Joint Release with Joan Sheldon MLA, Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for The Arts and Vaughan Johnson MLA, Minister for Transport and Main Roads

BRISBANE AIRPORT RAIL LINK DEED SIGNED

The Coalition Government and Airtrain Citylink Ltd have entered into a legal agreement which will lead to the construction and operation of a rail link to Brisbane Airport.

Deputy Premier and Treasurer Joan Sheldon, in a joint announcement with Minister for Transport and Main Roads Vaughan Johnson, said today that a deed had been formally signed which would allow Airtrain, a private sector proponent, to finance, design, construct, maintain and operate the Brisbane Airport Rail Link (BARL).

Mrs Sheldon said the execution of the deed would allow Airtrain to begin on-site construction of the rail link by July.

"The construction program allows Airtrain to meet its obligations within two years and allow the rail link to be operational by June 2000, in time for the Sydney Olympics," she said.

Airtrain, whose shareholders are Macquarie Corporate Finance Ltd, Transfield, Reduct Pty Ltd and Clarke and Kann, was awarded an exclusive mandate by the State Government in May 1996 to develop a detailed proposal for a rail link to the Brisbane Airport.

"Under the subsequent proposal, Airtrain indicated it would commit $190 million of private sector funds for the construction, operation and maintenance of the rail link.

"Airtrain has told us that the project will provide 400 jobs for its two year construction period and 50 full time equivalent positions for its operational phase."

"The signing of the deed represents a major milestone in the implementation of State policy on Private Sector Involvement in Public Infrastructure and Service Delivery.

"Airtrain has proposed a dedicated rail link joining the existing North Coast line at Eagle Junction," the Treasurer said.

Mr Johnson said that the rail link would transport passengers to two elevated stations one adjacent to the Brisbane International Terminal and the other to the Brisbane domestic terminal.

Under terms of the agreement, Airtrain will transfer the Brisbane Airport Rail Link back to the State Government after 35 years.

Mr Johnson said the Airtrain proposal had been underpinned by detailed engineering and project definition and a financial feasibility study.

"This project will have significant positive ramifications for the people of south-east Queensland, not only in terms of increasing transport options to Brisbane Airport but also environmentally by reducing a large number of road trips," Mr Johnson said.

"Detailed patronage studies have been undertaken for the project by Airtrain, forecasting rail passenger numbers of around 2.3 million for the first year of operation.

"Airtrain has forecast patronage figures to rise to 4.6 million in the fifth year, and eventually to 16.5 million by 2035.

"The obvious positive impact, both environmentally and from a co-ordinated transport perspective, will be enormous," said Mr Johnson.

A draft Impact Assessment Study has been completed and is currently on display at Brisbane City Council and the Department of Environment.