The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

[ozbob]

There may be something to dig up about the cancelled Beerburrum-Landsborough project.  An Alliance contract was awarded for a number of works, of which this was the last to be completed.  The project did not proceed.  Did the government have to pay some compensation for cancelling the Beerburrum-Landsborough project, given the contractor would have been geared up to build it and had every expectation it would proceed?

Excellent question ... i don't know the answers, but a CMC might work it out ...

[Fares_Fair]

The duplication of the railway from Beerburrum to Landsborough was to have been completed by 2012, according to Mr Lucas himself, then Minister for Transport and Main Roads.

It was 1 of 4 projects announced by him on 13 April, 2006, to be delivered by the SEQIP Rail Alliance, later known as the TrackStar Alliance (formed June 2006).

It was originally comprised of Queensland Rail (as the client), with contractors' Thiess, United Group, Connell Wagner Engineers and Maunsell AECOM Engineers.

The 4 projects were:

1. Caboolture to Beerburrum Duplication ($240 million)

2. Robina to Reedy Creek Extension ($75 million)

3. Corinda to Darra Third Track ($110 million)

4. Beerburrum to Landsborough Duplication ($240 million)

The first 3 were completed.
But No. 4, promised for the Sunshine Coast, disappeared.

In Question on Notice, No. 1443, made on 28 November 2006, by the former member for Glasshouse, Ms Carolyn Male to Paul Lucas, then Minister for Transport and Main Roads, he answered it with this (excerpted) statement;

"I announced Phase 2 from Beerburrum to Landsborough on 8 August 2006.
The Trackstar Rail Alliance will shortly commence detailed design work.
Phase 2 is planned for construction from 2009 to 2012."

What happened to the hundreds of millions of dollars set aside for this project?
There are financial questions over the money set aside for these announced works, and where it went.

In the run up to the next state election, is this symbolic of an open and accountable government?
The Sunshine Coast at the very least, deserves an explanation.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Normally in government, when a contract of this kind is let, there is a penalty clause for cancellation.  It can be a set fee, reimbursement of whatever the contractor has spent to the point of cancellation, a percentage of the contract cost, or a mutually agreed sum.

If, as the evidence suggest:

an Alliance contract was let and the money allocated (Mr Lucas' statement confirms this);
the money was withdrawn and the contract stopped before it was finished

the government may very well have been liable to some penalty payment.

Maybe the LNP can do us a favour by seeking the contract paperwork under FOI.  (Government will argue it is commercial-in-confidence.)  Maybe a question can be asked in the parliament when it resumes on 14 February 2012.

[Stillwater]

This story talks about the scope of the original Trackstar Alliance requiring completion of four projects being extended to include another five projects to a total of nine.  Would any of the Beerburrum-Landsborough planned construction money have gone to any of the additional projects added to the Alliance contract?

http://www.alliancecontractingiq.com/default/articles/trackstar-a-program-alliance-chalking-up-success-o/

Here is what Leighton told its shareholders:

The Thiess United Group Joint Venture, as part of the Trackstar Alliance, have been awarded a contract by Queensland Rail to construct four major rail infrastructure projects in South East Queensland. The projects are part of the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan (SEQIP) Rail Alliance which was set up to ensure the delivery of planned rail infrastructure works for the region.

Under the SEQIP Rail Alliance, the joint venture partners will plan, design, construct and commission all civil earthworks and structures, stations, signalling, overhead and track installations for the four railway infrastructure projects. These include:
•   Caboolture to Beerburrum duplication (completed in April 2009)
•   Robina to Reedy Creek extension
•   Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication, and
•   Corinda to Darra third track

http://www.leighton.com.au/about_us/projects/south_east_queensland_infrastructure_plan_(seqip).html

Here is what engineers involved in the Trackstar Alliance told an Austraods Conference in New Zealand:
(Note reference to construct Beerburrum-Landsborough)

http://www.cmsl.co.nz/assets/sm/3827/61/SESSION16ABSTRACTS.PDF

[Stillwater]

The sequence of announcements and how the wording changed is intriguing.

The initial announcements concerning the Alliance contract clearly spoke of four construction projects, of which Beerburrum-Landsborough was one.  The Minister referred to CONSTRUCTION in the parliament, and also in his public media statements.  He said the money had been allocated (reported variously as $240m - $300m).  The difference in the dollar amounts could be explained this way - $240m was the original estimate, rising to $300m at the final design stage.

The companies involved also believed they were about to construct the Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication.  They reported back to shareholders to this effect.

At a particular point, immediately after the state election and with construction wrapping up on the Caboolture-Beerburrum section of track, all construction work ceased.  Workers were set to roll onto the Beerburrum-Landsborough stage, but were pulled out.

Coinciding with cessation of work, public utterences concerning the Alliance contract changed subtly.  The reference to the Beerburrum-Landsborough track duplication became 'Beerburrum-Landsborough (detailed design)'.

At the same time, or soon after, another five projects were added to the contract, including a road flyover at Beerwah and planning for duplication on the Ferny Grove Line.

Question:  Was the money allocated originally to the Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication reassigned to these additional projects and was the inclusion of these extra projects a sop to the contractors for the loss of the Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication work?

[Fares_Fair]

FF, has the Minister replied to your representations yet?  It is over three and a half months since the meeting at which she promised a response.

I have received no reply whatsoever to my original report delivered 14 & 1/2 weeks ago,
nor have I received an answer to my correspondence of 5 & 1/2 weeks ago today, asking when I may receive a reply.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Today (exactly 15 weeks later) I received a reply to my Sunshine Coast Case report ministerial meeting.

In summary, the Minister thanked me for meeting with her and for my efforts in compiling it, and for my advocacy for the North Coast Line.
The Minister said that the State Government recognises the importance of this section of the rail network.
She reiterated that the Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication is to be delivered by 2021.
Planning plans quoted for these works e.g. Connecting SEQ 2031 and the Queensland Infrastructure Plan.
CRR noted as having broader benefits for the whole SEQ rail network, including the Sunshine Coast.
Subject to Government priorities etc.
Limited funding environment by reconstruction for floods and cyclones etc.

The Minister personally signed the letter, was a nice touch.

Unfortunately, no joy in it for the Sunshine Coast.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

EDIT: 13.12.2011 at 8:00pm- Read letter first hand and expanded this post.

[Stillwater]

And that took 15 weeks?  Sounds as though it could have been written off the top of someone's head within 15 minutes of the meeting ending!  Still, nice to get a reply finally.  Thanks for your efforts FF.

[Set in train]

She reiterated that the Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication is to be delivered by 2021.

6 years after the co-ord general's approval expires!!!!!!     

[Gazza]

^Stupidity warrants a media release for the SC local papers. It really does.

[Set in train]

^Stupidity warrants a media release for the SC local papers. It really does.

Agree, print media is strong on the Sunshine Coast, two big companies and a refreshing number of community based ones. FF knows them I'm sure

[Stillwater]

I don't think this is the end of the matter.  There are other developments on the SCL that will bring the government back to the issue of the new track alignment between Beerburrum and Nambour.  Maybe that is something best considered in the election campaign next year. Of course, that is when we will see the LNP's position revealed also.

[Fares_Fair]

She reiterated that the Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication is to be delivered by 2021.

6 years after the co-ord general's approval expires!!!!!!      

Hello SiT,

That is absolutely true, the EIS will expire automatically after 4 years, making it's release by Hon. Andrew Fraser MP on 9 November 2011, incredibly puzzling.
Maybe I am getting too cynical, but I saw it only as a distraction or a very poor attempt at some kind of appeasement.

Would one want to hammer that point in the media?
For me, the answer would be no.

It at least is finally signed off and for that I am grateful, even given the utter uselessness of it.
At least it is done should anything change in the future re: its priority or construction.

I am generally ever hopeful in spite of the overwhelming resistance or non-cognisance, by both sides of politics, to the duplication.

I am more stumped by the lack of attention to the report that I collated, at both State and Federal (IA) levels.
Not for any reason of pride but for the facts contained within it.
These points or facts have in no way been refuted.

I would love to have a public debate with the Hon. Andrew Fraser over his release of the EIS, including the NCL duplication issue, or the Hon. Minister, or even the Premier.
Lets get the facts out, not just to the State, but to the nation.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

FF is absolutely correct.

I like the notion of 'non-cognisance' of overwhelming, irrefutable facts.  The release of the Coordinator-General's approval (even in circumstances where construction is not planned for some time) was an important fact and yet another piece of evidence that builds the case for construction.

What we now have is a body of reports and studies, credible to a fault, that supports the SCL duplication.  Every time the state government releases one of these reports, while reaffirming that construction won't occur until 2026-31, it undermines and weakens its own case.

Another submission to IA seeking federal funding for the SCL duplication is warranted, but not until after consideration of CRR by IA.  There is a danger that IA will reject the CRR business case, or we will face the truly bizarre situation of IA approval of CRR and an LNP government that will refuse to build it – or wanting to break up the funding into different projects.

A round of new transport infrastructure projects as proposed by the LNP (and we don't yet know what they will be) will take five years to work up.

In such circumstances, the only 'shovel ready' project that Queensland has to fall back on is the Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication, followed by Landsborough-Nambour duplication, for which a lot of work has already been done.

Putting the SCL duplication to IA as a private submission before the resolution of the CRR business case is known gives the government the ammunition to claim that it contributed to any rejection of CRR.  Having it ready to move quickly after resolution of CRR funding avoids this situation and may even save the state government's bacon as it faces getting nothing from the next IA funding round (or is given only a fraction of what it wants from the feds and can't make up the difference using state and private money).

Given what LNP members on the Sunshine Coast have said about duplication to Nambour, they could hardly argue against joint federal-state funding for dual tracks along the SCL.

Thus Beerburrum-Nambour realignment and dual tracks becomes 'Plan B' if CRR goes horribly wrong.  CRR should have every chance of being properly evaluated.

[Set in train]

I would love to have a public debate with the Hon. Andrew Fraser over his release of the EIS, including the NCL duplication issue, or the Hon. Minister, or even the Premier.
Lets get the facts out, not just to the State, but to the nation.

Thanks for your detailed reply, I would go after any incoming ministers as Fraser's period of accountability is limited to the next election.

[Fares_Fair]

FF is absolutely correct.

I like the notion of 'non-cognisance' of overwhelming, irrefutable facts.  The release of the Coordinator-General's approval (even in circumstances where construction is not planned for some time) was an important fact and yet another piece of evidence that builds the case for construction.

What we now have is a body of reports and studies, credible to a fault, that supports the SCL duplication.  Every time the state government releases one of these reports, while reaffirming that construction won't occur until 2026-31, it undermines and weakens its own case.

Another submission to IA seeking federal funding for the SCL duplication is warranted, but not until after consideration of CRR by IA.  There is a danger that IA will reject the CRR business case, or we will face the truly bizarre situation of IA approval of CRR and an LNP government that will refuse to build it – or wanting to break up the funding into different projects.

A round of new transport infrastructure projects as proposed by the LNP (and we don't yet know what they will be) will take five years to work up.

In such circumstances, the only 'shovel ready' project that Queensland has to fall back on is the Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication, followed by Landsborough-Nambour duplication, for which a lot of work has already been done.

Putting the SCL duplication to IA as a private submission before the resolution of the CRR business case is known gives the government the ammunition to claim that it contributed to any rejection of CRR.  Having it ready to move quickly after resolution of CRR funding avoids this situation and may even save the state government's bacon as it faces getting nothing from the next IA funding round (or is given only a fraction of what it wants from the feds and can't make up the difference using state and private money).

Given what LNP members on the Sunshine Coast have said about duplication to Nambour, they could hardly argue against joint federal-state funding for dual tracks along the SCL.

Thus Beerburrum-Nambour realignment and dual tracks becomes 'Plan B' if CRR goes horribly wrong.  CRR should have every chance of being properly evaluated.

I would hope that IA would assess all projects on their merit alone, and it should not impact the results of any other applications.
I personally believe that duplication of the NCL should take precedence over the much more expensive CRR.
My rationale below.

From memory, I read a line in a report that 'effectively' stated that the duplication of the NCL (for freight movement) would actually ease the situation in the CBD, and delay the need for a CRR type scenario.
I'll try to find the report (there are so many of them now  ) and the exact wording so that it is in correct context and intent.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

This story talks about the scope of the original Trackstar Alliance requiring completion of four projects being extended to include another five projects to a total of nine.  Would any of the Beerburrum-Landsborough planned construction money have gone to any of the additional projects added to the Alliance contract?

http://www.alliancecontractingiq.com/default/articles/trackstar-a-program-alliance-chalking-up-success-o/

Here is what Leighton told its shareholders:

The Thiess United Group Joint Venture, as part of the Trackstar Alliance, have been awarded a contract by Queensland Rail to construct four major rail infrastructure projects in South East Queensland. The projects are part of the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan (SEQIP) Rail Alliance which was set up to ensure the delivery of planned rail infrastructure works for the region.

Under the SEQIP Rail Alliance, the joint venture partners will plan, design, construct and commission all civil earthworks and structures, stations, signalling, overhead and track installations for the four railway infrastructure projects. These include:
•   Caboolture to Beerburrum duplication (completed in April 2009)
•   Robina to Reedy Creek extension
•   Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication, and
•   Corinda to Darra third track

http://www.leighton.com.au/about_us/projects/south_east_queensland_infrastructure_plan_(seqip).html

Here is what engineers involved in the Trackstar Alliance told an Austraods Conference in New Zealand:
(Note reference to construct Beerburrum-Landsborough)

http://www.cmsl.co.nz/assets/sm/3827/61/SESSION16ABSTRACTS.PDF

http://www.alliancecontractingiq.com/default/articles/trackstar-a-program-alliance-chalking-up-success-o/
Full information shown below for reference.

ALLIANCE CONTRACTING IN FOCUS

TrackStar – a Program Alliance Chalking up Success over the Long Term

In 2006, the Queensland Government released its South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan. This was a 20 year blueprint comprising an ambitious suite of infrastructure projects required to support Queensland's growing population needs. TrackStar was created by QR to achieve a strong partnership with private enterprise to address the daunting challenge of delivering the biggest rail capital program in 100 years at a time when the rail industry would be competing with high profile mega-projects like North-South Bypass tunnel, Gateway Upgrade and Airport Link for resources. QR did this by thinking differently and establishing its first program alliance. It harnessed the experience and skills of Thiess, United Group Infrastructure, AECOM and Aurecon to partner with QR and collaboratively deliver projects from the concept through detailed design, to commissioning and handover.

When QR began its journey with TrackStar, it nominated a number of key deliverables. Apart from delivering multiple complex projects, TrackStar was to build rail industry capability, deliver real 'value for money' solutions, and undertake all of its work safely.

As the TrackStar team nears its fourth year milestone, there is ample evidence of TrackStar's full service delivery capability.

The initial program of projects included:
• $298m Caboolture to Beerburrum Track Duplication
• Beerburrum to Landsborough Track Duplication (Design only)
• $324m Robina to Varsity Lakes Rail Extension
• $268m Corinda to Darra Rail Upgrade

The alliance program expanded progressively from the original four projects concentrated in South East Queensland and worth $660m in 2006 to the current total of nine rail, road and power strengthening projects worth $1,100m and extending into the Central Queensland coal rail network.

The additional projects include:
• $70m Beerwah Road over Rail  Crossing
• $30m Bolingbroke Power Feeder Station in the Goonyella Coal System
• $30m Roma St Power Feeder Station and Taringa Track Section Cabin in Brisbane metropolitan area
• $30m Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Power Feeder Station in the Goonyella Coal System
• $54.7m Raglan Power Feeder Station in the Blackwater Coal System
• $142m Blackwater Power Systems Upgrade
• Keperra to Ferny Grove Track Duplication (Planning study)
• Varsity Lakes to Tugun Extension (Planning Study)
• Kuraby to Kingston Duplication (Planning Study)

Full scope delivery approach

TrackStar Alliance full scope of delivery includes civil/structural, stations, signalling, power, overheads, and track and telecommunications disciplines. In 2007 when TrackStar was awarded a new portfolio of QR power strengthening projects outside of its original program of work, it  "ramped up" quickly building a strong team to meet this emerging need.

The varied and unique challenges presented a range of different settings including city, regional and remote, as well as Greenfield and complex Brownfield environments, all managed as a single program of work.

Best Value

TrackStar's benchmarking and scope refinement process has evolved over the life of the alliance allowing lessons learnt to be passed between the projects reaping benefits in safety, time and client integration. This approach has helped drive costs down, with innovations on one project becoming learnings for future projects. Key inputs from operators, maintainers, designers, constructors and other stakeholders have all been consolidated up front to identify best value solutions and major savings.
The savings realised during the TCE phase on the Caboolture to Beerburrum project is a great example of how challenging the original scope and alignment, together with a 'holistic mindset' and innovations reduced the overall project delivery costs and duration.

Milestone achievements recognised

In 2008, TrackStar hit it's 'delivery straps' chalking up impressive progress and providing real value on each of its project delivery fronts. This progress was recognised by industry peers with multiple award wins throughout the year. They included an Honourable Mention in the Alliance contracting Excellence Awards (IQPC), the Team of Excellence Award from the Alliance Association of Australasia (AAA) and the prestigious Queensland Safety Excellence Award for the Caboolture to Beerburrum and Beerwah Level Crossing Projects from the Queensland Major Contractors Association (QMCA).

A year of successful commissioning

In 2009 Trackstar successfully commissioned two of the major projects. The Caboolture to Beerburrum Track Duplication and Bolingbroke Power System's project were commissioned in the first half of 2009 with the Beerwah Level Crossing and Robina to Varsity Lakes projects being commissioned in late 2009. The complex Corinda to Darra Rail Upgrade Project in Brisbane's busy western corridor is due for completion later this year.

Making live rail a safe working environment

A values based approach to positive safety behaviour is at the heart of TrackStar Alliance's obsessive health and safety philosophy, building a "zero harm mindset" across the team that is based on the belief that all incidents are preventable.

This philosophy is shaped by the Program Alliance's five values of care, clarity, courage, creativity and connection – particularly care, which aims to have every member of the team "work and live in ways that do no harm".

TrackStar's 'mindset' approach to safety is applied  through visible leadership, promoting a positive reporting culture, building a positive legacy and including subcontractors as part of the TrackStar safety focused 'family'.

Finally, TrackStar's safety performance is evidenced by more than three million hours worked LTI free across five project fronts in TrackStar's first three years of operation.

Creation of a productive and cohesive alliance culture

TrackStar took the alliance model to new heights with a significant investment in the establishment phase through a strong organisational identity and a culture supporting peak individual and team performance. TrackStar's Peak Performance Plan provides the right framework to attract the best industry resources, and sustain performance through the build, grow, sustain and transform phases of the alliance lifecycle. Rolling out a Performance and Career Development Agreement (PACDA) was at the heart of TrackStar's performance management approach, providing a base line for progression and professional development and outlining clear objectives to keep team members stimulated and focused.

TrackStar's team grew to more than 400 staff and 1000 personnel across the whole program within the first 20 months of establishment. Three significant TCEs were delivered in parallel with the works over the first 12 months. Up to 75 % of the team were new to the rail industry.

Excellence in KRA Performance

QR expects TrackStar to safely, innovatively and cost-effectively deliver its program of complex projects without disrupting rail customers. TrackStar's program goals aligned with these drivers from the outset through six KRAs which changed twice through the cycle to suit the different stages of the program and focus on the Client's real needs. TrackStar's KRAs were reset in January 2007 after the initial establishment phase and project KRAs kicked off when the first project team mobilised to site. The original six KRAs became four to shift emphasis from an alliance focus to a client focus. A further change occurred in January 2008 to reflect new client outcomes.

The TrackStar team can look back on the past four years with considerable pride having quickly established a reputation for peak performance and innovation that translated into Best Value outcomes for its projects while making a solid contribution to QR's infrastructure delivery performance across its rail network.

TrackStar is due the deliver the final SEQIPRAIL project, the Corinda to Darra Rail upgrade project, by the end of 2010 with power systems projects to continue until 2012.

For more information generally about collaborative contracting please visit: www.collaborativecontracting.com.au

[Fares_Fair]

FF is absolutely correct.

I like the notion of 'non-cognisance' of overwhelming, irrefutable facts.  The release of the Coordinator-General's approval (even in circumstances where construction is not planned for some time) was an important fact and yet another piece of evidence that builds the case for construction.

What we now have is a body of reports and studies, credible to a fault, that supports the SCL duplication.  Every time the state government releases one of these reports, while reaffirming that construction won't occur until 2026-31, it undermines and weakens its own case.

Another submission to IA seeking federal funding for the SCL duplication is warranted, but not until after consideration of CRR by IA.  There is a danger that IA will reject the CRR business case, or we will face the truly bizarre situation of IA approval of CRR and an LNP government that will refuse to build it – or wanting to break up the funding into different projects.

A round of new transport infrastructure projects as proposed by the LNP (and we don't yet know what they will be) will take five years to work up.

In such circumstances, the only 'shovel ready' project that Queensland has to fall back on is the Beerburrum-Landsborough duplication, followed by Landsborough-Nambour duplication, for which a lot of work has already been done.

Putting the SCL duplication to IA as a private submission before the resolution of the CRR business case is known gives the government the ammunition to claim that it contributed to any rejection of CRR.  Having it ready to move quickly after resolution of CRR funding avoids this situation and may even save the state government's bacon as it faces getting nothing from the next IA funding round (or is given only a fraction of what it wants from the feds and can't make up the difference using state and private money).

Given what LNP members on the Sunshine Coast have said about duplication to Nambour, they could hardly argue against joint federal-state funding for dual tracks along the SCL.

Thus Beerburrum-Nambour realignment and dual tracks becomes 'Plan B' if CRR goes horribly wrong.  CRR should have every chance of being properly evaluated.

I would hope that IA would assess all projects on their merit alone, and it should not impact the results of any other applications.
I personally believe that duplication of the NCL should take precedence over the much more expensive CRR.
My rationale below.

From memory, I read a line in a report that 'effectively' stated that the duplication of the NCL (for freight movement) would actually ease the situation in the CBD, and delay the need for a CRR type scenario.
I'll try to find the report (there are so many of them now  ) and the exact wording so that it is in correct context and intent.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Inner City Rail Capacity Study - Stage 3 Freight Analysis
   produced for Queensland Transport by SYSTEMWIDE, states in Chapter 9, p25;

Conclusion  p25,
   "From an inner city perspective, the best course of action for the future of freight is
   to increase the North coast intermodal train consist lengths to 1500m. Doing so will
   alleviate the need to upgrade the inner city, and will allow the current (desired)
   freight distribution to be maintained with operational viability. If 1500m trains
   cannot be accommodated, the freight services should be spread apart ...

   This will avoid infrastructure upgrades to the inner city under medium
   growth, and only requires a fifth track around Roma West junction under high
   growth to ensure a robust operation.
   
   The freight curfew should remain, as running freight services during the peak hour
   can only be achieved by extensive additional infrastructure, or by removing
   passenger services causing unacceptable overloading."

Found it.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

From: TrackStar Alliance
TrackRecord eMagazine
Issue Number 3, dated April 2007

Planning studies at TrackStar

As part of SEQIPRAIL's answer to changing
infrastructure delivery in South East
Queensland, the TrackStar Alliance has
been tasked with three additional planning
studies.
These include the:
• Beerwah Rail Crossing Elimination      
  Options Study
•   Varsity Lakes to Tallebudgera Extension
Cost Plan
•  Tallebudgera to Tugun Rail Extension
Planning Study
Planning and delivery of these studies form
an important part of the rail infrastructure
program in the South East Queensland
Infrastructure Plan.
Stay tuned for more information about
future work at TrackStar.
The TrackStar team is also progressing
the preparation of the Beerburrum to
Landsborough Track Duplication Target Cost
Estimate, the follow-on to the Caboolture
to Beerburrum Track Duplication Project
currently underway.
TrackStar is conducting a study of options
for the upgrade of the Beerwah level
crossing on the Sunshine Coast



Trackstar Alliance
PDF document


www.cmsl.co.nz/assets/sm/3783/.../TrackstarAlliancePaper-McNeil.pdf

Synopsis. In early 2006 Queensland Rail selected the Trackstar Alliance as a method to deliver ... Beerburrum to Landsborough Rail Duplication. The bridges ...



Graham Murray  
BE(Civil),     MIEAust,     MIStructE(UK),
CPEng, NPER, RPEQ
Connell Wagner Pty Ltd
Phone:         07 3135 8000
Fax:             07 3135 8002
Email: murrayg@conwag.com

Matthew Fleet
BE (Civil), MIEAust, RPEQ
Maunsell Australia Pty Ltd,
Phone:         07 3858 6700
Fax:             07 3858 6705
Email: matthew.fleet@maunsell.com


Synopsis

In early 2006 Queensland Rail selected the Trackstar Alliance as a method to deliver
four (4) major metropolitan rail projects in the South East Queensland area.
The alliance partners are:

Queensland Rail       (The client)
Thiess                      
United Group
Connell Wagner  
Maunsell AECOM

Trackstar  is  the  first  Program  Alliance  to  be  formed  in  Australia.  Unlike  the  usual
alliance  model  set  up  to  deliver  a  single  project,  Trackstar's  scope  of  works  is  to
design, price and construct various projects for the Queensland Government.  

Initially four separate projects were identified for delivery through the alliance:

•   Caboolture to Beerburrum Rail Realignment and Duplication  
•   Robina to Varsity Lakes Extension of the Gold Coast line  
•   Corinda to Darra
•   Beerburrum to Landsborough Rail Duplication  


TRACKSTAR   PAGE 3
With a strategy aimed at securing quality design and construction resources in a tight
market Qld Rail conceived a programme alliance to deliver projects for SEQIPRAIL.
Unlike the usual alliance model set up to deliver a single project, the Alliance's scope
of works would be to design, price and construct various projects for the Queensland
Government. The alliance agreement is open ended in that additional projects can
be added as required.

After  an  exhaustive  selection  process,  Thiess  and  United  Group  were  selected  as
the  Constructors  with  Connell  Wagner  and  Maunsell  AECOM  selected  as  the
designers. The 5 proponents became the Trackstar Alliance.

2.     General Project Description
Initially four separate projects were identified for delivery through the alliance:


Project 4
Beerburrum to
Landsborough Duplication
5
Project 1
Caboolture to Beerburrum
Duplication
1
Project 5
Beerwah Grade Separation
4

Figure 2: Northern Project Map

•   Caboolture to Beerburrum Rail Realignment and Duplication - 14.7 km,
$225m, 6 bridges, 25 culverts, numerous retaining walls and station buildings.
All bridges completed August 2008 including the first Queensland Rail bridge
utilising super T girders.
•   Robina to Varsity Lakes Extension of the Gold Coast line - 4.2 km, $220m, 3
bridges, 300m long cut & cover tunnel, numerous retaining walls and station
buildings. All bridges completed April 2008, tunnel completed December
2008.
•   Corinda to Darra - 6.5 km, $189m, augmentation of 2 bridges under traffic,
design and construction of 2 new bridges and numerous major retaining walls.
All structures completed October 2008.
•   Beerburrum to Landsborough Rail Duplication - 17 km, $300m, 11 bridges,
numerous retaining walls and station buildings. Design completed.
Construction commencement anticipated 2010.

EDIT ADDED: 15.01.2012 at 5:23 PM
The Caboolture to Beerburrum works were completed 6 months ahead of schedule, in April 2009, hence the start date for the following project in 2010.

[Stillwater]

The Opposition position, as reported in Quest newspapers on the Sunshine Coast:

Mr Emerson said under an LNP government travel would be free after nine journeys, one less than the current government, but made no promises the Sunshine Coast railway line would be duplicated any sooner by the LNP.  "We have to look at those issues.  I'm not going to tell you things I can't deliver, I won't promise you the duplication of the Sunshine Coast line and then 26 days after the election scrap it. And that's what Labor did, they promised it and scrapped it,'' he said.

The State Transport Minister's office did not respond to requests for comment.

So:

The state government made a promise and failed to deliver on that promise.
The Opposition won't make the promise in the first place because it knows that it won't deliver.

Mr Emerson has stated publicly that a duplicated SCL to Nambour, other than under the current ALP timeframe, is a thing that his party can't deliver. Quote: "I'm not going to tell you things I can't deliver."

It is nice to get a bit of firm policy out of the Opposition transport spokesperson -- refreshing honesty.

Result?  Duplication to Nambour only by 2031, whichever party is in power.  People should keep that in mind when they vote at the state election.

[#Metro]

We have to look at that.

What is there to look at? What will that change?

It is obviously single track and the service is third world. A quick google map will show this.

Obviously not on the policy list - especially to hear something like that so close to an election.

[Fares_Fair]

Turning back the clock to the halcyon days of 2007 ...

This is an excerpt from a Question on Notice No. 1484, answer, (a Dorothy Dixer) asked on 10 October 2007 by Ms Carolyn Male MP to the then Transport Minister, Hon John Mickel.

The Landsborough to Nambour study, which will identify the rail corridor required for the
upgrade, commenced in August 2007 and community consultation is already underway with
the release of the first newsletter in October 2007. This study is expected to be completed in
mid 2008. The Landsborough to Nambour Rail Upgrade is scheduled for delivery by 2020.


Sunshine Coast ... or sometime coast for rail

A New Year can lead one to reminiscing about the way things used to be.
It was just over 4 short years ago, on 10 October 2007, that the Landsborough to Nambour rail duplication was confirmed as scheduled for completion in 2020.
In a Dorothy Dixer type Question on Notice No. 1484 of that date, the then Transport Minister, the Hon. John Mickel, said so.

Caboolture to Landsborough was originally promised by 2012, and here we are – but it ain't.

In these few intervening years, the Nambour duplication stretched out to become 2026, then 2026 to 2031, and finally to 2031 or beyond and dependent upon State Government priorities.
Buzz Lightyear, the Toy Story children's toy, described it succinctly thus "to infinity and beyond."

I recall learning in history, that a torture the Chinese communists were famous for using, was the slow wearing down of the human spirit.
It appears that they were not the only ones capable of utilising this method.


Regards,
Fares_Fair.

EDIT: Further text added in Arial font under the heading: Sunshine Coast ... or sometime coast for rail  14.01.2012 at 2:31 PM

[Fares_Fair]

Our bottleneck is so unimportant that they feared a potential crisis if food couldn't get through when the Caboolture to Beerburrum line was commisssioned over Easter ...

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[morb]

What happened to the hundreds of millions of dollars set aside for this project?
There are financial questions over the money set aside for these announced works, and where it went.

In the run up to the next state election, is this symbolic of an open and accountable government?
The Sunshine Coast at the very least, deserves an explanation.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Money is not set aside, it needs to be borrowed.  $300m is quite a chunk at AA lending rates...

It could well be that $300m brings better benefits elsewhere.  Though I don't think any project that big has been greenlighted this FY?

[morb]

Also, looking at the cover page EIS for Landborough-Nambour

http://www.deedi.qld.gov.au/cg/landsborough-to-nambour-rail-project-2.html

$1.7 billion?!  No wonder that's causing some indigestion down George St.

[Stillwater]

Well, none of these things ever gets cheaper.  It will likely be a $3 billion project in 2026 money.

[Mr X]

With say 5% inflation, things double in cost every 15 years...  

It's perfectly logical for a 2009 $200m project to cost $340m+ by 2020...

[Stillwater]

The logic is easily understood, but does the state government grasp the concept?  It's MO is to refer to a $1.7 billion project right up until the due construction date in 2026, by which time the project will cost considerably more to build due to inflation.  Rather than budget for, say, $3 billion, it will budget for only the $1.7 billion figure and arrive at 2026 with only the lower sum to spend.  What's likely to happen under those circumstances is that the government will announce that it can build only half the project, or the scope is scaled back, or only a bit of what's envisaged is built and the rest is deferred under 'Connecting SEQ 2061'.  Not only is Connecting SEQ 2031 largely unfunded, it does not make provision for inflation.

[Fares_Fair]

What happened to the hundreds of millions of dollars set aside for this project?
There are financial questions over the money set aside for these announced works, and where it went.

In the run up to the next state election, is this symbolic of an open and accountable government?
The Sunshine Coast at the very least, deserves an explanation.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

Money is not set aside, it needs to be borrowed.  $300m is quite a chunk at AA lending rates...

It could well be that $300m brings better benefits elsewhere.  Though I don't think any project that big has been greenlighted this FY?

The initial program of projects included:
• $298m Caboolture to Beerburrum Track Duplication
• $300m Beerburrum to Landsborough Track Duplication
• $324m Robina to Varsity Lakes Rail Extension
• $268m Corinda to Darra Rail Upgrade

this then became:

The initial program of projects included:
• $298m Caboolture to Beerburrum Track Duplication
• Beerburrum to Landsborough Track Duplication (Design only) this change added sometime after 27 May, 2009.
• $324m Robina to Varsity Lakes Rail Extension
• $268m Corinda to Darra Rail Upgrade

and 'voila' just like magic, these projects, totalling $356.7m + 3 Studies were handed to the Alliance after they canned the Beerburrum to Landsborough construction!

The additional projects include:
• $70m Beerwah Road over Rail  Crossing
• $30m Bolingbroke Power Feeder Station in the Goonyella Coal System
• $30m Roma St Power Feeder Station and Taringa Track Section Cabin in Brisbane metropolitan area
• $30m Dalrymple Bay Coal Terminal Power Feeder Station in the Goonyella Coal System
• $54.7m Raglan Power Feeder Station in the Blackwater Coal System
• $142m Blackwater Power Systems Upgrade
• Keperra to Ferny Grove Track Duplication (Planning study)
• Varsity Lakes to Tugun Extension (Planning Study)
• Kuraby to Kingston Duplication (Planning Study)

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

Beerburrum, also a bottleneck to North Qld food chains.

You hear me harp a lot about the crucial importance of the 'bottleneck', that single line 'strangled' section of track at Beerburrum.

Not only does it severely limit our daily rail and freight services to/from the Sunshine Coast, and it is why 44% of our SC trains are rail buses (26 no.) every weekday,
but this section of track is also vital to the north of the State's food chains.

It is so vital that when the Caboolture to Beerburrum rail works were commissioned over 4 days at Easter in April 2009, as a precautionary measure, an extra locomotive was stationed at Petrie (south of the works) to assist any freight trains who may experience operational problems.

Further, during the four day commissioning period, a special Freight window was created mid-commissioning, to allow the trains through to the state's North.

QR Limited were concerned at the 'potential negative media coverage' should any [food] shortages arise over the Easter period.
PNQ (Pacific National Queensland) Freight trains supply food chains in the north of the state, and these go via the Beerburrum bottleneck.

In a Ministerial Briefing Note I obtained under a Right to Information request, I found these telling notes.
The 2nd dot point (attached PDF) below shows the provision for an extra window for Freight during the commissioning process over Easter 2009.
The 3rd dot point (attached PDF) below shows the concern for the food chain supplies to the state's north, whether or not from the commissioning works.

Given the information below, rail duplication would also greatly lessen the risk of any rail freight food shortages up north.

It's heady stuff ... and food for thought !

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[HappyTrainGuy]

Its easy to assume that those projects poped up because they coincided with the scrapping of the SCL projects but you have to remember that most minor expansions of the network (intrastructure wise) outside of SEQ was used with revenue generated from the Freight division (National intermodal with QR freight, Interrail, CRT Group - Renamed to QRN in 2011, ARG, etc), the National Coal Network Division (QLD, Hunter Valley etc), QR Network Services Division (Responsible for all train movements and track infrastructure in QLD) and QR Services Division (Rollingstock maintainence, track construction, engineering etc but some of the big contracts signed by them in 2008-2009 was resleepering contracts for the Tasmanian Government and track maintainence for ARTC/Westnet in NSW, Vic, SA and WA) of Queensland Rail. IIRC when Queensland Rail was firing on all cylinders their revenue was 4 billion turning over a profit of something like 400 million a year. Interesting to think that their profit alone could have paid for a nice large chunk of it.

[Stillwater]

We now have an insidious consequence of poor public transport services on the Sunshine Coast – the ability of our young school-leavers to continue their study or to travel for work.  Many of us focus on the inconvenience of public transport travel, few on the social consequences.  The ARUP study touched on this in respect of the Landsborough-Nambour duplication, but the latest evidence comes (again) from a Queensland Government report.  This time, it was conducted by the Department of Education and Training through the Office of the Government Statistician (OGS), in accordance with the privacy provisions of the Statistical Returns Act 1896.

The Next Step survey is an annual survey of every student who completed Year 12 in the previous year in Queensland, in Government and non-Government schools. The survey results show the initial study and work destinations of young people after completing school.  It may be found here:

http://education.qld.gov.au/nextstep/pdfs/2011pdfs/0008_sunshinecoast_nextstep2011.pdf

The survey targeted students who completed Year 12 in Queensland in 2010, including students at government schools, non-government schools and TAFE secondary colleges. All students who were awarded a Senior Statement were included.

Sunshine Coast Region Year 12 completers who were not learning, not earning and not seeking work show strong reasons in main reasons for not seeking work than South East Queensland and statewide. Those from Sunshine Coast Region were more likely to cite travel, sporting commitments, and other family commitments and less likely to cite disability, health reasons and having accepted a job that starts later than Year 12 completers from South East Queensland statewide Year 12 completers. (Table 11)

On a percentage basis, twice as many school leavers on the Sunshine Coast then the average of students throughout SEQ (30 per cent vs 15 per cent) cited difficulty of travel as reasons for not earning/learning. 

[SurfRail]

With say 5% inflation, things double in cost every 15 years...  

It's perfectly logical for a 2009 $200m project to cost $340m+ by 2020...

More to the point, real costs are rising faster than inflation, mainly due to labour costs.

[ozbob]

Both Labor and the LNP have not committed to any upgrade on the Sunshine Coast Line.  What fools, the costs of not doing the upgrades will exponentially increase costs as the roads become worse, road trauma and congestion costs climb and social quality collapses.

Any independents standing along the line?

[Stillwater]

Peter Wellington MP (Independent, Nicklin) holds the seat based on Nambour.  It is a seat the LNP would like to win.

[Stillwater]

The Sunshine Coast has copped another kick in the teeth after the Bligh government postponed for a year a start on construction of the CoastConnect priority bus service between Maroochydore and Caloundra.  Meanwhile, both major parties continue to play politics over this important transport initiative.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2012/01/15/plans-to-boost-bus-services-go-on-hold/

One of the problems besetting the Maroochydore-Caloundra run is that travel times can fluctuate according to tourist numbers on the coast and the result this has on the number of cars on major arterial roads.  Timetables and reliability are affected.

CoastConnect would halve travel times and allow better utilisation of the bus fleet.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2008/09/08/plan-cut-bus-travel-times-half/

While the ALP state government has delayed construction, local LNP members announced last year that they wanted the project sped up -- even faster than the original schedule announced by the government.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/story/2011/02/18/our-green-corridor-route-released/

However, will this result in the LNP putting it policy where its mouth is?  We will have to wait for the party's transport policy release to see if this is so.

Of course CAMCOS has been delayed also, another Bligh Government promise never delivered.

Sunshine Coasters are asking whether they are the 21st Century 'people of the Never Never'.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/We_of_the_Never_Never

[Fares_Fair]

Cartoon: Maroochy Journal
Infrastructure Train
Friday January 27, 2012
by Mann

[Stillwater]

There is a lot of assumption in the following, but offered for discussion by those with a greater technical bent than myself.  So here goes ...

Assume that duplication is in place to Nambour and we have a twin track line to Maroochydore along the CAMCOS corridor.  Is it possible for a six-car train to operate to Beerwah and then split into two three-car sets -- one goes to Nambour and back and the other goes to Maroochydore and back, to join up again as a six-car unit to Brisbane.

In NSW, the XPT operates this way - half to Moree and the other half to Armidale.

[mufreight]

There is a lot of assumption in the following, but offered for discussion by those with a greater technical bent than myself.  So here goes ...

Assume that duplication is in place to Nambour and we have a twin track line to Maroochydore along the CAMCOS corridor.  Is it possible for a six-car train to operate to Beerwah and then split into two three-car sets -- one goes to Nambour and back and the other goes to Maroochydore and back, to join up again as a six-car unit to Brisbane.

In NSW, the XPT operates this way - half to Moree and the other half to Armidale.

Yes more than possible and a practical option, but, unfortunately the idea of splitting and amalgamating trains is something that is not in the current nanny state QR operating lexion.
A passenger migh fall over when the trains are being amalgamated.
The units might fail to operate in MU when amalgamated, apparently current practice is that an electrical fitter be present when sets are amalgamater to go into service as sets frequently fail to operate in MU when amalgamated which would indicate ongoing equipment problems due to either poor design or lack of maintenence.

[Arnz]

Yes more than possible and a practical option, but, unfortunately the idea of splitting and amalgamating trains is something that is not in the current nanny state QR operating lexion.
A passenger migh fall over when the trains are being amalgamated.

Two words to describe this.  Zero Harm.

[SurfRail]

There is a lot of assumption in the following, but offered for discussion by those with a greater technical bent than myself.  So here goes ...

Assume that duplication is in place to Nambour and we have a twin track line to Maroochydore along the CAMCOS corridor.  Is it possible for a six-car train to operate to Beerwah and then split into two three-car sets -- one goes to Nambour and back and the other goes to Maroochydore and back, to join up again as a six-car unit to Brisbane.

In NSW, the XPT operates this way - half to Moree and the other half to Armidale.

The Xploder I think you mean, but yes.

I don't think there are too many advantages to this - you could just keep a six-car set for Maroochydore and run the hinterland service as a 3 car shuttle.  It takes up an extra set, but I think you could spare it.