LNP delivers unique transport solution

Queenslanders will have access to one of the most innovative public transport connections in the world which will be delivered by the Newman Government at a saving of $3 billion compared to Labor’s fanciful proposals.

Premier Campbell Newman announced the Underground Bus and Train project, a 5.4 kilometre tunnel with two train lines in the lower section and two busway lanes in the upper section.

“There’s been too much conversation in the past, but we are a government that promised to deliver better planning, infrastructure and revitalised frontline services and that is what we are doing,” Mr Newman said.

“We’ve taken two of Brisbane’s major congestion challenges – the Merivale train bridge and the Cultural Centre bus precinct – and come up with an affordable and elegant solution.

“Labor has been talking about the need for a second rail crossing since Peter Beattie raised the issue in 2005.

“Their subsequent proposals lacked vision, were unaffordable and only solved half of the challenges facing the growing south east Queensland region.

“The project we are announcing today delivers the public transport services needed for the next 50 years.

“A single 15-metre-wide tunnel will be built, requiring the largest borer ever used in Australia – almost two metres wider than the Clem7 and Airport Link tunnels.”

Mr Newman said a public competition would be held early in the New Year to come up with a name for the project.

Treasurer Tim Nicholls said the tunnel would go underground at Dutton Park in the south to Victoria Park in the north, via new stations at Woolloongabba, George St and Roma St.

“This will be a major economic boost, creating hundreds of jobs and new pathways for business to grow and develop in Brisbane,” Mr Nicholls said.

“Labor gave us a public transport system that was unaffordable, unreliable and didn’t meet the needs of south east Queensland.

“This is yet another way that we are setting about revitalising frontline services and fixing the mess we inherited.”

Transport Minister Scott Emerson said the estimated $5 billion project would deliver better passenger outcomes than proposed by the $5.2 billion Cross River Rail tunnel and the $2.8 billion Suburbs to City project.

“This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to transform Brisbane into a world city with a public transport system to match,” Mr Emerson said.

“This city has had two groups of engineers working on two solutions for two major issues.

“The Newman Government and the Brisbane City Council have got our heads together and come up with a solution.”

Lord Mayor Graham Quirk said cooperation between the State and Council led to an innovative solution that advanced multiple transportation deficiencies.

“This is a great example of different levels of government working together to address the city’s public transport capacity issues and, unlike previous plans, it is affordable and can be delivered by 2021,” Cr Quirk said.

“When completed, the project will result in significant travel time savings across the suburbs.

“The CBD and adjacent suburbs will need to accommodate an additional 130,000 workers in the next 20 years and we need to improve public transport capacity to accommodate this growth by improving the network.

“It achieves the outcomes we identified in the Suburbs 2 City study and will take up to 200 buses off CBD streets in the morning peak and reducing 100 buses per morning peak hour on the Captain Cook Bridge.”

The project will now pass to the Coordinator-General to assess the environmental impacts. Resumptions will include Dutton Park train station, however only minor impacts on other properties are expected.

There were 108 residents and businesses affected by the former Cross River Rail project – including  82 properties in the Yeerongpilly area – that will no longer be resumed.

Early works are expected to start in 2015 and be completed by 2021. Further information will be available at www.tmr.qld.gov.au/ubat

[ENDS] 17 November 2013

Media contact:           Premier – Aaron Wakeley 0417 249 295

Treasurer – Maree Lacey 0409 947 957

Minister Emerson – Andrew Berkman 0429 128 637

Lord Mayor – Nick Kennedy 0437 831 581