where the game play is more stable and governments have substantial margins in the Parliament.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Sunshine Coast railway line upgrade set for approval to meet burgeoning population demands

A MAJOR rail upgrade needed to increase capacity on the busy Sunshine Coast line is ­expected to be given the green light by the state's infrastructure authority.

Building Queensland's second infrastructure pipeline report is expected to be released today and The Courier-Mail understands it will recommend the Beerburrum to Nambour duplication is ready for investment.

The Government is also ­expected to be handed the business case for the project.

The project, estimated to cost at least $700 million, will be needed in just six years with the line expected to reach ­capacity by 2023.

The recommendation is likely to mean the project will attract funding in this year's Budget, which comes at a crucial time for the Palaszczuk Government before an expected election and is understood to include an infrastructure spending spree.

But the state may need funding help from the Commonwealth to build the project.

Independent Nicklin MP Peter Wellington said the duplication was badly needed to help the Sunshine Coast continue to grow.

"It would be a major boost for the whole growth of the ­region," Mr Wellington said.

"It would drive growth like we have never seen before because people would choose to live on the Sunshine Coast and commute to and from Brisbane like they do in Sydney and Melbourne."

But Mr Wellington said he understood it would all come down to the dollars.

"The State Government cannot fund it all by itself. We need the Federal Government to put money on the table."

The duplication of the line has been on the agenda of successive governments but has yet to attract any firm funding.

The former Newman government had promised to build the duplication using the proceeds of its asset sales plan.

Both parties are likely to campaign on the project, with One Nation already wooing Sunshine Coast voters.

Last week the party poached Buderim MP Steve Dickson from the LNP.

Looming election starts to concentrate a few minds ....

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Green light expected today for $700m Coast rail project


Sunshine Coast commuters Kieron Wallace and Jeff Addison have campaigned long and hard for rail duplication.
Photo: John McCutcheon / Sunshine Coast Daily John McCutcheon

DUPLICATION of the main North Coast rail line from Beerburrum to Nambour would deliver an economic boost to the Sunshine Coast greater than will be experienced by either the new $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital or the planned airport expansion, according to Nicklin independent Peter Wellington.

Building Queensland's second infrastructure pipeline report expected to be released today is expected to contain a business case declaring the $700 million project investment ready.

Mr Wellington said he had held several favourable meetings with those preparing the report and said he had made clear that a funded and delivered rail upgrade would be the biggest driver of economic growth the Sunshine Coast had seen.

He said the commute experiences of Sydney and Melbourne would be mirrored here once a fast rail access to Brisbane was delivered.

"We don't have to compete with Brisbane and we don't have to be the Gold Coast," Mr Wellington said.

"We can enjoy the best of both worlds and retain our distinction. Otherwise there will be Gold Coast one, and Gold Coast two which will be us."

Mr Wellington said with good rail connections to jobs in Brisbane people will choose to live here and enjoy the amenity to raise their families.

He said while the costs were massive, they were justified and could be jointly funded by state and federal governments.

Rail Back on Track campaigner Robert Dow said ideally the Beerburrum to Landsborough North section should start immediately.

Its completion would increase reliability and capacity ahead of pushing on with the Landsborough North to Nambour link.

Mr Dow said the Building Queensland recommendations were a step closer to getting the important rail upgrade under way.

But he said the Sunshine Coast's beleaguered rail commuters had been a "step closer" in 2009 until the Bligh government started and then stopped the project.

Mr Dow said it was reasonable for the project to be jointly funded by the state and federal governments because duplication would improve the national freight rail freight transport network.

He said Queensland had been the poor cousin to NSW, South Australia and Western Australia in terms of national rail funding.

Mr Dow said seven years on from the Bligh government halting the rail duplication north of Beerburrum, it remained a quite primitive piece of infrastructure.

He said there was a need to back trains up and hold them in sidings to allow other stock to pass, a process which made it difficult to both increase capacity and to maintain timetables.

[ozbob]

The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour > https://t.co/DXKLpDrJ99 via @railbotforum #qldpol pic.twitter.com/NY6OppBSS4

— Robert Dow (@Robert_Dow) January 16, 2017

[tazzer9]

Anyone know whether its duplication and FULL realignment to the recommended alignments,  duplication with minor realignments, or just duplication of the current crapbox alignment and extra platforms north of landsborough.   
700 million doesn't seem like it would redo everything to the 130-160km/h standard between landsborough and nambour.

[ozbob]

See >> http://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/business-case/beerburrum-to-nambour-rail-upgrade/

Although this is not the final business case.  Hopefully will be made available later today ..

[Arnz]

Anyone know whether its duplication and FULL realignment to the recommended alignments,  duplication with minor realignments, or just duplication of the current crapbox alignment and extra platforms north of landsborough.   
700 million doesn't seem like it would redo everything to the 130-160km/h standard between landsborough and nambour.

http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/-/media/Projects/B/beerburrum-to-nambour/45888-B2N_October-2016-Newsletter-F-Web.pdf?la=en

Basically they're keeping most of the 2009 alignment. 

140km/h (MUs) - 160km/h (Tilts) between Beerburrum and Glasshouse Mtns.  However, looking closely, it's only minor curve easing between Glasshouse Mtns and Beerwah and placing the new track next to the existing 120km/h track between Glasshouse Mtns and Landsborough.

[#Metro]

Has the full CRR business case come out yet?

Seems to be a lot of half things in qld!

[ozbob]

16th January 2017

Media Release
Deputy Premier, Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning and Minister for Trade and Investment
The Honourable Jackie Trad

Palaszczuk Government welcomes release of second Building Queensland Pipeline

The Palaszczuk Government has welcomed the release of Building Queensland's second Infrastructure Pipeline Report, an independent analysis of Queensland's priority infrastructure projects.

Deputy Premier and Minister for Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning Jackie Trad said the release of the second Infrastructure Pipeline Report demonstrated the ongoing commitment to transparency and efficiency in infrastructure delivery.

"We know that building infrastructure is integral to delivering jobs and growing productivity across Queensland," Ms Trad said.

"The Pipeline allows the Government to make informed decisions about which projects to investigate further and which projects to fund.

"Building Queensland's arm's length expert advice provides confidence that public money is being spent wisely.

"We have already committed funding to five projects from the first Building Queensland pipeline, including our number one infrastructure project Cross River Rail, vital M1 upgrades and the European Train Control System.

"This update to the Pipeline affirms the need for the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Project, a major priority for the Sunshine Coast community which will provide a more integrated and effective transport system and improve connectivity in South East Queensland."

An additional 19 proposals have been recommended in the Pipeline for further development including upgrades for the Port of Townsville, a new correctional precinct for Southern Queensland and a number of road and dam upgrades.

"Building Queensland will undertake a thorough analysis of these projects and they will be further considered in subsequent updates," Ms Trad said.

"We are committed to following proper process and ensuring infrastructure development and prioritisation is done properly, for the benefit of all Queenslanders.

"It is essential that we are investing in projects that will both sustain the construction industry and create a lasting legacy for local communities throughout the state."

The full report is available at www.buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au           

ENDS

[ozbob]

^

[ozbob]

No business case publicly available case by the look of it ..   

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

16th January 2017

RAIL Back On Track Welcomes second Building Queensland Pipeline

Greetings,

Some welcome news with the release of the second Building Queensland Pipeline ( http://buildingqueensland.qld.gov.au/pipeline/ )

" With the recent completion of the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade Business Case, this proposal is now ready to be considered as part of the Budget process. "



We have been lobbying for this critical rail upgrade since 2009, when it was unexpectedly stopped.  It is now 7 years on.  This project must be commenced as soon as possible.  The Sunshine Coast Line is an important freight and passenger corridor.   It is presently back in the 19th Century.

We also hope that the Business Case for the Beerburrum to Nambour Rail Upgrade will be made publicly available in due course.

Best wishes
Robert

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

Reference:

The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour
https://railbotforum.org/mbs/index.php?topic=6647.msg67212#msg67212

[James]

Not to be nit-picky, but by the time the budget rolls around, it'll have been 8 years since construction halted. The 2009 state election was in March 2009, and the duplication from Beerburrum to Landsborough cancelled soon after.

I dearly hope that there's nothing which cements the current alignment in too much between Landsborough and Nambour. Isn't there that development near Palmwoods station which has disappeared into the never never/foam box?

[ozbob]

WIN News Sunshine Coast

RAIL DUPLICATION- Today Building Queensland's Pipeline report recommended the duplication of the train line from Beerburrum and Nambour is ready to be funded.

> https://www.facebook.com/WINNewsSunshineCoast/videos/1432408320125940/

[verbatim9]

Regarding rail funding wonder what it will come down too? CRR or Sunshine coast duplication?

[ozbob]

It will depend on what is left over after the new footy stadiums are built at Longreach, Quilpie, and Mount Isa, and the new race track at Birdsville!

[ozbob]

North Coast Line duplication furthered in report - https://t.co/SqG86vdjfU pic.twitter.com/fYMMLLnqng

— Rail Express (@RailExpressNews) January 17, 2017

[ozbob]

Council welcomes Infrastructure Pipeline Report on upgrade of North Coast Rail Line between Beerburrum-Nambour: https://t.co/S2vJVgT0Wo pic.twitter.com/F4uffjGGaL

— SunshineCoastCouncil (@CouncilSCC) January 17, 2017

[Stillwater]

Once the station upgrades go ahead Landsborough-Nambour, the options for further improvements to the alignment, over and above what is envisaged, will be limited.  The focus on duplication to Landsborough probably has to do with major developments at Caloundra South/Caloundra.  There also calls also for six lanes (currently 4) on the Bruce Highway between Caloundra turn-off and Caboolture.  Good rail connections will relieve the traffic congestion on this stretch.

[verbatim9]

Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication maybe brought forward then. Since Cross River Rail Stuck in gridlock. Funds can now be used for realignmet and duplication?

[Stillwater]

^ Yep.  It is the last 'shovel ready' project left standing.  But watch the ALP squirm about spending a large dollop of money in LNP voting territory -- and the electorate of the Opposition transport spokesperson at that!  It is hard to imagine how the ALP can avoid making a start on this project in 2017-18.  It has run out of excuses -- CRR is a myth right now.  There is no other project in the cupboard.

In the normal course of events, the budget needs some 'big ticket' infrastructure projects (beyond the Townsville Stadium) to stimulate jobs and industry.  The SCL duplication is justified and the state government can sell it as fixing the bottleneck that is hampering rail freight operations north to Townsville.  It is a statewide project, although construction is confined to a geographical area.

And, if the government cannot help but make political capital, it could pledge money for the Beerburrum-Landsborough North duplication and station upgrades north of there and call upon the local LNP members to pressure their federal counterparts to fund the track realignment and crossing loops north to Nambour on the grounds that the track forms part of the National Transport Network (which the federal government funds, but which has not seen any money applied to the SCL).  The feds fund freight capacity improvement and, it could be argued, this trackwork will serve that purpose.

At least lets get the project rolling.  It has been studied to death.  And it has a realistic BCR.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> #GoQld: Sunshine Coast 'choked' by inadequate road, rail infrastructure

A BOOMING region less than 100km from Brisbane will "choke'' unless governments heed the recommendations of decades of costly studies and upgrade rail and road infrastructure.

The Sunshine Coast, celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, is one of the most desirable places to live – and visit – in Australia.

Traditional drawcards include world-class beaches, a family-friendly vibe and relaxed retirement living.

A pipeline of economic activity from major government and private developments, such as the $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital at Kawana, has now added jobs to the equation.

The population has surged from 65,000 in 1975 to 341,000, according to ABS data and is predicted to swell to 536,000 by 2036.

Many newcomers will be lured to Stockland's Aura (Caloundra South) city, which eventually will be home to 50,000.

Another masterplanned community, AVID Property Group's Harmony, will deliver 4800 homes for 12,000 residents at Palmview.

A futuristic new regional heart, being created from scratch on 53ha at Maroochydore, is expected to create 15,000 jobs by 2025 and provide an estimated $4.4 billion boost to the economy over the life of the project.

The new $1.8 billion Sunshine Coast University Hospital opening next month will create 1000 health jobs.

It doesn't take much for the M1 between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast to become gridlocked.

Ashley Page, chief executive of economics and finance consultants AEC Group, said construction and health and social care were the biggest sectors, but finance and insurance services had grown strongly over the past decade.

Insurance firm Youi is locating its $70 million global headquarters to Sippy Downs.

And unlike in most regions, manufacturing is growing.

Aviation opportunities also are in the wings after Palisade Investment Partners last week was announced as the expanding Sunshine Coast Airport's commercial operating partner in a deal worth more than half a billion dollars.

Despite the boom, there's gloom, with community leaders and transport experts saying the Sunshine Coast is hurtling towards a transport infrastructure crisis.

This follows decades of studies that no government has rolled into action.

There are renewed calls for funding to duplicate the north coast rail link to Nambour and widen the M1 (Bruce Highway) to six lanes between the Caboolture and Caloundra turn-offs.

Mayor Mark Jamieson told The Courier-Mail that if the region's missing links did not receive urgent attention, the Sunshine Coast would choke.

"Clearly, we have big challenges with major road and rail infrastructure, being the Bruce Highway and that would be evidenced again after the holidays where we had huge congestion,'' Cr Jamieson said.

"The recently announced efforts of the State Government around the duplication of the rail line from Beerburrum to Nambour are welcome, but again many years late, so this needs to be done forthwith.''

Building Queensland, the state's independent infrastructure adviser, has recommended the State Government advance the rail line through a $780 million project and fund it in the mid-year budget. It would also need federal backing.

"We have a very desirable place to live and people want to come here. We are seeking to prepare for that but need the other levels of government, who in the end get the bigger slice of the tax dollar, to invest back in this region,'' Cr Jamieson said.

Sunshine Coast Business Council chairwoman Sandy Zubrinich said transport infrastructure was "well below'' what was required to support Australia's 10th-largest city.

Ms Zubrinich said the region would experience enormous population growth thanks to developments, including the new city of Aura.

"We have a healthy pipeline of private and government projects, either in progress or about to start," she said.

"This activity is reflected in the regional unemployment rate, which is sitting below the state average and is likely to stay there, given the economic activity."

Regional Development Australia Sunshine Coast chief Darrell Edwards said his organisation had been campaigning for better transport infrastructure for years.

Mr Edwards said it was fantastic the duplication of the north coast line had been listed as investment-ready and the improvement was a step closer.

One of those who would dearly love not to be stuck in traffic is Tina Grey, who lives at Caloundra and commutes to Brisbane City, where she is Queensland's head of residential management for global firm JLL.

Ms Grey, 39, said rail was too slow and unpredictable to be a viable option and she was forced to drive 90 minutes each way in peak times.

"When I lived in Sydney I was a similar distance from work and commuted by train. It was about 35-45 minutes ... a breeze. Here, it's a much different story and it's holding the region back."

Sunshine Coast tourism is booming, with 3.52 million domestic and international visitors arriving in the 12 months to September 2016 – up 12.9 per cent on the previous year.

Visit Sunshine Coast CEO Simon Latchford said the drive market was as much responsible for the figures as the record-breaking airport passenger movements.

Mr Latchford said duplication of the rail line would allow greater movement between Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast and encourage more day trips.

RACQ executive general manager (advocacy) Paul Turner said duplication of the heavy rail would take pressure off the congested Bruce Highway.

[Stillwater]

ABC Radio Sunshine Coast morning news carried story in which Transport Minister Jackie Trad was interviewed ... she said SCL upgrade was 'absolutely needed' as it formed part of a multi-purpose railway line and, as a tease, invited people to await the state budget.  While the reporter made mention of the upgrade to Nambour, Ms Trad specifically referred to Beerburrum-Landsborough.  Are we to take it that the project will be staged, with duplication to Landsborough being the first stage?

Sunshine Coast Daily story today: https://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/report-says-rail-upgrades-time-has-come/3132162/

[ozbob]

 

[Stillwater]

The Sunshine Coast's answer to Wet and Wild has passed council approval, paving the way for a $400m development to take place near to Australia Zoo.  See the story and video here: http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/queensland/investment-firm-to-splash-400-million-on-new-water-park-at-sunshine-coast-20170216-guef2p.html

Make sure you check out the video!

This will drag more people up the already choked Bruce Highway, not to mention the extra travel that will be generated by the City of Aura (a new 'Gladstone' in size) and Palmview (a new 'Warwick' in size), plus the extra activity from the Kawana health precinct and Maroochydore Town Centre.

Transport to and from, and within, the SC will be come a basket case unless the SCL is duplicated forthwith.  Maybe an extra railway station, provided and paid for by the theme parks, north of Beerburrum?

[Arnz]

^^

The water park is just north of Landsborough.  Next to BP Glenview on Steve Irwin Way on the way to the Bruce Highway and Caloundra.
That part of the Steve Irwin Way is already 4 lanes up to the Bruce Highway/Caloundra Road turnoff.

Chances are that most 605 and/or 615 will be diverted into the new Water Park (after 9am and before closing times) in the future when it opens

[Stillwater]

To use the current words of the age, could we, with justification, call ALP and LNP promises of duplication of the SCL 'fake news' – information disseminated as news, but lacking in truth?  And how deliciously ironic would it be that the political party that finally delivers this project for the long-suffering people of the Sunshine Coast is PHON.

With the pending departure of Peter Wellington (Independent) from the state parliament at the next election, and the defection of Steve Dickson to One Nation AND the likelihood of another seat being created on the Sunshine Coast, the LNP stranglehold on the Sunshine Coast is in jeopardy.

The LNP has taken the people of the Sunny Coast for granted, for years.  Sensing that it can't win on the Sunshine Coast, the ALP just doesn't bother when it comes to transport infrastructure projects, except when they are absolutely necessary and the lack of that investment inflicts real pain, usually on the entire state, even though solution has a geographic location on the Coast (as in the case of the SCL).

The major political parties at various times have promised a SCL upgrade, but failed to deliver, or only partially delivered in the case of Caboolture-Beerburrum.  That project was stopped for political reasons.  The LNP put a political caveat on continuing duplication further north (voting for LNP and selling state assets).

Neither the ALP or the LNP will govern in their own right after the next state election and will require support of One Nation, if not in a formal coalition.

The motivation for the major political parties becomes, once again, to promise to deliver the SCL duplication in order to stem the protest votes flowing on the Sunshine Coast to the One Nation party.  That might not work.  Whoever wins government, a key determinant of One Nation support for Supply Bills would be the SCL duplication, so the government of the day would be forced to build it.

It flows that voters will see that One Nation delivers on its promises even when the major parties just say they will, yet fail to deliver due to their arm-wrestling tactics that do not reward good politics, but simply block good policy just to be different and to frustrate their political opponents.

[ozbob]

Couriermail --> Brisbane traffic: We're on a road to nowhere

QUEENSLAND commuters are spending almost two hours every day travelling to and from work, contributing to billions of dollars in lost productivity.

A survey has found Queenslanders spend nearly as long commuting as their southern counterparts.

The 51-minute travel time in each direction here is little better than the 59 minutes Victorians averaged, or the 57 minutes in NSW.

The RACQ survey of 1435 people, which formed part of the Australian Automobile Association's first ever study into the country's worst commute times, have highlighted calls for speedier infrastructure development to service a burgeoning southeast Queensland population.

For those working in Brisbane, the average commute time was 72 minutes one way, which included people travelling from as far away as the Sunshine Coast, the Gold Coast and, in some cases, even Toowoomba.

Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland policy adviser Catherine Pham pointed to a 2015 Infrastructure Australia audit that showed delays were costing the southeast Queensland economy about $2 billion every year, with projections suggesting that could quadruple to $9 billion by 2031.

Ms Pham said decentralising employment by helping to nurture businesses in suburban areas was a great way to reduce demand on major infrastructure.

"Having a regional focus to economic growth and creating new jobs within our regional areas will not only lessen the need to commute long hours each day but also achieve the live-work-play, place-making trifecta," she said.

That issue was highlighted by Sunshine Coast residents, who spent an average of four hours on a round trip to and from Brisbane for work, using a combination of cars, buses and trains.

Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson has been campaigning for the delivery of the 20km Beerburrum-to-Landsborough rail-line duplication, which the State Government has declared "ready for investment", to help deliver better travel times.

"With the business case in place, council believes there should be no impediment to both levels of government now committing the funding," Cr Jamieson said.

The Bruce Highway, suffering from years of heavy use, already has a series of upgrades under way, including widening sections from the Sunshine Coast to Brisbane.

The Government's own Bruce Highway Action Plan shows the work was estimated to deliver $3 billion in savings over 30 years, while achieving up to $30 billion in time savings to the economy.

Cr Jamieson said the highway no longer had the capacity to service the demand stemming from years of the corridor sustaining a major freight route and an ever-growing tourism market feeding into the Sunshine Coast.

"Travel times, especially at peak periods, are worsening and we have seen many times that even a minor accident can cause significant delays and issues," he said.

Travel times to Brisbane were almost as bad from the Gold Coast, where residents spent an average of 90 minutes commuting in a journey that should only take one hour.

Logan Mayor Luke Smith has been banging on political doors to get funding for an upgrade that state and federal politicians believe needs to happen.

But so far no one can agree on the funding split, with state politicians arguing the Federal Government should pay for 80 per cent of the costs, while the Federal Government thinks 50 per cent is reasonable.

Cr Smith lamented that the issue continued to be treated like a political football.

"Fixing the M1 is a project of national significance and the voice of the residents between the Gold Coast and Logan City, who are sitting in peak traffic for more than 90 minutes every single day, need to be heard," he said. "Enough is enough."

RACQ spokeswoman Renee Smith backed the call for greater investment in roads and public transport but also suggested workers could ask about more-flexible hours. ...

[ozbob]

Couriermail Editorial: Transport funding is vital to getting Queensland moving

NO OTHER state is as decentralised as Queensland, and none has a comparable reliance on such a vast transport system.

For far too long a succession of federal governments neglected to provide fair, or even adequate, funding for transport, leaving Queensland to find its own money to maintain a network unlike any other in the country.

It meant that all too often regions were left to wait years for vital infrastructure, and major cities were left isolated from each other. Inadequate transport hampered the development of our mining and agriculture sectors and contributed to a perception that, while the state was an economic powerhouse providing vastly disproportionate income to the nation, it was also disproportionately neglected by the Commonwealth.

Twelve years ago the Commonwealth was contributing just a quarter of the cost of transport infrastructure in Queensland.

Today's Infrastructure Association of Queensland report indicates that those years of neglect are being overcome, with federal money to contribute 72 per cent of the cost of 14 major road projects between now and 2020.

In October Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull was in Queensland to spruik $50 billion in transport spending for the state.

That is to be welcomed, but it is fair to observe that this investment is long overdue and cannot make up for all the opportunities lost that were a direct result of not being able to provide efficient, safe transport around the state.

Nor in the case of the Bruce Highway – identified by the RACQ as once being the worst and most dangerous stretch of highway in the country – can the new injection of money make up for the lives that were lost or ruined because of a bad road.

The Courier-Mail has previously, and continuously, identified outstanding transport needs for Queensland.

The 14 projects planned over the next three years are all critical, but there remains a list of other pressing needs.

A year ago Infrastructure Australia, which advises the Federal Government, acknowledged 10 of 12 projects submitted by the State Government in its 15-year national plan.

The Courier-Mail welcomed that plan but warned that without a schedule and a serious injection of federal cash, Queensland could not afford further delays or uncertainty.

Top among the necessary projects is a second rail crossing of the Brisbane River.

Cross River Rail is absolutely vital, and while federal governments continue to dodge responsibility – and successive state governments delay finalised plans and costings – the economy of Queensland, and therefore Australia, suffers.

There is also the continuing issue of population pressure, which means the M1-Gateway merge has also been identified as a priority, as has the Sunshine Coast rail line duplication.

New money is welcome, fairer funding is welcome, and the structure of a long-term plan is also welcome, but what is really needed now is concrete progress.

[Stillwater]

BATTLE CRY OF THE (SUNSHINE COAST) COMMUTER
(Sung to the tune of the Battle Hymn of the Republic: http://www.cyberhymnal.org/htm/b/h/bhymnotr.htm)

The voice of discontentment,
it comes roaring down the track.
It is honed by broken promises.
We won't be looking back.
We come marching from green valleys
and from beaches far and wide.
With justice by our side.

We demand an equality
that's given us by birth.
It's for better transport services;
from that we won't divert.
We'll resist the TransLink menace
That's put us on alert.
We won't be crushed to dirt.

Chorus:
Angry, angry is our war cry
Victory is ours, do or die
From tyranny we expose the lie
Build dual tracks straight away.

We have seen the vision splendid
of the city by the sea
Where the transportation rapidly
connects you to me.
We will trample any government
that shows its lethargy.
Stamp out this apathy.

The Opposition weakness
It is there for all to see.
It is all about the empathy
And showing sympathy.
But ask about a policy
And they begin to flee,
Of ideas they are free.

Chorus:
Angry, Angry is our war cry
Victory is ours, do or die
From tyranny we expose the lie
Build dual tracks straight away.

The Sunshine Coast express –
It is a lie, a fallacy.
We're sick of all the promises
that fail delivery.
We will vote for any candidate
that gives a firm decree.
Dual tracks and certainty.

Chorus:
Angry, Angry is our war cry
Victory is ours, do or die
Through tyranny we expose the lie
Build dual tracks straight away.

Our lifestyle we do cherish
and our kids a future need.
Our hopes and dreams won't perish
While the pollies grab for greed.
The aspiration lingers
and grows stronger every day.
Let nothing in our way.

Chorus:
Angry, Angry is our war cry
Victory is ours, do or die
Through tyranny we expose the lie
Build dual tracks straight away.