Article: Abbott says no to Coast rail upgrade

[Fares_Fair]

Abbott says no to Coast rail upgrade
Sunshine Coast Daily
Wednesday April 10, 2013, p5
by Kathy Sundstrom

[Fares_Fair]

Story now online
http://www.sunshinecoastdaily.com.au/news/abbott-says-no-to-coast-rail-upgrade/1823868/

Blog comment

PWellingtonMP from Nambour 9:57am


It is obvious that the Premier and his Government do not consider the duplication of the railway line from Brisbane to Nambour worth fighting for.

Recently in Parliament I asked the Premier to table a copy of his request to the Prime Minister for financial assistance for this project. He replied he hadn't raised this matter with the Prime Minister but his Government had made a submission regarding the Beerburrum to Landsborough rail duplication.

There is no way the Federal Government is going to do anything about this much needed upgrade unless there is hard lobbying from the State Government.

Once again the Newman Government has ignored the residents of the Sunshine Coast.


Question on Notice 
No. 55
Asked on 5 March 2013

MR WELLINGTON asked the Premier (MR NEWMAN)—

With  reference  to  the  Premier's  previous  answers  to  questions  I  have  asked  about
Commonwealth  Government  involvement  in  the  upgrade  of  the  railway  line  from
Brisbane to Nambour— 
Will the Premier table in parliament his letter to the Prime Minister seeking financial
support to complete the duplication of the railway line from Brisbane to Nambour?

ANSWER:

I have not written to the Prime Minister about this matter.

However,  in  October  2012,  the  Queensland  Government  made  a  submission  to  the
federal  Minister  for  Infrastructure  and  Transport,  the  Honourable  Anthony  Albanese
MP,  and  Infrastructure  Australia,  for  funding  under  the  five-year  Nation  Building  2
Program, which commences in 2014-15, to enable the Beerburrum to Landsborough rail
duplication project to be delivered at the earliest opportunity.

As  I  have  advised  the  Member  previously,  Queensland  deserves  its  fair  share  of
infrastructure funding from Canberra.

[Gazza]

^Split the funding, Feds fund the tracks and earthworks and signalling, Qld funds stations and overheads.

[Stillwater]

Maybe it is time to form a citizens-based lobby group to put the case for the SCL upgrade based on the freight facts.  Maybe that will change Abbott's mind.  The LNP knows it has the SC sown up electorally and it won't give Mr Wellington the time of day, so no duplication to his electorate. 

[HappyTrainGuy]

^Split the funding, Feds fund the tracks and earthworks and signalling, Qld funds stations and overheads.

Something similar has been done on the MBRL. The feds will pay for a good chunk on the spur but the state has to pay to connect the spur to the main line which is why the LNP kicked up a stink not too long ago.

[Stillwater]

That sounds like a plan, as Abbott would not lose face - he can say he is paying for track augmentation to boost the NCL rail freight capacity, state would have to meet the bill for stations, car parks, access etc.  All argument about the SCL/NCL must be focussed on rail freight to attract federal funding.  Mention passenger rail (and through strong LNP territory) and Labor and Coalition go off the boil regarding funding.

[#Metro]

No money will be spent unless the sunshine coast becomes marginal  you want upgrades? Marginal seat.

[Stillwater]

Sad, but true, Lapdog.