This was published 8 years ago
Moreton Bay Rail Link decades overdue, so what's another 20 minutes?
By Cameron Atfield
It was more than a century in the making, so it was probably fitting the first train to depart Kippa-Ring Station on the new Redcliffe Peninsula Rail Line was 20 minutes late.
Not that there were any complaints.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull rides the new Redcliffe railway line in Brisbane,Credit: Pool image/Dan Peled
After all, that first service – a round trip to Petrie – was more ceremonial that practical.
And those on the jam-packed train who were from the Redcliffe peninsula, where the prospect of a rail link has been a running political joke for decades, could not hide the smiles from their faces.
Moreton Bay Mayor Allan Sutherland, Mr Turnbull and Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk open the Moreton Bay Rail Link.Credit: Cameron Atfield
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, set to depart for disaster-stricken South Australia almost immediately after the opening of the new rail line, was effusive in his praise for both the project itself and the political process that saw it delivered.
Both Labor and Liberal National Party governments at federal and state levels were involved in the project's delivery over the past six years.
"Isn't it great that at a time when you see, of course, politicians disagreeing with each other – and I regret that's probably going to continue forever as long as there's politicians – isn't it great that there is such bipartisan support for this infrastructure?" Mr Turnbull said.
Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk echoed that sentiment and said Redcliffe had been waiting more than 100 years for the rail link.
Mr Turnbull helps Frances Pearse, who will turn 100 tomorrow, onto a train carriage.Credit: Pool image/Dan Peled
"We work best when we all work together, when the federal government, the state government and the council work together, we can achieve so much not just for our state, but for our nation," she said.
Having returned to Kippa-Ring from his ride on the inaugural service, Mr Turnbull said it was transformative for the development of the region.
For that infrastructure, perhaps, but disagreements over other key pieces of south-east Queensland infrastructure did not take much prompting to raise their heads.
But two former Labor deputy prime ministers were keen for the Gillard and Rudd governments to receive their due for the delivery of the project.
And Wayne Swan, the former treasurer and still member for Lilley just across Bramble Bay from the peninsula, said there needed to be more federal funding for rail infrastructure, starting with another major project for the Brisbane rail network.
"It's time to cough up for Cross River Rail," he said.
"Rail lines like this can't reach capacity unless it's expanded at the river."
"The good news for Malcolm Turnbull," federal opposition infrastructure spokesman Anthony Albanese interjected, "is that he doesn't have to provide new money for Cross River Rail.
"He can just put back in the money that was cut in the 2014 budget. Federal Labor funded that project in 2013 – the money was in the budget before it was cut."
On that, Mr Turnbull said while he was an "unadulterated, passionate supporter of public transport", he would not commit to funding prior to Infrastructure Australia's assessment of the project's business case.
"It's being assessed and there's a lot of work to be done on it," he said.
"In particular, the state government and the city government – the Brisbane City government, obviously – have got to come to a landing on the project design that they agree on.
"It's very important that infrastructure like this is well planned and it's integrated into the planning of the whole city, of the whole region."
But amid the political point scoring, Moreton Bay mayor Allan Sutherland, sporting a top hat and tails, was beaming.
For him, and other long term residents of Redcliffe, this was a moment to savour.
"I don't know whether to laugh or cry, it's been a long night," he said.
Cr Sutherland had a long list of "thank yous", which no doubt contributed to the train's late departure, for the long-awaited opening.
And while all three levels of government had contributed, to varying degrees, towards the $1 billion price tag, Cr Sutherland could not help but make one cross-governmental observation about the project.
"Since 2010, when the heads of agreement were signed, we've had four prime ministers, three premiers," he said.
"And one mayor."