Plans for new Richlands station unveiled

Member for Inala Annastacia Palaszczuk today unveiled cutting edge plans for the $40 million Richlands train station on behalf of Transport Minister Rachel Nolan.

Ms Palaszczuk commended the key environmental features proposed in its design and said the station set a benchmark for rail infrastructure design in south east Queensland.

“The new station will combine practical and effective transport options with cutting edge, sustainable design, including water-saving features such as a 120,000 litre underground rainwater tank,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“The design also features energy efficient lighting and native, drought-tolerant trees and plants, including species selected by the community during public consultation.

“As part of our Q2 Green targets, the Bligh Government will continue to support projects which incorporated innovative, environmentally friendly elements into their overall project designs.

“Work on the station precinct is already underway and on track for completion in line with the rest of the project in 2011.

“Other features include 84 bicycle lockers, 15 bicycle rack spaces, a bus interchange with four bus stops, more than 600 car park spaces, 15 kiss ‘n’ ride bays and three taxi set down bays.

“By incorporating multiple transport services into the station design, we are encouraging commuters to travel to Richlands by car, bus, bike or foot, increasing and improving links between western corridor suburbs and the CBD,” she said.

Minister Nolan said the station was part of the $800 million Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor Project (Stage 1), which involved building a railway line from Darra to the new station at Richlands and duplicating the Centenary Highway north of the Logan Motorway.

Ms Nolan said aspects of the station design, and other key project features, can now be viewed at the project Visitor Centre, located on the corner of Garden and Progress Roads, Richlands.

“Displays and audio visual materials are available in the centre including a virtual tour of the project and two 3D models,” she said.

“The project team have designed two detailed models which provide a realistic impression of how the completed project will look. The model of Richlands station shows a great amount of detail in and around the station precinct, and the other model shows the entire Stage 1 project corridor,” Ms Nolan said.

“Another fantastic audio visual tool in the centre is the virtual tour of the project which gives visitors the opportunity to sit at a computer and ‘fly through’ the Stage 1 area.”

Minister Nolan said the Darra to Springfield project delivered major benefits to the local economy with approximately 6,000 jobs, both direct and indirect, created during Stage 1.

The Darra to Springfield Transport Corridor Project is part of the Queensland Government’s $107 billion South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program 2008-2026, which will help maintain quality of life for the region.

Stage 1 of the project is due for completion in 2011 at an estimated cost of approximately $800 million.

The project is being delivered by The Horizon Alliance – a collaboration between QR (Queensland Rail), the Department of Main Roads, John Holland Pty Ltd, GHD Pty Ltd and Kellogg Brown & Root Pty Ltd (KBR).

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