Article: Cancelled: QRS move to Ipswich

[ozbob]

From the Queensland Times click here!

Cancelled: QRS move to Ipswich

Cancelled: QRS move to Ipswich

Kieran Banks | 25th June 2012 5:00 AM

THE envisaged migration of Queensland Rail employees from Brisbane to the Ipswich CBD has fallen short with only a fraction of the promised number moving to their new home.

Two years ago the former Labor Transport Minister and Ipswich MP, Rachel Nolan, announced 400 staff from QR's passenger arm would move to Ipswich ahead of the newly-developed CBD.

Queensland Rail revealed last week only 27 full-time and 22 part-time staff had moved to the Limestone St offices.

The move was touted as a precursor to QR finding a home in the Icon Ipswich building.

A spokesman for Transport Minister Scott Emerson said a decision on where QR would find a home within Icon Ipswich was still pending.

"The minister is yet to consider the previous government's policy regarding Queensland Rail. However, the Queensland Government remains committed to utilising the Icon Building when completed," the spokesman said.

Bundamba MP Jo-Ann Miller was unaware as to why the bulk of the QR staff hadn't already gone to Ipswich, but urged Mr Emerson to make a decision quickly.

"The quicker the new minister, Scott Emerson, can consider the move of further offices in Ipswich, the better the Ipswich economy will be," Mrs Miller said.

"The new LNP Government have to determine how many of those public sector position would have to come to Ipswich.

"It will be a real test for their support of Ipswich on how many they are going to transfer."

A QR spokesman said the staff who already had shifted to Ipswich volunteered to make the move.

The spokesman said QR looked at each request on a case-by-case basis to ensure any of the moves did not adversely affect the business.

During a visit to the Icon Ipswich construction site last month, Housing and Public Works Minister Bruce Flegg said the first public servants would move into the building late next year.

[Derwan]

Just a side note to this, the LNP is planning to repeal the decentralisation directive.  Other state government moves to Carseldine and Ipswich are set to be affected by this. 

I heard through the rumour mill that TMR, which was to move 800 employees to Carseldine, has cancelled their plans.  This was largely a reshuffle of employees outside of the city anyway, such as relocating the staff from Zillmere.

[Fares_Fair]

Just a side note to this, the LNP is planning to repeal the decentralisation directive.  Other state government moves to Carseldine and Ipswich are set to be affected by this. 

I heard through the rumour mill that TMR, which was to move 800 employees to Carseldine, has cancelled their plans.  This was largely a reshuffle of employees outside of the city anyway, such as relocating the staff from Zillmere.

Confirmed from my TMR sources.

[Derwan]

Confirmed from my TMR sources.

Thanks FF.  I didn't want to say it was a definite when I heard it through someone else.

I've seen the plans to repeal the decentralisation directive in an official document though.

[somebody]

The ALP doesn't have a leg to stand on to criticise this.  They had enough time in office to accomplish it.

[Golliwog]

The ALP doesn't have a leg to stand on to criticise this.  They had enough time in office to accomplish it.

True, but not following through with decentralisation does still need to be criticised.

Derwan/FF, do you know what grounds they're not going ahead with it for? Costs?

[ozbob]

Cost might be a factor, but I suspect that very significant opposition from staff could be another ..  people have settled on the basis of their likely daily commute and don't want to extend it by hours.

Staff looked at the counter-peak timetable for the Ippy and had an 'apoplexy' ?   

[Fares_Fair]

The ALP doesn't have a leg to stand on to criticise this.  They had enough time in office to accomplish it.

True, but not following through with decentralisation does still need to be criticised.

Derwan/FF, do you know what grounds they're not going ahead with it for? Costs?

The understanding of my source was primarily due to the cost, as well as internal problems with employee public transport, parking and travel distances (from the south side).

This info regarding the Chermside proposed move.

[Stillwater]

If you are about to shed a lot of public service jobs, there will be vacant desks in buildings that govt owns, or has a lease over.  No need to post staff to Ipswich etc.

[curator49]

When I worked for QR in Ipswich ten years ago, I normally travelled by train from Sunnybank. At that time there was a train service (shuttle) Yeerongpilly to Corinda. Then they stopped that and substituted a bus which was slow. Going into Roma Street and then out to Ipswich took 2 1/2 hours travelling time - not an option.

I still work in Ipswich and now travel by car - duration 30 minutes. I would still prefer to travel by train even if it took 1 to 1 1/2 hours travel time each way but 2 1/2 hours? No way.

I can understand why QR employees working in the city would not want to travel to Ipswich as they have bought their houses mindful of their commute into the city not to Ipswich.

[somebody]

This info regarding the Chermside proposed move.

Chermside?  I don't remember hearing about a proposed move to Chermside.  Carseldine?