BRUNSWICK ST STATION UPGRADE TO BEGIN IN JUNE
Published Thursday, 15 March, 2007 at 10:57 AM
JOINT STATEMENT
Premier and Minister for Trade
The Honourable Peter Beattie
Minister for Transport and Main Roads
The Honourable Paul Lucas
The delayed upgrade of the Brunswick Street Station will begin in June and is expected to be completed by December 2008, Premier Peter Beattie announced today.
Mr Beattie apologised to Fortitude Valley residents for what he considered an unacceptable delay.
“I completely understand the frustrations of local residents in waiting for this upgrade to get underway, and the Government accepts its role in this delay,” Mr Beattie said.
“That said, we remain committed to seeing the project through and subject to the finalisation of negotiations with the contractor, construction will begin in June.”
Mr Beattie said one of the reasons for the delay was the ongoing negotiations with site owner Lend Lease for more space on the concourse area.
“This extra space is needed to accommodate pedestrian access to many of the important features planned for the new station such as lifts, escalators and new stairs.
"To this point we have had difficulty coming to an agreement with the site owner over the terms for the small amount of vital extra space we need.
"However we are determined to do this right and we will not be backing down over the facilities that are integral to the upgrade.
"I am confident Lend Lease will come to the table on this issue and negotiations will be finalised this week."
Transport Minister Paul Lucas said although his patience had been exhausted he acknowledged the Brunswick Street upgrade was a very complex project.
"Negotiations with a range of stakeholders, the implications of temporarily reducing capacity during construction at a major rail interchange and even the structure of the station itself have caused unforeseen difficulties in delivering this project.
"Having said that, I have been informed construction of this project will begin in June this year subject to final negotiations with the contractor."
Mr Lucas said unforeseen difficulties caused by the structure of the building had also contributed to the delay.
"The building that Brunswick Street Station is housed in was built in the seventies," Mr Lucas said.
"Investigations as to what will need to be done to the structures of the building to accommodate the upgrade have found it is a more complex task than we first thought.
"This is not uncommon in projects involving upgrades to older buildings, however it has meant a further delay in the planning process," he said.
Mr Lucas said the upgrade will involve temporary closures to rail platforms, which will inevitably impact on services.
“QR and TransLink are in the process of finalising the changes to travel arrangements to minimise disruption and help rail passengers continue to get where they need to go.
“The construction process has been planned around the continuing operations of the station and will take around 18 months,” he said.
Mr Lucas said the detailed construction design for the upgrade is moving into its final stages and is based on conceptual plans and sketches publicly released last September.
“When completed the redeveloped Brunswick Street railway station will include a lift, escalator and stairway to each platform from the concourse at the retail level of the Valley Metro Centre, a ceiling throughout the platforms, brighter lighting, new seating and improved directional and customer information signage,” he said.
QR and TransLink will announce changes to rail services prior to construction commencing.
For further information on changes to services rail passengers should visit www.translink.com.au or phone 13 12 30 closer to the beginning of construction.
Media contact: Premier’s office 3224 4500
Minister’s office 3237 1947
Mr Beattie apologised to Fortitude Valley residents for what he considered an unacceptable delay.
“I completely understand the frustrations of local residents in waiting for this upgrade to get underway, and the Government accepts its role in this delay,” Mr Beattie said.
“That said, we remain committed to seeing the project through and subject to the finalisation of negotiations with the contractor, construction will begin in June.”
Mr Beattie said one of the reasons for the delay was the ongoing negotiations with site owner Lend Lease for more space on the concourse area.
“This extra space is needed to accommodate pedestrian access to many of the important features planned for the new station such as lifts, escalators and new stairs.
"To this point we have had difficulty coming to an agreement with the site owner over the terms for the small amount of vital extra space we need.
"However we are determined to do this right and we will not be backing down over the facilities that are integral to the upgrade.
"I am confident Lend Lease will come to the table on this issue and negotiations will be finalised this week."
Transport Minister Paul Lucas said although his patience had been exhausted he acknowledged the Brunswick Street upgrade was a very complex project.
"Negotiations with a range of stakeholders, the implications of temporarily reducing capacity during construction at a major rail interchange and even the structure of the station itself have caused unforeseen difficulties in delivering this project.
"Having said that, I have been informed construction of this project will begin in June this year subject to final negotiations with the contractor."
Mr Lucas said unforeseen difficulties caused by the structure of the building had also contributed to the delay.
"The building that Brunswick Street Station is housed in was built in the seventies," Mr Lucas said.
"Investigations as to what will need to be done to the structures of the building to accommodate the upgrade have found it is a more complex task than we first thought.
"This is not uncommon in projects involving upgrades to older buildings, however it has meant a further delay in the planning process," he said.
Mr Lucas said the upgrade will involve temporary closures to rail platforms, which will inevitably impact on services.
“QR and TransLink are in the process of finalising the changes to travel arrangements to minimise disruption and help rail passengers continue to get where they need to go.
“The construction process has been planned around the continuing operations of the station and will take around 18 months,” he said.
Mr Lucas said the detailed construction design for the upgrade is moving into its final stages and is based on conceptual plans and sketches publicly released last September.
“When completed the redeveloped Brunswick Street railway station will include a lift, escalator and stairway to each platform from the concourse at the retail level of the Valley Metro Centre, a ceiling throughout the platforms, brighter lighting, new seating and improved directional and customer information signage,” he said.
QR and TransLink will announce changes to rail services prior to construction commencing.
For further information on changes to services rail passengers should visit www.translink.com.au or phone 13 12 30 closer to the beginning of construction.
Media contact: Premier’s office 3224 4500
Minister’s office 3237 1947