Ministerial Statement: Transport plans keep pace with Queensland's growth

[ozbob]

Transport and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

September 6, 2011

Transport plans keep pace with Queensland's growth

The Queensland Government is making sure public transport keeps pace with Queensland's growth up to 2031 and beyond.

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk told the annual Queensland Community Transport Industry Association Conference in Brisbane government and industry were already planning for a much larger and ageing population.

Ms Palaszczuk said the most recent projections indicated Queensland's population would grow by as much as 3.2 million by 2031.

"In the same period, the number of people aged 65 years or older will more than double to reach 1.3 million," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"This high level of growth, and an ageing population, present some challenges but we already have programs in place through community transport services.

"Seniors and people with disability rely on community transport every day so they can go to the shops, attend hospital, and participate in everyday life.

"By providing assistance to community transport services the government is helping those Queenslanders who are doing it tougher than most."

Ms Palaszczuk said the annual conference was a great place to discuss community transport plans for the future.

"These forums provide a valuable opportunity for government and industry to discuss important policy matters to ensure every Queenslander has access to transport now and in the future," she said.

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

[Stillwater]

So the state government has now begun to plan for transport needs 'beyond 2031', when not one member of the government will be in the parliament.  Why does the government continue to direct our gaze to the eutopia of 2031 and beyond?  Because it is doing bugger-all to address the here and now.  I'd be grateful for a costed plan to 2016.  But, no, like a shiny ball waved at a child to distract it, the '2031 scenario' is being dangled in front of us.

[mufreight]

More spin about a fourth world public transport system.
Current deliveries of train sets have about three more to be delivered then a gap of four years or more until the first deliveries of the next generation of train sets, based on the current rate of growth of commuter numbers that will mean an armpit sniffer standard of service.
The deferment of construction of CRR effectively means that additional services to meet this growth in services on the Clevland line from Beenleigh, the Gold Coast and KippaRing when constructed will not be able to be operated.
The failure to continue the duplication and realignment north of Beerburrum at least as far as Glasshouse and to provide a duplicated  and realigned section of line between Mooloolah and Palmwoods will mean that there will be more railbus services rather than train services for commuters and growth of freight services will continue to be inhibited by a poor single track alignment and short crossing loops limiting train length.
The lack of a third track between Petrie and Lawnton renders inpractical the operation of further peak services to meet the current rate of growth and to allow for the additional trains to operate the MBRL (KippaRing) line which this Government has committed to commence constructing.
Time for some practical reality before Public transport in South East Queensland descends into total gridlock.
The defecit in rail infrastructure must be addressed NOW, there is insufficent capacity to increase bus services to cover the shortfall as the gridlock on the busway between Southbank and the Culteral Centre shows each AM peak.

[Stillwater]

An excellent summary, Mufreight.  Sadly, a realistic summary.

[SteelPan]

Minister - how do transport plans keep pace with State growth?  (You actually need to do something for that to happen).   

[colinw]

Minister - how do transport plans keep pace with State growth?  (You actually need to do something for that to happen).   

The minister is quite correct. The plans are keeping pace with the growth, it is just the implementation that isn't ...

Dare I say that we are "world class" at developing and announcing impressive looking plans and visions for the public transport system.

[mufreight]

Minister - how do transport plans keep pace with State growth?  (You actually need to do something for that to happen).   

The minister is quite correct. The plans are keeping pace with the growth, it is just the implementation that isn't ...

Dare I say that we are "world class" at developing and announcing impressive looking plans and visions for the public transport system.

Printers and graphic artists producing glossy brocures are cheaper and quicker than actually doing anything.

[#Metro]

This government is toast at the next election. Mark my words- they will be voted out, pure and simple.
You just can't be in office forever, and the inaction and glow of something that is always coming tomorrow and never today is wearing thin.

Past achievements are good, to be fair, but the main issue- train service frequency, not infrastructure, is not being addressed.
Shambles that frequency on the rail system, that could have more coverage of the city than the busway network, is behind that of Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

15 minute trains all day please.

[mufreight]

This government is toast at the next election. Mark my words- they will be voted out, pure and simple.
You just can't be in office forever, and the inaction and glow of something that is always coming tomorrow and never today is wearing thin.

Past achievements are good, to be fair, but the main issue- train service frequency, not infrastructure, is not being addressed.
Shambles that frequency on the rail system, that could have more coverage of the city than the busway network, is behind that of Adelaide, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth.

15 minute trains all day please.

Right on the money TT but unfortunately there is a need to convince the politicians and their mindles moron advisers that to operate public transport effectively money needs be spent on infrastructure and maintenence of the infrastructure to enable trains to operate reliably and provide a realistic level of service.
For public transport to be effective in must be convenient, that entails frequency and accessability and it must be realistic in its fare structures.
Effective public transport will always remain a loss making operation but it saves money and time relative to providing the levels of infrastructure that would otherwise be required if adequate levels of public transport were not provided to reduce overall social cost.

[somebody]

^ No point building infrastructure to run pathetic services on it.  Case in point: Richlands.  2tph???
Other examples are the Eastern Busway to Main Av and Salisbury to Kuraby triple and the Ferny Grove line amplifications.

[#Metro]

Hundreds of millions of dollars are spent on shiny new infrastructure... only to find that the frequency on it is cr*pola!

It's 2011 people! 2011 This kind of rubbish frequency might have been good enough in 1980, but NOT TODAY.

[O_128]

I would understand this realease from a first term gov, but from a party that has been in power this long is disgusting, anywhere else in the world would have managed to quad caboolture ipswich and beenleigh do the SC and GC lines build the 2 CRR and more, instead they have bee stuffing around for years with pretty drawings.

Maybe the gov needs to be reminded that next year is supposed to mark the opening of the camcos line, duplications be finished CRR well underway etc.

[Arnz]

CAMCOS isn't meant to be till 2016 (to Caloundra).  Next year was meant to mark the finish of the Landsborough duplication (has since been deferred).

[O_128]

CAMCOS isn't meant to be till 2016 (to Caloundra).  Next year was meant to mark the finish of the Landsborough duplication (has since been deferred).

I thought the first plan had it mentioned for 2012 but maybe that was commencement of construction, also apparently the line to springfield was completed last year.

[Arnz]

Just checked a older "glossy WORLD CLARSE paper" report.

Landsborough final stage duplication finishes 2012.
CAMCOS construction starts 2012, Caloundra finish by 2015.

[#Metro]

Maybe the gov needs to be reminded that next year is supposed to mark the opening of the camcos line, duplications be finished CRR well underway etc.

Oh and the 100 BUZ/hi frequency trains routes lol*


* Implementation subject to sun/earth/moon and stars all perfectly aligning

[Mr X]

Technically that high frequency world class aim has already been achieved/will be achieved by 2012*

*NB: Translink Network Plan 2012-2013 now/will decree/s High Frequency as "a bus or train route which requires more than one bus per passenger hour for it's operation".

[Stillwater]

What's the betting there will be another glossy document and DVD before the next election.  If you are in government, you might as well direct the department to use taxpayer's money to produce what, in effect, is a political transport manifesto.  Of course, the LNP will have to use party funds to produce theirs.  That is, if ever they get a policy beyond the discussion paper phase.

[Arnz]

Still, you forgot to mention "WORLD CLARSE" in that glossy paper and DVDs.

[#Metro]

Reply with quoteQuote

What's the betting there will be another glossy document and DVD before the next election.  If you are in government, you might as well direct the department to use taxpayer's money to produce what, in effect, is a political transport manifesto.  Of course, the LNP will have to use party funds to produce theirs.  That is, if ever they get a policy beyond the discussion paper phase.

Er... like "Victoria Transport Plan" or "Meeting our transport challenges"

Looks like history repeating...

[SteelPan]

Transport and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

September 6, 2011

Transport plans keep pace with Queensland's growth

The Queensland Government is making sure public transport keeps pace with Queensland's growth up to 2031 and beyond.

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk told the annual Queensland Community Transport Industry Association Conference in Brisbane government and industry were already planning for a much larger and ageing population.

blah...blah...blah.... she said.

==============================================================
  &   

[BrizCommuter]

Transport and Multicultural Affairs
The Honourable Annastacia Palaszczuk

September 6, 2011

Transport plans keep pace with Queensland's growth

The Queensland Government is making sure public transport keeps pace with Queensland's growth up to 2031 and beyond.

Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk told the annual Queensland Community Transport Industry Association Conference in Brisbane government and industry were already planning for a much larger and ageing population.

Ms Palaszczuk said the most recent projections indicated Queensland's population would grow by as much as 3.2 million by 2031.

"In the same period, the number of people aged 65 years or older will more than double to reach 1.3 million," Ms Palaszczuk said.

"This high level of growth, and an ageing population, present some challenges but we already have programs in place through community transport services.

"Seniors and people with disability rely on community transport every day so they can go to the shops, attend hospital, and participate in everyday life.

"By providing assistance to community transport services the government is helping those Queenslanders who are doing it tougher than most."

Ms Palaszczuk said the annual conference was a great place to discuss community transport plans for the future.

"These forums provide a valuable opportunity for government and industry to discuss important policy matters to ensure every Queenslander has access to transport now and in the future," she said.

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

Erm, public transport in Brisbane cannot even keep pace with the number of university students!

[Arnz]

It's interesting that most people has noticed that Bligh and her ministers has stopped using (or is using less) of the words "WORLD CLARSE" ever since that newspaper article on them using those two words had came out.

[O_128]

Haha, SEQ is going to be the size of sydney with the public transport for a city of 2 million 

[Stillwater]

Honestly, these government media statements about planning SEQ's transport infrastructure (now) 'beyond 2031' should all start with the words 'once upon a time in lala land' .......  The impression gained is that the government has given up on planning and delivering in the here and now timeframe.

[mufreight]

Honestly, these government media statements about planning SEQ's transport infrastructure (now) 'beyond 2031' should all start with the words 'once upon a time in lala land' .......  The impression gained is that the government has given up on planning and delivering in the here and now timeframe.

Plans and gloss brocures achieve nothing, the Minister would be better of shutting her mouth until such time as she actually does something and saving the money spent on all this media spin for something useful.

[johnnigh]

Um, anyone seen any activity on the ground for the Springfield line?

[petey3801]

Yes, there have been bits and pieces being done. Every weekday there has been activity around the Logan Motorway Interchange in relation to the railway.

[Jonno]

Honestly, these government media statements about planning SEQ's transport infrastructure (now) 'beyond 2031' should all start with the words 'once upon a time in lala land' .......  The impression gained is that the government has given up on planning and delivering in the here and now timeframe.

It really is time that Govt minister had their chauffeur driven cars taken off them as they clearly live in a totally cocooned world and do not realize the complete and utter mess our transport network is.