e-Petition closes this Friday 30 September, 2011

[Fares_Fair]

e-Petition closes this Friday

my diary of delays ...
Delays to/from the Sunshine Coast in September to date totals 170 minutes (that's over 2 & 1/2 hours)
I allowed 40 minutes for Thursday's network shut down.

August's total was 295 minutes (that's over 4 & 1/2 hours)

.......................................................................................................................................................
e-Petition
This petition is open to all residents of Queensland, not just voters. Get your kids to sign !
Please get your friends, family – and anyone who wants to see their travel times and services improve, to sign the e-petition.
Give the Sunshine Coast a loud voice for real  infrastructure improvements, not one that stops short of the mark at Beerburrum.

168 signatories to date, it closes this Friday 30th September.
http://www.parliament.qld.gov.au/work-of-assembly/petitions/e-petition?PetNum=1712


Apparently, there was an interview on 90.3 Coast FM ABC radio this morning regarding TRANSLink and the e-Petition for the duplication of the NCL.
I did not hear the interview.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

Is there a way of checking if you have already voted?  Or are you allowed to vote multiple times?

[Otto]

signed...

[Gazza]

Is there a way of checking if you have already voted?  Or are you allowed to vote multiple times?

Just run an inbox search with the term petition_r​esponse@par​liament.qld​.gov.au

No multiple votes allowed.
I signed too.

[somebody]

How is this one going to get a different response to the last one?

[Fares_Fair]

Closed with 180 signatories.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[somebody]

Closed with 180 signatories.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

That's got to be pretty disappointing for you. I'd have thought almost everyone using the service would have signed.

[ozbob]

Response:

Dear Mr Dow,

Re: Rail duplication - Beerburrum to Nambour

The above E-Petition you signed on the Queensland Parliament web site on 20/07/2011
has been responded to. To view the Ministers response please click on the hyperlink below.

In accordance with the E-Petitions privacy statement your details have been removed from
the E-Petitions database.

Click here for Ministers Response

Yours faithfully,

Queensland Parliament

[Stillwater]

Now the Ministerial reply to the e-petition is interesting in several respects, particularly as to the timing of duplication to Nambour, and the extent of the upgrading.  What's significant?

"Upgrades to the rail line from Beerwah to Nambour and the realignment and duplication of Beerburrum to Landsborough have been identified in ......"  A REALIGNMENT and DUPLICATION is planned to Landsborough.  Note that the Minister does not use the words 'realignment' or 'duplication' for the Landsborough-Nambour section.  It will be subject to an UPGRADE, which could be assumed to be a single track with the kinks ironed out.

So, the question is will the Landsborough-Nambour 'upgrade' proposed by this government be an upgrade of the existing track, or a single line on the proposed new alignment?  If it was two lines on the new alignment, the Minister would have used the 'duplication' word.

Now to: "funding and this investment needs to be considered with regard to other network priorities."  In other words, there is no guarantee that duplication to Nambour will occur by 2031.  The scene is set for the government to get out of its 2031 deadline through the use of these words: "While upgrades to the Beerburrum to Nambour section are identified as strategic projects for the Sunshine Coast region, the timeframe for the delivery of these upgrades must be assessed within the priorities of the broader transport program..."

Beerburrum-Nambour is not a priority, even though the duplication to Landsborough was shovel ready, according to Paul Lucas as Transport Minister.

Maybe this could be brought up in the 'other business' portion of the PTAG meeting so the government can be made to spell out EXACTLY what it proposes for the track between Beerburrum and Nambour.

[Jonno]

The Minister could have saved her words and just replied "it is on the pretty picture but we think building roads is way more important because people love driving all the time. Look at the traffic jams every day. They live it so much they will sit in stand-still traffic for hours"!

[Fares_Fair]

Nightmare confirmed today ...

Transport Minister's reply to Beerburrum to Nambour Duplication petition.

WARNING:
I am incensed at this government's attitude to our region. Not a happy camper.


Summary, Beerburrum to Landsborough duplication work now pushed back even later from 2020 out to 2031.
Even this timeframe is qualified with regards to other network priorities.

The duplication itself has suddenly vanished from their lexicon for the Beerwah? to Nambour stretch. Why?
This may well be a typographical error, Beerwah doesn't make sense here as it is located between Landsborough and Glasshouse.
This maybe should read Beerburrum perhaps ?


This after claiming to recognise the so-called importance of this section of the rail network.
Actions speak louder than words.

This is appalling for the Sunshine Coast and a travesty of priorities, especially given our predicted growth which the government claims determines their priorities.
How else does one explain the twisted priorities, the duplication works stopping 24 days after an election when the seat was lost by the current State Government and the continual pushing out or delaying of major Sunshine Coast rail projects.


The Clerk of the Parliament
Parliament House
George Street
Brisbane  Qld  4000

Dear (name removed)

I refer to petition number 1712-11 and 1795-11  lodged with the Legislative Assembly on
11  and 25 October 2011 about the Beerburrum to Nambour rail duplication.
The state government recognises the importance of this section of the rail network.
Upgrading this section of the corridor is recognised in the South East Queensland
Infrastructure Plan and Program 2010-2031 and the Connecting SEQ 2031: An
Integrated Regional Transport Plan for South East Queensland.

The $298 million Caboolture to Beerburrum track duplication completed in 2009
represents the first stage in upgrading the rail corridor to Nambour. Significant planning
has already been undertaken for the Beerburrum to Nambour section with environmental
impact studies for the realignment and upgrade of the rail corridor completed for both
Caboolture to Landsborough and Landsborough to Nambour.

Upgrades to the rail line from Beerwah to Nambour and the realignment and duplication
of Beerburrum to Landsborough have been identified in the Connecting SEQ 2031 as
strategic projects for the Sunshine Coast to be delivered by 2031. As you would
appreciate however these projects require significant funding and this investment needs
to be considered with regard to other network priorities.

While upgrades to the Beerburrum to Nambour section are identified as strategic projects
for the Sunshine Coast region, the timeframe for the delivery of these upgrades must be
assessed within the priorities of the broader transport program as the state government
invests in a major reconstruction program following the recent natural disasters.

I trust this information is of assistance.

Yours sincerely

Annastacia Palaszczuk MP
Minister for Transport and Multicultural Affairs

[ozbob]

Sent to all outlets:

9th November 2011

Serious concerns with Sunshine Coast Line and E-petition response

Greetings,

We thank the Minister for Transport for the response to the Parliamentary e-petition calling for Rail Duplication - Beerburrum to Nambour.

Dear Mr Dow,

Re: Rail duplication - Beerburrum to Nambour

The above E-Petition you signed on the Queensland Parliament web site on 20/07/2011
has been responded to. To view the Ministers response please click on the hyperlink below.

In accordance with the E-Petitions privacy statement your details have been removed from
the E-Petitions database.

Click here for Ministers Response

Yours faithfully,

Queensland Parliament

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

We have serious concerns.  There is not a committment for immediate upgrade of this railway.  This line is the busiest single line in Australia and needs urgent upgrades to allow freight and passenger trains to run at increased frequency and capacity.  More and more freight and passengers are being forced onto dangerous roads with horrific outcomes.  The community is becoming incensed at the lack of a real committment to fix this rail bottleneck.

We request immediate consideration to reverse the extended time lines for completion and bring this project back to an immediate priority as it was in 2009 and take steps to commence construction, before it was mysteriously stopped.

Best wishes
Robert

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

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

Media release 22 April 2011 re-released 9 November 2011

SEQ: Partial duplications for the Sunshine Coast Line needed now

RAIL Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community support group for rail and public transport and an advocate for public transport passengers calls for duplications on the Sunshine Coast line.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

"Staged duplications will allow for increased trains. It is proposed that the section from Beerburrum to Glass House Mountains be duplicated and straightened along the previously studied alignment.  In addition, the section from Mooloolah to Palmwoods should also be duplicated and straightened.  Doing so would allow a half hourly interurban service to Landsborough with an hourly service to Nambour or beyond.  Such a service would not require precision crosses as are currently required and would also end the reliance on Rail Bus services south of Landsborough.  Also, this would improve the speed of what is likely to be the slowest portion of the Tilt Train's trip between Mooloolah and Palmwoods."

"These duplications would also improve the economics of freight train services and compete better with road transport on the Bruce Highway.  It should also be noted Toll shifted Brisbane to Rockhampton freight to rail in 2008 (1).  Such moves should be encouraged in order to reduce emissions, oil dependency, damage to roads and lower road trauma costs."

"Extending the duplication to Beerwah would be of further assistance, in that it would allow a half hourly frequency all the way to Nambour.  This would also achieve the duplication to the point which the CAMCOS line is proposed to branch from the current track.  The Inner City Rail Capacity Study lists Beeburrum-Landsborough duplication as required 2008-2015 (2).  Time is running out for this to be accomplished in that time."

"On 21 March 2009, the ALP member for Glass House was voted out for an LNP member.  In April 2009, the duplication of the Sunshine Coast line was inexplicably truncated at Beerburrum rather than proceeding to Glass House Mountains which would have allowed a faster and more frequent passenger service to Landsborough at least. Duplicating the longest remaining section south of Nambour, between Beerburrum and Glass House Mountains, increases freight capacity and reduces crossing constraints caused by single track freight railways."

"This infrastructure upgrade is essential, well justified and achievable when compared to some other projects 'core and non-core' presently on the construction table."

References:

1. http://www.infrastructureaustralia.gov.au/public_submissions/published/files/82_smasuniversityofwollongong_SUB.pdf page 2

2. http://www.tmr.qld.gov.au/~/media/e26b187c-d8a1-4bbb-9349-ed034dd7cf9d/pdf_icrcs_stage_3_technical_pre_feasibility_chapter_2.pdf page 20

Contact:

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

[mufreight]

It is obvious that the current government has no intention of further infrastructure work on the north coast line.
This is not simply a Sunshine Coast issue but a State transport issue, the lack of train paths avaliable north of Beerburrum not only impacts on the provision of rail passenger services but also restricts the operation of freight services to the north of the state forcing the increasing volumes of freight on to the proven to be inadequate and unsafe Bruce Highway.
The rail capacity problems could be aleviated by the duplication of the Beerburrum to Glasshouse section on the new alignment the extension of the crossing loop at Landsborough to 2000m length, duplication and realignment of the section Eudlo to Palmwoods and a section between Cooran and Traverston as a passing lane butween Nambour and Gympie to enable the operation of longer freight services (1800 metres in length, presently limited to some 800 metres) which with the longer train lengths would reduce the numbers of trains by about half needed to move the tonnage, and to enable both crossing and overtaking movements without trains needing to stop thus reducing transit time while increasing the numbers of avaliable train paths.
Far less costly and more cost effective than spending billions of dollars on the road system to cater for the additional freight loadings.

[ozbob]

It is obvious that the current government has no intention of further infrastructure work on the north coast line.
This is not simply a Sunshine Coast issue but a State transport issue, the lack of train paths avaliable north of Beerburrum not only impacts on the provision of rail passenger services but also restricts the operation of freight services to the north of the state forcing the increasing volumes of freight on to the proven to be inadequate and unsafe Bruce Highway.
The rail capacity problems could be aleviated by the duplication of the Beerburrum to Glasshouse section on the new alignment the extension of the crossing loop at Landsborough to 2000m length, duplication and realignment of the section Eudlo to Palmwoods and a section between Cooran and Traverston as a passing lane butween Nambour and Gympie to enable the operation of longer freight services (1800 metres in length, presently limited to some 800 metres) which with the longer train lengths would reduce the numbers of trains by about half needed to move the tonnage, and to enable both crossing and overtaking movements without trains needing to stop thus reducing transit time while increasing the numbers of avaliable train paths.
Far less costly and more cost effective than spending billions of dollars on the road system to cater for the additional freight loadings.

Succinct solution ... well put!

[Fares_Fair]

It is obvious that the current government has no intention of further infrastructure work on the north coast line.
This is not simply a Sunshine Coast issue but a State transport issue, the lack of train paths avaliable north of Beerburrum not only impacts on the provision of rail passenger services but also restricts the operation of freight services to the north of the state forcing the increasing volumes of freight on to the proven to be inadequate and unsafe Bruce Highway.
The rail capacity problems could be aleviated by the duplication of the Beerburrum to Glasshouse section on the new alignment the extension of the crossing loop at Landsborough to 2000m length, duplication and realignment of the section Eudlo to Palmwoods and a section between Cooran and Traverston as a passing lane butween Nambour and Gympie to enable the operation of longer freight services (1800 1500 metres in length, presently limited to some 800 650 metres) which with the longer train lengths would reduce the numbers of trains by about half needed to move the tonnage, and to enable both crossing and overtaking movements without trains needing to stop thus reducing transit time while increasing the numbers of avaliable train paths.
Far less costly and more cost effective than spending billions of dollars on the road system to cater for the additional freight loadings.

Good summary mufreight,

I have corrected a couple of small typos.
These figures I have amended are from the report I have read (dated 2007)
Happy to be corrected if yor figures are more recent.
Thank you.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Fares_Fair]

and big thank you to Robert for the press release.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

[Stillwater]

Exactly Mufreight.  It is as plain as the proboscis on the minister's face.  I imagine there could be some federal funding going begging here, particularly given the Commonwealth's commitment to increase freight handling capacity in support of the economy.  Because the state government has put the SCL on hold for the next 20 years from a passenger rail perspective, nothing is being done to improve the efficiency and capacity of freight operations via the means you have outlined.  This damages the state as a whole.  And why would any government want to do that?

[Fares_Fair]

Am I reading this right.
The letter does not make sense regarding the 'Beerwah to Nambour' section and the 'Beerburrum to Landsborough' section.
It states upgrades to rail line (my note: 1 rail line = singular) from Beerwah to Nambour, then goes on to say "the realignment and duplication of Beerburrum to Landsborough"

One states single line track from Beerwah northwards and the other infers duplication to Landsborough.
Beerwah is located 1 station south of Landsborough.
I wonder if the aim is for duplication to Beerwah alone, where the CAMCOS will connect (after we are all retired, if ever) and then single track to Nambour from there.

It's not entirely clear and poorly worded.

I am astonished if this is the case.

Regards,
Fares_Fair.

From the letter:

Upgrades to the rail line from Beerwah to Nambour and the realignment and duplication
of Beerburrum to Landsborough have been identified in the Connecting SEQ 2031 as
strategic projects for the Sunshine Coast to be delivered by 2031. As you would
appreciate however these projects require significant funding and this investment needs
to be considered with regard to other network priorities.[\quote]

[Stillwater]

It is unclear, but it would seem to be suggesting that duplication would be to Landsborough. past the point at which the proposed CAMCOS corridor branches off (between Beerwah and Landsborough), then a track 'upgrade' (but not duplication) to Nambour.  So is there some planning going on around CAMCOS to Caloundra South and Caloundra ahead of duplication to Nambour?  Who knows, really.  By trying to find wording that is so evasive and devoid of meaning, while alluding to previous commitments re Nambour duplication, the government is creating greater confusion and uncertainty.  Who was the insider who said that Labor was seen as 'mean and tricky' in the eyes of the electorate?  What's clear is that there is a state of flux in planning for the Sunshine Coast Line.  Every inquiry reveals a subtle layer of thinking, changed deadlines etc.  What's needed is a very clear and detailed statement by the minister showing what's planned on the single track over the next decade, then what will happen, step by step, year by year to achieve duplication to Nambour by 2031.  The government wants to avoid that like the plague, because the document could be used to hold it accountable.  Hence the vague and meaningless wording of the e-petition reply.

[ozbob]

From the Sunshine Coast Daily click here!

The rail that fails

The rail that fails

Bill Hoffman | 10th November 2011

A SOLUTION to a Queensland Rail bottleneck that is increasingly driving freight and passengers on to an already congested Bruce Highway may still be another 20 years away.

The narrow gauge single line from Nambour to Brisbane is so busy that 44% of weekly commuter services are rail bus to Caboolture.

In response this week to a petition tabled in parliament by lobby group Rail Back On Track calling for duplication of the line from Beerburrum to Nambour, Transport Minister Annastacia Palaszczuk said the government had to weigh up its full network priorities as well as deal with the aftermath of the January floods.

"These projects require significant funding and this investment needs to be considered with regard to other network priorities," Ms Palaszczuk said.

Member for Glass House Andrew Powell accused the government of playing politics, saying work on the duplication stopped at Beerburrum one month after his election in 2009.

He said the signing off on the environmental impact statement for the project this week by the Co-ordinator General meant it was "shovel ready" but no longer a priority.

Mr Powell listed the lack of duplication, a new timetable that has increased travel times, increased fares and a lack of toilets as issues that needed to be addressed.

The LNP has committed to slashing weekly Sunshine Coast commuter fares by up to $700 a year but will not give a timetable for the duplication until a thorough audit of the state's finances if it wins office at the election due early next year.

Sunshine Coast rail commuter advocate Jeff Addison is still waiting for a response to a case study on the duplication he submitted on August 30.

Ms Palaszczuk promised to respond but is yet to do so.

In 2005 then transport minister Paul Lucas identified the North Coast line to the Sunshine Coast as the weakest link in the QR network.

He promised that $480 million was committed to complete duplication from Caboolture to Landsborough.

Mr Addison's study identified several reports dating back to 1994 also identifying the rail section as a major cause of congestion.

Arup Engineers advice commissioned in 2007 stated that "it is likely that the region would experience adverse socio-economic effects should the NCL (North Coast line) between Landsborough and Nambour not be upgraded.

Increases in demand are likely to significantly challenge the ability of the infrastructure to support an acceptable level of rail service in the future."

[Stillwater]

Politicians in Glass House should not throw stones!  Mr Powell accuses the Labor Government of playing politics over the Sunshine Coast Line and then proceeds to commit the same sin himself.

The LNP Members on the Sunshine Coast prepared and issued a document entitled A Liveable Sunshine Coast.  In it they stated: "In government, the LNP will deliver a Sunshine Coast Integrated Transport Plan containing clear delivery timelines for infrastructure and services."

Document here: http://www.fionasimpson.com.au/Portals/0/Sunshine-Coast-Policy-Booklet-A4-pdf.pdf

Voters won't get to see the SC Integrated Transport Plan this side of the election.  The new line being peddled by Mr Powell and his colleagues is: "The LNP will not give a timetable for the (SCL) duplication until a thorough audit of the state's finances, if it wins office at the election due early next year."

It is a repudiation of the promise made in A Liveable Sunshine Coast.

What is he saying?  Essentially, it is EXACTLY THE SAME AS THE ALP.  Mr Powell is not differentiating himself.  A slightly different way of saying "the LNP will not give a timetable for the (SCL) duplication until a thorough audit of the state's finances (is conducted)" is Ms Palaszczuk's line, which is that duplication to Nambour is "subject to other transport priorities across the network."

Mr Powell has played hard when it comes to the politics surrounding the SCL, but that is the last thing needed now.  At least the state government has identified its (unacceptable) timetable for the SCL duplication.  The LNP wants to dodge the bullet while wanting to be seen to be sympathetic to rail commuters.  That won't wash.  There is any number of reports on this project; the costs are there.  At this stage in the electoral cycle, the alternative government should be acting like a government and committing to its policies.

Officially, Mr Powell holds a marginal seat.  Electoral swings can go both ways.  Voters in the seat of Glass House now know that, had they opted for an ALP member at the last election, the political windfall would have been duplication of the SCL to Landsborough.  Mr Powell must be very naive to think they could be strung along with promises for a further three years.  His commitment, and that of all MPs on the Sunshine Coast bar one (Peter Wellington, the Independent in Nicklin) is to release, ahead of the next election, a document "containing clear delivery timelines for infrastructure and services."

As part of his deal with former Premier Peter Beattie, Mr Wellington extracted a promise from the ALP to extend regular passenger trains to Nambour.

If Mr Powell doesn't put aside the political rhetoric and deliver clear timelines for a SCL infrastructure upgrade, voters may look to the Peter Wellington experience and start toying with the idea of voting for an independent in Glass House at the state election due next year -- in effect saying "a pox on both your houses."  A marginal Glass House electorate held by an independent would bring both major political parties to heel.  Mr Powell would have to revert to catching the train to Brisbane for work.  How deliciously ironic!

[Jonno]

I recently described the state of QLD Politics as "2 major parties arguing over who is best to implement policies that will cripple our economy, ruin our communities and destroy our environment"

[Set in train]

This is appalling for the Sunshine Coast and a travesty of priorities, especially given our predicted growth which the government claims determines their priorities.
How else does one explain the twisted priorities, the duplication works stopping 24 days after an election when the seat was lost by the current State Government and the continual pushing out or delaying of major Sunshine Coast rail projects.

Surely this scandal needs to be pushed more, why would construction stop so quickly? A real controversy.

[Set in train]

Shouldn't this project be considered by IA? It is strategically significant.