BRISBANE AIRPORT RAIL LINK DEADLINE EXTENDED
Published Tuesday, 02 September, 1997 at 12:00 AM
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Vaughan Johnson
In a joint announcement today with Treasurer Joan Sheldon, Transport and Main Roads Minister Vaughan Johnson said the July sale of Brisbane Airport to the Brisbane Airport Corporation Ltd (BACL) had "added a degree of complexity to Airtrain's original plans".
Mr Johnson said while Airtrain had been diligent in the development of the rail link proposal, there were a number of matters that needed to be finalised such as detailed land requirements and access configuration issues concerning the proposed rail stations at the airport's international and domestic terminals.
The outstanding matters had been beyond Airtrain's control. Consequently, Mr Johnson and Mrs Sheldon successfully recommended to Cabinet that the company be granted an extension of time until the end of the year.
Airtrain was awarded an exclusive mandate by the State Government in May 1996 to deliver and develop a detailed proposal for a rail link to the Brisbane Airport. The proposal was originally due in October 1996 but was extended to June 30, 1997.
Under the comprehensive proposal, Airtrain indicated it would commit $160 million of private sector funds to the construction, operation and maintenance of the rail link without current or future cost to the State Government. Airtrain's proposal included detailed engineering and project definition and a financial feasibility study.
"This project has substantial potential benefits for travellers, the private sector and State Government alike," Mr Johnson said. "We want to maximise those benefits for all concerned, and if that means granting an extension of time to Airtrain to do so, well then so be it."
He said Queensland Rail, Brisbane City Council and BACL all supported the proposal and had been working closely with Airtrain to finalise the submission.
A Project Advisory Group comprising officers from Queensland Transport and Treasury has been overseeing the project on behalf of the State Government.