The Sunshine Coast Case : Rail duplication Beerburrum to Nambour

[ozbob]

^   

[Stillwater]

There may be a further opportunity to air the inequity of the situation surrounding the SCL.  House of Rep standing committee looking into the effect of (under) investment in public transport impacting on productivity is holding public hearings around Australia - due to report at end of financial year.

http://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Rural_and_Regional_Affairs_and_Transport/Public_transport/Public_Hearings

[Stillwater]

From Moving Freight – Queensland's freight strategy

The North Coast Line is a vital north-south route supporting general rail freight movement throughout Queensland. However, a number of issues confront the line, which impact on its reliability and ability to support future freight growth. These include ongoing maintenance requirements, inability to operate longer train lengths, limited path availability, potential flood risks and relative priorities of multiple line managers.

The North Coast Line ... is impacted by metropolitan and long distance regional passenger rail demands, with passenger and freight trains sharing parts of the same rail corridors and network passenger services prioritised over freight.

Competing passenger rail demand is a critical issue for freight movement, particularly in the metropolitan area. The metropolitan network provides access to key intermodal rail terminals and the Port of Brisbane is the nexus of the majority of rail freight services to and from northern and western Queensland, and interstate.

Currently, passenger rail demands often limit existing rail freight services to off-peak commuter time periods with increasing passenger services likely to limit freight growth opportunities.

Further consideration needs to be afforded to, and balanced with, matters such as obligations in relation to allocated train paths, timetabling demands, network operations and service provisioning. Segregating passenger and freight rail networks is a further option for mitigating these respective service conflicts.

[Stillwater]

Tim Nicholls is currently guest of Sunshine Coast ABC Radio morning presenter, Annie Gaffney, talking about government asset sales.  Says he will be talking to mayors about job creating infrastructure needs and announcing ways in which 'ordinary Queenslanders' can participate in a further round of public consultation.

Annie played to him Jeff Addison's comments re 'blackmail' about SCL.

Nicholls: "He always has a solution for the rail duplication, but he never has a plan for paying for it."  Gaffney stuck up for Addison, saying that he had pushed for the federal government to take control of the SCL.  She queried why Queensland had not entered into active discussion about federal funding for the SCL.  Nicholls responded that a bid was in for funding B-L, but it had to compete against numerous bids for Commonwealth funding.  Said the fundamental issue remained - Queensland needs to pay down debt.

Re Fiona Simpson's plan for an infrastructure fund ... Nicholls says it is great to see local members engaging in discussion.  "We haven't plans in place for what we will fund."  (should assets be sold).  "Lets have the discussion first around the debt issue."  Refused to commit any benefits from asset sales to SCL upgrade.  Refused to give a date for work to proceed.

Annie Gaffney taking calls 1300 903222

[ozbob]

ABC Sunshine Coast

State Treasurer Tim Nicholls on Asset Sales 18/3/2014

--> https://soundcloud.com/abc-sunshine-coast/state-treasurer-tim-nicholls

[Fares_Fair]

Surprised and chuffed that Queensland Treeasurer, the Hon Tim Nicholls, wants me to provide the funding answer to the North Coast Line rail duplication.
I really have tried, and made it a Federal issue regarding freight.

Preparing to ask to see the Treasury papers so that I can balance the books for them.   
Wondering if I should also start a building company too.

Looking for a spare government somewhwere to help me ... as my individual time is limited.

Big congratulations to the Hon Speaker, Ms Fiona Simpson for speaking up and asking for a funding guarantee for the rail duplication.

Thank you Hon Ms Simpson. 

[ozbob]

Seriously, the Treasurer was spinning and deflecting.

The SCL IS a critical issue for the Sunshine Coast.  It was a critical issue when the LNP Ministers/Speaker were in opposition.  It is still a critical issue.

Investment returns a considerable economic benefit.   

[James]

Seriously, the Treasurer was spinning and deflecting.

The SCL IS a critical issue for the Sunshine Coast.  It was a critical issue when the LNP Ministers/Speaker were in opposition.  It is still a critical issue.

Investment returns a considerable economic benefit.

CRR is a critical issue for everybody from Gympie North to Rosewood to Cleveland to Elanora, and that hasn't stopped our politicians from spending the time since the need for CRR became apparent to now dicking around and wasting time (around 6 years).

But goodness, Nicholls really does seem angry if he's mentioning Fares_Fair specifically on air.

[Fares_Fair]

Mr Nicholls has a right to his opinion just like anyone else and I have no problems with his attempt to defend himself or mention me when questioned.
That's just fair.

I am angry too - this is not a carrot to be dangled before Sunshine Coasters when they know full well there is a Federal element to funding.
To infer it totally hinges on State money or asset sales is false.

[achiruel]

The thing most of the pollies (and even a few posters here) seem to be missing is that it's NOT only a SC issue, large parts of the Qld economy from Caboolture to Cairns rely on rail to be able to send freight in a a safe and economical manner.

Growth in freight currently is going primarily to road because there simply isn't capacity to increase rail freight on the NCL.

In that sense, yes I believe it should become a Fed responsibility, however it remains to be seen what % contribution Abbott will expect from Qld as it is at least partly used for urban passenger transport which Abbott seems to think is only used by Labor or Green voters and doesn't deserve C'wealth funds.

[Fares_Fair]

The thing most of the pollies (and even a few posters here) seem to be missing is that it's NOT only a SC issue, large parts of the Qld economy from Caboolture to Cairns rely on rail to be able to send freight in a a safe and economical manner.

Growth in freight currently is going primarily to road because there simply isn't capacity to increase rail freight on the NCL.

In that sense, yes I believe it should become a Fed responsibility, however it remains to be seen what % contribution Abbott will expect from Qld as it is at least partly used for urban passenger transport which Abbott seems to think is only used by Labor or Green voters and doesn't deserve C'wealth funds.

Agree, yes it is achiruel,

But the weakest link in that 1668km rail freight line from Brisbane to Cairns is between Beerburrum and Nambour - hence the concentration of attention.
The benefits go all the way up the line, to all the coastal towns along the way, that's for sure.

B double or triple trucks off roads, lives saved, trauma savings, highway maintenance savings, freight cost savings, none of it is ever forgotten achiruel, it just cannot all be mentioned every single time. Information always needs to be directly relevant to the situation.

[Fares_Fair]

Seriously, the Treasurer was spinning and deflecting.

The SCL IS a critical issue for the Sunshine Coast.  It was a critical issue when the LNP Ministers/Speaker were in opposition.  It is still a critical issue.

Investment returns a considerable economic benefit.

CRR is a critical issue for everybody from Gympie North to Rosewood to Cleveland to Elanora, and that hasn't stopped our politicians from spending the time since the need for CRR became apparent to now dicking around and wasting time (around 6 years).

But goodness, Nicholls really does seem angry if he's mentioning Fares_Fair specifically on air.

Now that I have heard it, it sounds like they are looking for a Treasurer who can find the funds for critical infrastructure projects.
The current Treasurer clearly doesn't know how to do so without selling $25 billion worth of assets.

It was nice of him to ask me to find a way to fund it, quite chuffed really.  #challengesrus

[Stillwater]

You have got to find that cure for cancer first, FF.   

[Stillwater]

The Bruce Highway is a carpark, traffic backed up into the western suburbs of Caloundra.  Have a look at the pics!  Still the government remains deaf to the calls for rail track duplication.  Their solution?  – no to duplication B-L, and let's plonk another 50,000 people at Caloundra South.

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/man-entrapped-car-following-crash-bruce-hwy/2207496/

[Stillwater]

In a sad indictment on the performance of LNP Members on the Sunshine Coast, Campbell Newman says in today's Sunshine Coast Daily that the region hasn't told him what its major priorities are.  The info is second-hand, I don't have a copy of the paper to check what was said.

I thought MPs were elected to highlight priorities to Government.  Maybe it is time we had some new MPs who would convey the message to the Premier.

[ozbob]

^

From the Sunshine Coast Daily 24th March 2014  page 3

Newman asks for region's priorities



From the Sunshine Coast Daily 24th March 2014 page 16

Prioritising our needs is the key

[Fares_Fair]

Absolutely unbelievable ... I'm gob-smacked !!   

[ozbob]

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Campbell Newman: We don't know what Coast wants!

...  Sunshine Coast mayor Mark Jamieson told ABC radio on Monday morning that he was shocked by the Premier's comments.

"Look I was a little stunned, I must admit,'' Mr Jamieson said of the article in the Daily today.

"If the Premier is criticising the council for not outlining our vision... our priorities for the region than he is wrong.''

"I personally outlined our economic development strategy to the Premier,'' Mr Jamieson said.

He said the strategy was the culmination of work by chambers of commerce, the development industry, community groups and the university.

He said he had met with the Local Government Minister to outline the region's priorities.

Mr Jamieson said he had also set up a Sunshine Coast First group which aimed to unite the council with state and federal MPs, business leaders, chambers of commerce and peak development groups.

He said if the Coast's six sitting MPs could not convey the region's needs, he did not know what more he could do ...

[Stillwater]

The SC Members of Parliament must be a useless bunch, incapable of following the building corridor map to the Premier's office.

From the 'Can Do Plan for the Sunshine Coast':

"We'll deliver public transport in South East Queensland that works for commuters by delivering a reliable, frequent and safe network.  The Sunshine Coast's need for better roads and transport infrastructure has been ignored by the tired, 20 year Labor Government. A CanDo LNP Government will act to address this neglect.  An LNP government will ensure that transport and road investments in the Sunshine Coast region are made in a timely and efficient manner.

"The current QTRIP is filled with projects that this tired Labor government has announced, yet often no funding has been allocated and completion times are deferred. The LNP will deliver all fully funded projects in QTRIP."  -- Campbell Newman

From an LNP policy document for the Sunshine Coast:

"In Government, the LNP will deliver a Sunshine Coast Integrated Transport Plan containing clear delivery timelines for infrastructure and services."

http://www.scec.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Sunshine-Coast-Policy-Booklet-A4-pdf-2010.pdf

Fiona Simpson:

"Bligh and Labor mothballed critical rail upgrades to lift train speeds from a dismal 50km an hour to over 100 km an hour through the Sunshine Coast only two years ago," Ms Simpson said.  "Premier Bligh and her government delayed planned rail upgrades on the North Coast line where the alignment hasn't been touched since the 1880s. – August 2010

"This (Labor) Government continues to claim it is investing in our transport system, but all they are doing is dragging essential project's timelines out and spending up big on lengthy planning processes that result in next to nothing."  -- September 2010

http://www.fionasimpson.com.au/News/LocalNews/tabid/69/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/5/categoryId/1/All-plans-and-no-action-on-bus-corridor.aspx

"Ms Simpson said SEQIPP, which was supposed to be the blueprint for infrastructure in South East Queensland, had become a complete waste of time with fudged costings and vague timelines for key projects." – July 2010

http://www.fionasimpson.com.au/News/LocalNews/tabid/69/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/12/categoryId/1/Latest-SEQIPP-on-roads-is-a-fizzer.aspx

"COAST Coalition MPs have blasted Bligh's vision for accelerated population growth on the Sunshine Coast without any extra infrastructure as 'unsustainable'.

"An angry Mark McArdle, Fiona Simpson, Steve Dickson and Glen Elmes said the Premier's (Bligh's) announcement today of accelerated growth using State powers flew in the face of the community's clear message at the last Council election which called for a review of growth targets.

"Growth without infrastructure is irresponsible. In Tuesday's Budget the (Labor) Government failed to invest in new transport infrastructure for the Coast. On Wednesday they announce a plan to fast track growth, including density, which means local council and the wishes of the people will be virtually irrelevant under the Bligh Government," Mr McArdle said.

"Ms Simpson, who is also the Coalition's Infrastructure and Planning Shadow Minister, said that the Bligh Government failed the credibility test for good planning because they were putting the cart before the horse. "Haven't they learnt anything? You have to put the public transport in before the growth or else our roads will never recover from the congestion." – June 2008

(This from an LNP government that is pushing ahead with the Caloundra South development while pushing back the SCL duplication to 2039.)

http://www.fionasimpson.com.au/News/LocalNews/tabid/69/articleType/ArticleView/articleId/84/Bligh-dictates-high-growth-for-Coast.aspx

Andrew Powell:

"As the Member for Glass House, an electorate that has 5 of the 7 coast rail stations within its boundaries, I am passionate about the need to provide Sunshine Coast commuters with a more efficient rail service by way of the North Coast Rail Duplication project. – January 2013

http://www.andrewpowell.com.au/2013/01/25/north-coast-rail-dupliaction-is-still-on-andrews-priority-list-january-2013/

There are numerous other references, but why take the trouble to Google them. 

[ozbob]

Twitter

Jeff Addison ‏@Jeffrey_Addison 2m

Our Coast, our future. Governing our region #SunshineCoast Daily pp4-5. #2tracks rail duplication a part. http://t.co/CCHVVODT8L

[ozbob]

Twitter

Jeff Addison ‏@Jeffrey_Addison 11m

Are Coast MP's asleep on job? #SunshineCoast @the_daily , p1. http://t.co/mHiPMyZgZ3

[ozbob]

Well done Premier, great job at highlighting how useless the LNP MP mob on the Sunny Coast have turned out to be.  Good work Sir!

[ozbob]

[Stillwater]

^ lol.  It is speculation I know, but is it the case that there is some squabbling going on among the Coast's MPs about what the priorities are?  Having committed to produce an 'integrated transport plan for the Sunshine Coast' maybe each MP is pushing his/her own barrow from the options on the table (B-L duplication, CAMCOS corridor etc). 

So, is Mr Newman trying to skip over that possible dissention in the ranks by appealing to the Mayor to suggest priorities.  These have been done to death on the Sunshine Coast.  We know that the Bruce Highway is where money is going currently, but the consistent message from community groups, commerce and industry and the council is that the Beerburrum-Landsborough-Nambour duplication is next cab off the rank.

Campbell Newman knows this.  As Chair of the South-East Council of Mayors, he promoted to the then state government the SCL duplication among a wish list of desirable infrastructure projects agreed by mayors.

Has he had a lobotomy or what?

Governments are also informed by the various reports they commission, and there have been numerous reports on the deficiencies of the SCL, the NCL and the ramifications for rail freight and impacts on passenger rail, best illustrated by the fact that more than 40 per cent of all so-called rail services on the SCL are conducted by railbuses.

[#Metro]

Sometimes I wonder if the pollies are aware the Sunshine Coast exists at all!

[Stillwater]

It was a spectacular own goal on the part of Premier Campbell Newman.

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily 26th March 2014 page 8

Premier's claim shows his MPs let Coast down

[ozbob]

It was a spectacular own goal on the part of Premier Campbell Newman.

[Stillwater]

Lol, Annie Gaffney is interviewing all of the State MPs on the Sunshine Coast - in turn.  Question:  What do you think is the highest priority for this region?  So far, Glen Elmes (Noosa) and Fiona Simpson (Maroochydore) said rail duplication was important for the region.  Elmes even said he had received representations for 'duplication to Nambour and its extension to Cooroy'.  Peter Wellington (Nicklin) was unavailable -- at a function in his electorate, Andrew Powell (Glass House) promised a statement, which Ms Gaffney is awaiting,  Jarrod Bleije (Kawana) seemed to be too busy. Mark McArdle (Caloundra) was ducking for cover. The other fellow, surname Dickson, spoke of the need to pay off Labor's big $80 billion debt before Queensland could think about major infrastructure projects on the Sunshine Coast.

[dancingmongoose]

Are you implying that politicians know nothing? Don't blame you

[ozbob]

Well well ..

==================

Twitter

Annie Gaffney ‏@Annie_Gaffney

Member for Caloundra Mark McArdle lists duplication of north coast rail line as top priority for the Coast.

==================

Twitter

Annie Gaffney ‏@Annie_Gaffney

Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson says duplication of north coast rail line is a key priority for the Coast.

==================

Twitter

Annie Gaffney ‏@Annie_Gaffney

Member for Buderim Steve Dixon lists duplication of north coast rail line as a key priority for the Coast.

==================

Twitter

Annie Gaffney ‏@Annie_Gaffney

Member for Noosa Glen Elmes lists duplication of north coast rail line as an important key priority for Coast. Wants to see it go to Gympie.

[Fares_Fair]

Well well ..

==================

Twitter

Annie Gaffney ‏@Annie_Gaffney

Member for Caloundra Mark McArdle lists duplication of north coast rail line as top priority for the Coast.

==================

Twitter

Annie Gaffney ‏@Annie_Gaffney

Member for Maroochydore Fiona Simpson says duplication of north coast rail line is a key priority for the Coast.

==================

Twitter

Annie Gaffney ‏@Annie_Gaffney

Member for Buderim Steve Dixon lists duplication of north coast rail line as a key priority for the Coast.

==================

Twitter

Annie Gaffney ‏@Annie_Gaffney

Member for Noosa Glen Elmes lists duplication of north coast rail line as an important key priority for Coast. Wants to see it go to Gympie.

FIRST TIME THEY ALL HAVE STATED AS SUCH PUBLICLY...     

this is a big day and first step on the rails to recovery for public transport between Sunshine Coast and Brisbane.
I know Andrew Powell is all for it too, but eagerly await his response.

[Stillwater]

Feds on board re funding via ARTC and all the little MP dickie birds in a row.  Finally!   

[Arnz]

The odd person out is Attorney-General Jarrod (the local member in my area), who seems to be too busy with the bikie/judge dramas those days.  IIRC he was on record of having 'no clue' what infrastructure the coast wants, according to the local paper.

[red dragin]

LNP members that didn't say "Bruce Highway Upgrade"?

They'll probably all get sacked now 

[Metatron]

I understand Peter Wellington MP did get interviewed.  But I haven't heard what he said.  What I can tell you is that he has always backed the rail duplication as number 1 priority.

[Fares_Fair]

I understand Peter Wellington MP did get interviewed.  But I haven't heard what he said.  What I can tell you is that he has always backed the rail duplication as number 1 priority.

Great to hear, thank you!

[Stillwater]

Peter Wellington was at a Cooroy community function in the morning when the main segment went to air, but was on the phone to Annie Gaffney immediately after his duties were finished.  He said the rail duplication was the No.1 priority and made reference to the fact that the state government wants to plonk 50,000 people at Caloundra South (more now, because the state want to develop further still in the area around Halls Creek), yet no way could those 50,000 people find jobs at Caloundra.  Mr Wellington said they would have to go south for work.  Of course, the means for them to travel is the Bruce Highway or the railway.  Landsborough and Berwah are the closest stations to Caloundra South.

[Stillwater]

More political fallout for Premier Campbell Newman from his statement that he does not know the SC priorities for state government spending in the region:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/premiers-claim-shows-hismpsletcoastdown/2210321/

[ozbob]

More political fallout for Premier Campbell Newman from his statement that he does not know the SC priorities for state government spending in the region:

http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/premiers-claim-shows-hismpsletcoastdown/2210321/

Sunshine Coast Daily --> Premier's claim shows his MPs let Coast down

POLITICIAN who will quit his Brisbane seat to challenge Jarrod Bleijie in Kawana at the next state election has called on the Sunshine Coast's six LNP members of parliament to lift their game.

Carl Judge said yesterday the Premier's claim that he didn't know what the
region wanted was an indictment of the communication skills of the five Cabinet ministers and Speaker who represent the Sunshine Coast.

Mr Judge, the current Member for Yeerongpilly, will stand for Palmer United Party against Mr Bleijie.

He said the Attorney-General was out of his depth in the ministerial portfolio and needed to be removed by the Premier.

"These MPs need to take the region seriously,'' Mr Judge said.

"The Sunshine Coast would do better to have people representing them who were committed for the right reasons and not just their political careers.

"The region has a collection of LNP members who year, in year out are failing the Sunshine Coast. There's a need for a change."

Mr Judge said several laws introduced by Mr Bleijie had been widely criticised because they were not evidence based.

"The LNP has dud policies that create false hope,'' he said.

"Political slogans don't solve community problems."

Endorsed Labor candidate for Caloundra Jason Hunt said he found it staggering for the Premier to claim he did not know what the region wanted.

"Our local State LNP MPs either do not know what their electorates need, or if they do know they are not speaking to the Premier,'' Mr Hunt said.

"There is no other conclusion that can be drawn from the Premier's statements.

"The LNP, in one form or another, have held most Sunshine Coast seats for almost a century and that is not a joke.

"In Caloundra you have to go back almost to the First World War to find a non-LNP member.

"So what have they been doing for the last 70-odd years?

"It is incredible that the Premier and local MPs should try to blame the local council for their own lack of knowledge about their own electorates."