Article: Drivers face fuel ration shock

[ozbob]

From Courier Mail  click here!

Drivers face fuel ration shock

Drivers face fuel ration shock
Article from: The Courier-Mail

Brian Williams and Graham Redfearn

May 17, 2008 12:00am

FUEL rationing may be one in a series of shocks facing drivers and commuters in Queensland.

Looming oil shortages would produce the biggest change in society since the industrial revolution, Sustainability Minister Andrew McNamara warned yesterday.

A report by Mr McNamara for state Cabinet on the impact of the fuel crisis is expected to include recommendations on rationing, the future of public and private transport and sustainable population issues.

It has been ordered on the premise there is overwhelming evidence world oil production will peak in under a decade. It is expected to recommend risk mitigation measures such as cuts in fuel consumption and encouraging the development and use of alternative fuels, technologies and strategies.

It will also outline demographic and regional changes as Queenslanders change travel, work and living habits.

"I think people are going to be in for a shock when they find it's too expensive to drive their cars to work and then, when they get down to the station, they find the train is full and they can't get on board," Mr McNamara said.

To underscore his concerns Mr McNamara will appear in a documentary film premiering next week in which he says the days when Queenslanders could "travel on a whim" in oil-powered vehicles are numbered.

The documentary Australia Pumping Empty, argues southeast Queensland is squandering billions on road, bridge and tunnel projects which few will be able to afford to travel on.

Mr McNamara says he will recommend the State Government focuses urgently on ways to cut private-car use.

"I cannot overstate this ? we need to adopt a wartime mentality," he said. "We're going to face a level of urgency that will require dramatic change."

Private car use was expected to trend towards hybrid vehicles and then to electric. "But will we have enough (electricity generating) capacity when everyone comes home and plugs their cars in to recharge?" he said.

Mr McNamara said no government would want to introduce fuel rationing but it could not be ruled out.

It might become an option as fuel supplies ran down and prices rose because otherwise it might be a case of only the rich being able to afford private transport, he said.

"We face the need for a whole new economy, from the way we generate power, to how we deliver water, to how we live," he said.

This is my comment on the C-M blog:

As I have consistently suggested, we desperately need to put in place sustainable mass transit now.  The huge bias to road funding is completely misplaced.  We need more rail infrastructure, both urban, interurban and national.  QR need another 50 three car trains additional to the 44 presently being rolled out.  This will allow the capacity that is so desperately needed.

Stop messing around governments. Build the railway line from Petri to Kippa Ring whilst we still can, the line from Darra to Richlands has started, stop messing around and push it through to Springfield now rather than wait till 2015.

Build the present triplication/quadruplication between Darra and Corinda as a quadruplication right from the outset.

Translink (and government) are transfixed on buses.  It ain't working now and won't work when the fuel escalates greatly in costs either.  A 30% increase in passenger numbers across the system the last three years is a harbinger of things to come.  Time we got with it Queensland (and Australia).

[ozbob]

Media Release 17 May 2008

SEQ:  Ramp up rail 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 users has called for the immediate construction of the railway line to Springfield with the additional stations at Ellen Grove and Springfield Lakes, the construction of  railway line from Petrie to Kippa Ring, and the upgrade to a quadruplication of the present rail triplication works between Corinda and Darra.  The main western line from Darra to Ipswich should be upgraded to a quadruplication urgently.

The money for these projects should be redirected from the flawed road and road tunnel projects that will only compound the public transport crisis in south-east Queensland as oil shortages and fuel prices impact severely.

Robert Dow, Spokesman for RAIL Back On Track said:

?RAIL Back On Track has consistently highlighted the need to put in place sustainable mass transit and freight transport now.?

?The huge bias to road funding is completely misplaced.  We need more rail infrastructure, urban, interurban and national.  QR needs another 50 three car trains additional to the 44 presently being rolled out, now! This will give some of the capacity that is so desperately needed now let alone for future demands.?

?The Queensland Sustainability Minister McNamara yesterday warned of looming oil shortages and the need to prepare now. The nation and the state are wasting billions of dollars on roads, bridges and tunnels which will become useless as peak oil shortages hit.?

?Stop messing around governments. Build the railway line from Petrie to Kippa Ring whilst we still can. The line from Darra to Richlands has started, stop messing around and push it through to Springfield now rather than wait till 2015. The railway stations at Ellen Grove and Springfield lakes must be built from the outset too.?

?Build the present triplication/quadruplication between Darra and Corinda as a full quadruplication right from the outset. The main western line needs capacity, a quadruplication project from Darra to Ipswich will give that capacity.?

?Translink (and government) are transfixed on buses.  It isn?t working now and won't work when the fuel escalates greatly in costs either.  A 30% increase in passenger numbers across the system in the last three years is a harbinger of future shock.?

?Time we got with it Queensland and Australia!?

?We congratulate Minister McNamara for his vision.?

Contact:

Robert Dow
Administration
admin@backontrack.org