More trains, more tracks and more services make up the Bligh Government’s $4.9 billion investment in transport, Treasurer Andrew Fraser said.
Handing down the 2009-10 State Budget, Mr Fraser said $3.6 billion in transport infrastructure was a key part of the Bligh Government’s $18.2 billion building program.
“Despite the current economic climate, the Bligh Government won’t stop building a better Queensland,” Mr Fraser said.
“We are committed to maintaining our infrastructure spend because it means jobs.”
Transport Minister Rachel Nolan said in addition to the $3.6 billion in capital works, the Queensland Government would be investing a further $1.2 billion into TransLink for public transport in South East Queensland.
“This investment comes as patronage continues to climb on South East Queensland’s public transport network, which has seen growth of almost 50 per cent since 2004,” she said.
Ms Nolan said $162.7 million had been allocated for public transport in regional areas.
“This $162.7 million for regional areas includes allocations for long distance rail and coach services, and aviation, to enhance services for regional areas.”
Ms Nolan said today’s Budget allocation of $367 million to the Queensland Government's innovative busway program would ensure the busway network continued to grow to meet Brisbane’s increasing population.
“The Bligh Government is tackling traffic congestion in Brisbane head-on with its world-class busway projects,” Ms Nolan said.
Budget allocations to the busway projects include:
·$171.8 million towards construction of the Northern Busway between Enoggera Creek and Kedron
·$138.2 million for construction of the Eastern Busway connection between Buranda and Main Avenue at Coorparoo, and
·$37.8 million towards construction of the Eastern Busway: Princess Alexandra Hospital to Buranda. Construction will include an elevated busway station within the Princess Alexandra Hospital and will be a key link in the regional busway network.
“Three key busway projects will be completed by August this year,” Ms Nolan said.
“The $219 million Boggo Road Busway and stage one of the Eastern Busway are expected to cut up to ten minutes off some trips from the southern and eastern suburbs to the University of Queensland.
“These busways are expected to take up to 600 buses, or 13,000 passengers, off the road every day.
“On Brisbane’s north side, the $734.7 million Northern Busway project will provide a vital link for the northern suburbs to the city. The $198 million first section from Royal Children’s Hospital to Windsor will open in August, also ahead of schedule.”
Ms Nolan said a budget allocation of $135 million to the Gold Coast Rapid Transit project was another boost to the project’s momentum, following the $365 million allocation in last month’s Federal Budget.
“The light-rail system will operate 24 hours a day, with services arriving every 7-8 minutes in peak times, taking at least 40,000 cars off the road and reducing local greenhouse gas emissions by up to 114,000 tonnes over the next 10 years,” Ms Nolan said.
“Not only will the project get more people out of cars and onto public transport, it will generate 6,300 direct and indirect jobs during construction.”
Ms Nolan said $13.2 million has also been confirmed to complete the future transit-oriented development (TOD) known as Varsity Station Village.
“In conjunction with the Robina to Varsity Lakes Rail Extension project, planning has been undertaken to ensure the land surrounding the new station will have a range of facilities and high quality transport connections,” she said.
“There could be between 600 and 900 residences accommodating between 1,250 and 1,900 people, while shops and commercial space will provide up to 2,500 office jobs and approximately 360 retail jobs.”
Ms Nolan said this will be further boosted by a $515 million QR allocation to upgrade infrastructure and rolling stock on the CityTrain network through the South East Queensland Infrastructure Plan.
Projects include $125 million for the Springfield line to Richlands, $62.7million MetTRIP track infrastructure mainly for the Caboolture to Beerburrum duplication, $97.3 million for the Gold Coast rail extension from Robina to Varsity Lakes, $57 million for a third track from Corinda to Darra, $17.9 million for metropolitan freight capacity enhancement and $155.1 million for additional rolling stock.
A total $862 million will also be spent by QR on coal network track works and new and upgraded locomotives and wagons.
“The Bligh Government remains committed to investing in public transport and infrastructure to better plan for the future as we head Towards Q2,” Ms Nolan said.
Media contact: 3237 1111
Other languages